Kimberly A. Cook

Military Romance Author

Oregon Coast

Sun, Sand, And Spring?

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View from outside the restaurant. Perfect.

Sometimes the best thing to do is leave town. For fun. Just for the day. Last week on Spring eve, the weather folks said it was going to be 74 degrees at the beach. What? My friend, Kathy, and I decided to beat feet to the coast for lunch and a stroll in the sand.

We promptly got stuck in a traffic jam on the freeway, but we didn’t care. We were off on an adventure. Stopped at the Oregon State Park rest stop at VanDuzer Corridor, one on either side of the road. Besides improving personal comfort, I always like to go and check out the streams close by and watch the burbling brook. (On the South side rest stop it’s a full river)

We made it to Gleneden Beach in no time to have lunch at the Clarion Inn Surfrider Resort, which has great food and a killer coastal view. My halibut sandwich was amazing and I ate the entire thing. I do not apologize.

Warm sand and sun. I didn’t notice my footsteps until after I took the photo.

Next we drove over to the Gleneden Beach Day Use beach access and broke out our flip flops. Due to coastal wave erosion, the excellent path down to the sand ends in a rather challenging climbing access the last seven feet to the beach. I chose to go down in flip flops, but saw the error of my ways and used bare feet on the return trip. A guide wire to hang onto would be an improvement, but we charged on.

Great trail except for the last seven feet. You can see the cliff erosion.

The ocean was topaz blue, the sun knocked your eyes out and a slight breeze let us sniff the fresh sea air. The booming waves reminded us it was still winter water out there and the high waves required respect. I began picking up rocks and treasures from along our walk and after several blocks, we decided to perch on a driftwood log high above the shoreline.

Winter waves require respect. The rest of the year too. Sneaker waves are real.

Back home seemed like a million miles away. We even started to get a little sun kissed. We moseyed back to the parking lot and got rid of sand between our toes, then prepared for the trip back to the valley. We had spied a Joann Fabric store in Lincoln City and then a Michael’s in Tualatin. Stopped at both for bunny booty and unneeded craft supplies.

A fabulous way to spend evening rush hour, shopping the craft aisles. Got home around 6:30 p.m. with Spec Ops Cat waiting at the door for his dinner. A cat waitress’ work is never done.

Some days a girl just needs to get sand between her toes.

Here’s to more spontaneous beach trips for everybody!

On the way home we spotted this quirky forest restoration project. Not too bad a photo at sixty miles per hour through the car window! See the happy face?

 

 

Beware Of Handsome Marine Biologists

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Think this was my overnight guest. As soon as said pup was put with the other three, could not tell them apart!

I’ve done some stupid things in my life for handsome men. I’m a sucker for a pretty face and biceps. (Lordy, there were men with amazing biceps in the Army!) But, last Friday’s harbor seal video reminded me of an adventure in my newspaper days.

While working as a reporter and photographer at the Newport News Times in 1984-85, two of my favorite (very handsome) marine biologists asked me to deliver something to Portland. I was driving to my parents house after work on Friday night. They did not tell me what it was.

I figured papers or something that needed to go to the big city. Showed up at the Hatfield Marine Science Center to find the guys tube-feeding a baby harbor seal who needed a ride to the Oregon Zoo for rehab. Surprise!

“Since the zoo will be closed when you get there, you can keep him overnight in the bathtub and take him up in the morning.”

Right. A quick call to Mom and Dad to see if that was okay. God Bless my suffering parents, they never knew what the next adventure might entail. They said fine.

Baby seal was put in a largo red Igloo cooler with the lid propped open for air and stowed in the front seat of my 1974 maroon Nova. We seat belted the cooler in and I was instructed to drive carefully.

“What if I get stopped by the cops?” I asked. “Don’t I need papers?”  I knew it was a federal offense to handle or transport marine mammals due to the Marine Mammal Protection Act.

“It’ll be fine,” they said. “Just give us a call if you get stopped.”

