Patty found an advertisement for a Farmers Market in Newport that we thought would be a good place to visit while Dan went to the Thousand Trails "informative question and answer session" (otherwise known as the complaint department). The market runs every Saturday and is a must see!! Right away we saw these gorgeous flowers that I couldn't pass up. There are lots of locals with their crafty things as well music and tasty treats to roll over your tastebuds ... except for the goat cheese!! I'd skip that one!!
Playing flutes, bagpipes and dancing certainly entertained this little girl in the white vest. She danced right along for the entire song!! You can tell I had my arms full here ... lots of grass in this picture!!!
Loaded down with fresh sourdough bread, plums, cookies, green beans and flowers, Patty wanted to make a quick stop back at the quilt show that was still going on.
Back at the ranch we loaded up for a lighthouse trip. Yaquina Head (pronounced Ya-queena) is the site of one of Oregon's beautiful lighthouses. This one was built in 1872 and is a beauty. As with most lighthouses, it sits on the edge of the rocks, so it's VERY windy!! As you head towards this area, you are mandatorily routed to the Visitor's Center first.
It was a nice sunny afternoon and you could see Newport with sandy Nye Beach in the distance.
The rocks had quite a few birds and these seals ... they look like white rocks, but these are harbor seals.
Below the lighthouse is this visitors area ... you can walk down to the tidepools and look for treasures. Dan tried to talk us out of walking the distance, but we were not to be deterred. I found two "whole" seashells that I haven't seen before. Well worth the 15 minute breath-taking trip back up the steep walkway ... we were all sucking air when we hit the top!!
Looking like crab claws, this interesting seaweed was stuck in the rocks. See what neat stuff you find on the beach Dan??? Dan ....... Patty????? Okay, I'm leaving!!
We finally found a parking spot at the lighthouse proper ... come early, as there are very few spaces. Before we hit the top of the hill, I could hear and smell the birds. Just past the edge of the lighthouse is this huge rocky area just covered with birds. I named it Sardine City.
They are packed in like sardines!!! Screeching and honking, they make a terrible racket! They are only here for a short time, once a year for nesting.
This guy tried to land for several minutes before he finally dropped in on his neighbor's head!!
Due to the huge influx of visitors, we were not able to get in on the "inside" tour of the house today. I doubt they would let you up on the top to see the view anyway!!
I rather imagine that living here tending the light would be boring. Their logs talk of chopping the weeds and calling in the occasional ship sinking!!
If you like to hike, there are many, many trails on the Oregon coast to seek out. You should probably be in pretty good shape however, as most involve steep inclines both directions!!! LOVE the Oregon coastline!!!
We hit the local Walmart for supplies, picked up half a pound of crab each after some discussion about whether it's better to crack your own at $12.59 a pound or have them do it at $34.00. Just for our readers, we will do a test before leaving ... cracking our own crab and weighing it out to see what the better deal would be!! I have lots of experience in that matter ... my ex-father-in-law was a crab fisherman!!
Next to the lodge where WiFi is available, are these pretty daisies ... I thought they would be a nice parting image!!!
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