September, 2020
You might be wondering about the fact that I have been here two full days, and this is only my second time to go for a walk on the beach?! Let me set the record straight. My friends and I, or just one or two of us at any given time, walked on the ocean beach here at least once a day, sometimes twice. We sometimes walked on the beach in the morning and in the evening. Sometimes I took my camera with me, but mostly I didn’t. I wanted simply to “be” on that ocean beach so I usually didn’t even carry the camera, much less take pictures. Those times, without my camera, were really nice.
But I did take some photos on a few of those beach walks. Here are just a few photos from one late afternoon walk along the very edge of the mighty Pacific Ocean, the largest ocean in the world. The ocean this afternoon was so calm, we could hardly believe it.
Every time I went for a walk down to the beach, I walked from our campsites down through the driftwood at the edge of the beach. As I first stepped foot on that sandy beach, I always looked to the right first … to the north, to the cape or head or promontory there. And I always stopped for a moment, and felt the power of the ocean through my feet, and through my heart. (Click on photos to enlarge them.)
The ocean seemed to approach the shore gently here. On the other hand, towards the right side of the photo above, you’ll see a dark area in the cliff face where a portion of the rock cliff has been torn away from the rest of the cliff. So the ocean is not always gentle here.
But life (and trees) survive. This one tree (above and below) was torn apart when the rock was torn from the cliff face. Both halves of the tree are still growing.
At this point, as we were standing right next to this cliff face, we could go no further north, so we turned and headed south along the beach for a quarter of a mile or so, just wandering along and chatting, looking at seaweed and shells, driftwood, rocks, patterns in the sand, listening to the ocean rustle and roar. One of my friends always carried bags so she could pick up garbage off the beach. Sadly, there was always garbage to be picked up. But now I carry bags too. If enough of us carry bags and pick up garbage, we’ll make a difference.
After a slow, meandering, comfortable walk, we turned around and headed back north, back to where we could walk up through the driftwood again and back to our campsites.
It was starting to get dark, the fog was rolling in, it was definitely cooler. Yet is was proving to be a lovely, calm evening.
As soon as we turned around and headed back to the north, I noticed the lighthouse out on the cliff above … the lighthouse! It was the North Head Lighthouse … the one we had just visited earlier today. Evidently, at the spot where we first walked out onto the beach for this beachwalk, the lighthouse was just around the corner from that spot and couldn’t be seen. But now, further south down the beach, the angle was different.
Besides a surprise view of the lighthouse, it was now an hour or so after we had first come down onto the beach, and the ocean waves had picked up a bit. Now there were at least a few relatively small crashing waves on the cliff face. I wondered what it would be like out here during a real winter ocean storm. That thought occured to me, and then I realized that I might not own enough layers of clothing to keep me warm out here during a real winter ocean storm! But still, it was an interesting thought.
We walked back up the beach, then up through the driftwood, and back to our campsites. My friends and I ate dinner together at the picnic table under their sturdy green canopy and tarp. We visited a while and then said goodnight and climbed up into our trailers for the rest of the evening and a good night’s sleep.
Home always looks and feels so good after a day of adventuring, doesn’t it?
Towhee (the trailer, that is) is looking good! How long does it take you to shine her up every time you come back from a trip? I’m glad Little Towhee stayed inside at the Cape – – lots of wind and blowing rain. Does she get anxious when you leave her behind and go out into the great wild world?
Towhee (the trailer) certainly thanks you for the nice compliment. 🙂 I do keep her shined up. Most of the cleaning and polishing happens early each spring, including a full wax of the exterior so that she usually needs only a quick washing after each camping trip to keep her spiffed up and shiney.
And yes indeed, Little Towhee has stayed inside most of the time that we’ve been here at Cape Disappointment. She has seen the ocean before and didn’t much like it, and since she doesn’t fly much that means she doesn’t like the wind at all. She’s pretty much a calm weather little bird and I don’t blame her one bit. When I come back to the campsite, I always open the trailer door so Little Towhee can hop outside if she wants to (and she usually does). But, no, when we’re in an environment such as Cape Disappointment, she’s perfectly content staying indoors. She has never expressed concern about me being out in the big bad world … hmmm. I better ask her about that!
This looks like a wonderfully beautiful place! I love the foggy image, but they’re all just breathtaking. I like camping in September because there are fewer people at the parks, at least that was the case before covid. Now it seems like it’s crowded no matter when I go. We’ll see if it’s the same this summer.
For a year now, I’ve been hearing reports of a whole lot more people buying RVs of all sorts and going camping. I’m hoping they started doing that last year and now they’ve gotten that out of their system! I’ve made three reservations for camping this summer (2021) and had no problem finding space, so maybe that flood of people has waned a bit as we find our way back to a “normal” life. Sure hope you and Katie (and everyone) find plenty of space and peace.
Good for you for sometimes not taking your camera, it makes a difference, yes? I have to remind myself to leave my camera at home sometimes. What a gorgeous beach. And, I forgot that the Pacific Ocean is the largest ocean in the world, who could forget that! How peaceful it looks on your walk. Thank you.
I was born and raised here, so I often take the Pacific Ocean for granted. I forget how big it is, how powerful it is, how important it is, how much life it brings to the whole planet earth. I love seeing this ocean riled up 🙂 … and I love seeing her peaceful and calm. When I walked on that beach here, it seemed to me I could feel Japan and Australia and Russia through my feet, through the water. It felt wonderful.
Ann, I apologize if I’m being irreverent, but the third photo from the top made me laugh out loud, really hoot and laugh. See the bottom right hand corner? LOL! Looks like a goose or a duck or an ostrich with its head stuck in the sand, it’s rear end sticking straight up, and its legs sort of sticking out too. Doesn’t it? It’s probably just some driftwood, but I love it. Gave me a really good laugh today. 🙂
LOL! I didn’t see that, but I sure do now! 🙂 Yep, some sort of bird with its head stuck down in the sand and its rear end sticking straight up, just like you say. Oh I’m glad you pointed that out Judy Bee, you made me laugh.
As a kid my folks took me to the ocean a number of times, but I haven’t been there in years. I sure want to go now. I can almost smell it and hear it.
What great memories you must have Nevada. Come back, come back to the ocean and let it give you more memories. 🙂
I’m fantasizing about being in that lighthouse, all warm and cozy, with books and tea.
Oh my, that sounds delightful. And watch the sea roll in!!