From my jail cell no doubt.

Another possibility of foster pup.

It’s a two to three-hour trip to Portland from Newport given the weekend traffic. My memories of the trip are fleeting incidents.

The smell of seal poop. Can’t really describe it. Think of eating only fish and then it being poop. Baby poop. Killer light yellow-greenish baby poop.

Baby seal did not like riding in the cooler. He especially did not like railroad crossings and curves in the road. He called for his mother. “Ma, ma!” That is exactly what it sounds like.

It was summer, so luckily I had the windows rolled down. Remember seal poop. This was fine until I stopped at a red light in McMinnville. Folks next to me had their windows down too. “Ma, ma!” kept coming from the cooler. I knew they were looking at me. I stared straight ahead. Ignore the seal in the front seat.

The drive seemed to take forever and I worried about him the entire time. The guys told me he should be okay, but it’s always iffy with stressed marine life. I was now his foster mom.

When I got to my parent’s house, Dad took the cooler into the backyard followed by a  group of neighbor kids. We washed the little guy off with the hose to clean him up; seal poop marinade. Then Dad airlifted him into the bathtub, complete with the non-skid pink shells on the porcelain surface.

By this time, he was hungry. I had nothing to give him or any way to feed him. We opened the bathroom window to the backyard for cool fresh air and in case of incoming or outgoing seal poop. “Ma, ma!”

Nobody slept that night.  The constant “Ma, ma” broke our hearts. The little guy also had a damn good set of lungs. Since the main bathroom was surrounded by the three bedrooms, we all felt his pain.

About 7:30 the next morning the front doorbell rang. I was getting ready to take pup up to the zoo. I answered the door. It was the neighbor who lived behind my parent’s house.

“Is everything okay?” he asked.

“Yes,” I said.

“We heard odd noises during the night.”

We’d never been huge friends with our backyard neighbors. “It’s the seal in the bathtub,” I said.

He looked at me. A confused expression on his face.

“We’re going to the zoo,” I added. It took everything in my soul not to say, and then shopping and a movie. I did not elaborate.

He stared at me a bit longer. “Oh, okay,” he said and then left the front porch, shaking his head.

I delivered my “Ma, ma” package to the zoo staff and took some pictures. I couldn’t bring myself to take his picture while he was in the bathtub. I felt it would be exploiting his situation.

Minor damage to the bathtub included repairing the shell non-skids he had managed to loosen the edges of during the night. Which was then followed by a thorough washing with bleach.

My handsome marine biologists, who got out of driving to Portland that weekend, let me know my foster pup did make it through rehab and was released back into the wild. Think that is one reason I take so many harbor seal pictures. It’s personal. Might be great-grand kids of my overnight guest.

Beware of handsome marine biologists.  Trust me.

Pup visitor is one of these four guys. Notice the 80s gear on the zoo staff. The quest to find these pics was epic.

 

 

 

 

Seagulls, Smoke And The Coast Guard?

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Time to go back to the beach! Back to my July weekend photos that is. Given the high temperatures and smoke in the air you can chew, what better summer break than to revisit the cool, fresh breezes of sea air.

I always have fun taking pictures, but the beach is a wonderful place to grab sneaky pics of wildlife and people. So sit back and enjoy the gallery! Weather is going to change into the mid-70s by this weekend. I’m going to need my parka!

The Hot Pursuit fishing out of Depoe Bay in the morning fog on July 30th. Fog, what a nice thought.
Seagull posing for his close up. Love my zoom lens!
Seagull sentry on duty at his post. Literally. You can see the harbor seals lounging on the rocks in the background.
Don’t think this harbor seal really wanted a close-up, but when you’re cute, you’re cute!
Always good to see the Depoe Bay Coast Guard out enjoying a nice day. This crew was on patrol after high noon on Saturday, July 28th. Thank you Coast Guard!

Got Blown Glass?

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Glass shopping heaven on the Oregon Coast!

