Rocks, Rain, Capes & Critters

Monday morning - who says they are lousy?

It was a rainy day All day, but we still managed to have a terrific day.
After starting out at about 9am with tea & pastry in the local coffee shop, we took the drive we intended
to take yesterday around the three capes North of Pacific City.  Cape Kewanda, Cape Lookout & Cape Meares.  Even with the rain we enjoyed the ride, although it did limit some of the sightseeing further out on the ocean.  The foliage in the forests are sure something though.  We have been told that the grass here on the coast is always green.  Even though the diciduous (sp?) trees loose there leaves at this time of year, the grass stays lush and green.  And, since on the topic of Oregon facts, the Hazelnut is the state nut!  No wonder I've been getting them on salads, fish, pie & soup. 

So after heading South on 101 again we drove slowly along the coast viewing what we could in the rain.  Some of the rocky areas were "spooky" looking.  Some of the beaches are so wide that the ocean is out of sight, and some of the ocean side are marshes instead of beaches.  And then there are the spots of shear rock with a few evergreen trees growing into the creaveses (sp?)  (I'm lost w/o a dictionary or spell check - sorry) 

We stopped at Newport to have lunch and visit their aquarium and aviary.  I wanted to see a Puffin and some sea life.  It was so much more interesting than either of us expected.  They had several tunnels of sea fish to walk through, and they had a cute little feeding-trick show with the sea lions.  They even had a touching pool where we were able to touch the Amemones (sp?), Star Fish & great big snails.  How cool is that?
I hope all my "little critters" which usually go by the name of "grandchildren" get to see and do some of this stuff some day.

Headed further South after that and stopped at a viewing pull off near South Beach to eat the pie that we got to go from lunch.  Mine was Hazelnut!!!!  Once we left there it was getting dark already and guess what happened?

Well, we decided to drive to Florence for the night, or two, or three, but we had no idea that the road was going to be so up and down and round and round, curvy and treacherous feeling.  Of course, the fog settled in here and there along with the dark so it was a real TRIP.  I think we may have missed some great viewing opportunities, but I'm not going back that way rain or shine!

We are tucked in at Florence for the night at a Comfort Inn which is very nice after rejecting a room at a different Inn.  I think sand dune buggies are a possibility for tomorrow, along with National Forest Siuslaw and whatever else pops up.
Good Night precious ones.  I'm missing youxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo