Drive to Depoe Bay

Yesterday, we drove up to Depoe Bay, about a 90 minute drive north. The day was sunny, but in the forties on the coast, with a very strong offshore wind.  When we hit Yachats, we could see there was a serious swell running, 10 to 15 feet according to Surfline.  After stopping in Newport for an eye appointment, we continued north about 10 miles to The Devil's Punch Bowl.

 The scene at The Punch Bowl.  The bowl itself was not that dramatic while we were there.

Three miles up the road is The Lookout at Cape Foulweather.  Originally built as a tourist stop in the thirties, it was also used in WWII as a military observation post.

 We came into Depoe Bay when the high tide was peaking and the Spouting Horn was going off.  We got a big kick out of this for quite awhile! Spray was shooting clear onto the 101.

 Ocean swells compress water and air in a rock crevice that has a hole on top, and with the right surge and tide you get quite a geyser.

 Looking out across Depoe Bay to the headland. Those are some very big waves out there!

 That she blows!

We couldn't help ourselves - another selfie.

We went up the coast to Fogarty Creek State Recreation Area. We hiked a short trail that was unremarkable except for this very large Amanita muscaria.

Another trail led down to a little beach and Rabbit Rock.

 Rabbit Rock and surf - telephoto shot.

Not a day for tide-pooling!

 Depoe Bay Harbor is the so called "Smallest Navigable Harbor in the World".  That is the Highway 101 bridge going over the harbor entrance.

 The harbor...

...and the very sketchy looking entrance.  This is the site where McMurphy (Jack Nicholson) takes the mental patients out for a fishing trip in "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest".  We didn't see any boats coming or going on this day.

Surfers call this type of wave a "slab break" because the swell hits a shallow ledge of rock, jacks up, and throws out to make a very hollow wave.  This wave was breaking out from and to the left of the harbor entrance.  I wonder if it is ever ridden.

Out in the bay we saw at least two gray whales feeding in the area.