Getting out of town is a time to find new places to see and visit old friends. That’s what we did on our beach trip. On the way home we decided to stop by the Alder House III glassblowing studio. It had been decades since we visited, so the time was right.

When we walked into the studio, Treasure was demonstrating his glass blowing techniques and educating the onlookers. We quietly joined the small crowd and realized everyone was listening and learning. Not a piece of tech in use!

Treasure hard at work using the 2000 degree furnace. Another reason this studio is at the beach.

He was working on a glass vase and went through the process of firing, blowing it hollow, shaping and adding embellishments to it. Fascinating. From the hot glass to the super hot furnace, his artistry was on display.

I know it’s really hot everywhere right now, but this is a true furnace.

      After the presentation we wandered the wonderful glass items on display. Three pieces of artwork magically jumped into our hands. We had to take them home.

Treasure applying the detailing on the outside of the vase. Art in action.

            My friend Kathy started with one bowl and then the matching two pieces in the set also jumped into her hands. We happily packed them up and put them in the back seat with the seat belt on. Precious cargo.

This glass heart insisted on going home with me. Who am I to fight destiny? Inspiration for my romance writing. Truly.

If you want to visit, the Alder House III, it is located a half mile north of Salishan Lodge on Highway 101, at 611 Immonen Road, between Lincoln City and Gleneden Beach at Siletz Bay. The lovely three-fourths of a mile road leads you along the river and through the woods. Literally. There is also Mossy Creek Pottery studio next door.

You can check out their website at www.alderhouse.com They are open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. from May 1st through the end of October. The five glass artists make creations for everyone, so don’t be surprised if one launches itself into your hands. It’s a good thing!

Art is for everybody!

Alder House awaits for those willing to venture down the less taken road.

Astoria, Captain Flavel And Clouds

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Flavel House Museum, Astoria, Oregon

 

When the going gets tough, I leave town. During the crazy of the web site remodel, construction project and heat wave, a day trip to the coast seemed like the best course of action. My friend and I headed for Astoria for cool breezes, clouds, seafood and research.

We both have wanted to tour the Flavel House Museum for years and finally our timing was right. The Flavel House was finished in 1886 for Captain George Flavel, a mover and shaker in early Astoria.

Captain George Flavel of Astoria, Oregon.

Not only did Flavel see the coming shipping boom, his most impressive feat for me is being the father of the Columbia River Bar pilots. These men and women today continue his legacy of heroic measures to keep river traffic flowing across the Columbia River Bar, considered the most dangerous bar in the world.

Flavel did it with wooden ships, sail and row boats. Yowsa.

So working hard and smart his whole life, he had an 11,600 square foot home built for him and his wife, Mary, and daughters Nellie and Katie. His son, George Conrad Flavel, had married and did not live in the home.

 

The most amazing part of all Flavel’s accomplishments? He was regarded as a fair, good man by the community.  He was truly mourned when he died in 1893, after living seven years in his retirement home.

Music Room.

The house went on the National Register of Historic Places in 1951. The refurbishing of the home over the years has been nothing short of astounding. The additional Carriage House was built in 1887 and now holds the Visitor Center, gift shop, introductory video, and exhibits.

The home and Carriage House take up one whole city block. With a great river view of course.

The Library!! Be still my heart.

This grand old lady is well worth taking a visit to see. The fresh sea air, cool interior and fabulous food in town made for a great day getaway.

New favorite reading chair. Got to get me one of these.

I took more than one-hundred twenty photos and I could have taken more. I’m lazy so I take pictures of the placards so I can read them for in-depth research later.

Astoria is famous for movies being filmed there like “Kindergarten Cop,” “Short Circuit,” “Sometimes A Great Notion,” and of course “Goonies.”

But I think the star of the town is the Flavel House. She was there first and she’s the belle of the town.

For more information:  www.cumtux.org

Then finish your visit with a nice sit by the pond and watch the goldfish. Heaven.