It rained every day since I hit the coast – not all day every day, but at some time during most days and certainly every night. I went from the high 90’s for 2 weeks in the desert to this. Be careful what you ask for. It was especially rainy throughout my travels up the Oregon Coast.
I know it’s Oregon – but, jeez Louise this is ridiculous! I know that my timing is off. I was called back to my ranger job in Alaska a month earlier than planned, and it has knocked all my plans off schedule.
My timing was off another way, too. On the few instances when the sun was shining, it was nearly always high tide, which makes it a bit difficult to take l-o-n-g walks on the beach and explore tidal pools. I did catch part of one tidal pool, though. All anemones, no starfish.
I stayed overnight near Cannon Beach, since in my opinion, it is the most picturesque part of the Oregon Coast. It was foggy and misty and cold, too much so for good photography. I was hoping for better weather in the morning. Yeah, right. Add torrential downpours and wind to the mix. The weather was so ugly you couldn’t even SEE the sea stacks, much less photograph them.
I traveled up the Olympic Coast in Washington. I saw a beautiful beach, Ruby Beach, and the rain had subsided to a fine drizzle. However, it was after 7PM and I was chasing daylight, 20 miles from the next town. I told myself I would have to come back someday.
I got about 5 miles down the road, and out of nowhere, there appeared a sign – Hostel! Wow, a cheap, dry place to spend the night – and MAYBE I can try for Ruby Beach again in the morning!
The Rain Forest Hostel is a rather unusual place. The owner, Jimmy, is a Bernie Sanders supporter and espouses Bernie’s philosophy. One of Bernie’s ideas was to develop a national sense of community. Jimmy’s way of supporting this idea is to sponsor this hostel. Basically he is offering folks a bed in his home. Not quite up to IYH standards, but you can’t beat the price. There is no set price, but the suggested donation is $10. If you can afford more, great, the extra will help cover for those who cannot afford $10! The other thing is you should help with a chore before you leave (I vacuumed). Pretty kind of Jimmy to share his home in the rain forest. I certainly appreciated this refuge from the rain!
Back to Ruby Beach the next morning. It was high tide. Ah well, no tide pools or walking the beach, but I can still go down and do photography. It’s actually not raining for a moment. I walk all the way down from the bluff to the beach – and the minute I get there – the heavens break open! I can hardly see the sea stack a hundred yards away! Seems I can’t catch a break on the coast this trip.
The Pacific Northwest Coast is incredibly beautiful. I will certainly be back. But this trip has convinced me, more than ever, that I am a lizard, not a frog, more comfortable with too dry than too wet. How about you?
