BEACH
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Heatwave Fills Oregon Coast with Inland Refugees
(Oregon Coast) – To say it’s going to be a hot one this weekend is an understatement, and Oregon’s inland residents are running for the hills – and then over those hills to the coast. With record-shattering temps climbing well into the 90’s and into the three digits, aside from a large air conditioner, Oregon’s coastline is the only respite. In fact, Depoe Bay Visitor Center’s Carole Barkhurst called the coast "natural air conditioning that works year round.” The shoreline will be in the 60’s and 70’s on the central coast; and a little higher, perhaps into the 80’s, on the north coast. Most lodgings are reporting being at maximum, with reservations made several days ago, if not weeks ago. All is not lost, however, as BeachConnection.net will publish a list of open lodgings for the weekend on Thursday night. Check the front page’s news box or click on the travel news link on Thursday evening or Friday morning. BeachConnection.net does this weekly for the summer.
“This
is insane,” said Brian Hines, owner of San
Dune Inn in Manzanita. “Must be a bit like people trying
to get out of Beirut. We have been booked since Monday for this
weekend, and since then have been averaging probably six calls an
hour from people looking for rooms. Even the answering machine is
jammed when I open up in the mornings from overnight calls - plus
of course e-mails.” Over at KNRK radio in Portland, afternoon host Gustav is doing what may seem the unthinkable for one of Portland’s alt rock icons. “My wife Sunday and I bit the bullet and bought an RV today,” Gustav said. “This weekend, we plan on taking a little getaway with our 2-year-old son and hitting the coast. We'll probably leave Friday evening and just head west for the cooler temperatures. No idea where we'll end up, but the good news is we won't need a room. All we need is a parking spot by the ocean with a view and some cool sea spray, and we are good. “Man.…an RV. I feel way too young to own one of these things, but it's been a secret desire of ours for some years, so needless to say, we're thrilled.” Throughout the coast, tourism businesses are bracing for the onslaught of travelers in a variety of ways.
Famed Oregon chef John Newman is both steeling himself for the flood – and ready to celebrate the fun at his Cannon Beach restaurant, Newman’s at 988. “We are busting out our outdoor flat top grill and we’ll be illin,’ chillin’ and grillin’ some phat Dungeness Crab Cakes outside, on our deck in the sun, at 'The Old Yellow Building,' ” Newman said. “We will have ice-cold French Champagne, French and Italian Beers on ice, Wild Mushroom Polenta & Lobster Raviolis as well.” “It’s time to suck it up, take it and like it - and no sniveling,” he added. (988 Hemlock Street in Cannon Beach, 503-436-1151)
In Seaside, Zinger’s Homemade Ice Cream owner Mike Exinger is preparing for it as best he can, knowing these temps mean large amounts of ice cream flowing out. “We’re making as much ice cream as we can hold, ready for the crush of beach-goers,” Exinger said. “It’s funny, but when it’s hot here (anything above 75 is considered so), there are ‘waves’ of people who head for the beach, and then, at some point in time, it’s as if someone pushes a button and everyone gets the same idea at once. ‘Let’s go for an ice cream,’ and the wave moves off the beach, down the street, and into our lobby.” (210 Broadway, 503-738-3939) “I can say that most of the lodging here on the coast has been pre-booked and finding lodging may be difficult,” said Danielle Emerick, of Starfish Point in Newport. “I would tell people planning on escaping the valley heat wave to expect to pay full price for accommodations. There will be a lot of traffic, so leave early and be patient.”
At vacation rental agency 4U2Unwind, Ronnda Zezula is working her tail off between her office in Tigard and her homes in and around Oceanside and Netarts. “We’ve been working from 4 a.m. to 1 a.m. everyday,” Zezula said. “We went from a staff of five to a staff of ten to get through the week.” There are extra complications for those seeking rooms on the coast, Zezula said. “Not only is there a heat wave in Portland, but July is a very popular wedding month in the Lookout Pointe and Oceanside areas,” she said. “We have two weddings booking up most of the homes already, but the inquiries are pouring in because of the heat. “We have 20 homes. Of those about half were booked in April for the two weddings. The rest filled up as soon as the news predicted 100-plus degrees.”
Some of these coastal business owners had some interesting insiders tips for visiting on this nutty weekend, such as Newman from Newman’s at 988. “I expect a strong showing of guests, and the beach is only half a block from our deck, so people can nestle their toes in the frigid water when it gets too hot for them,” Newman said. “I advise our guests to bring their surfboards and wetsuits as the surf forecast is looking good as well.” Exinger said the best days to visit Seaside are just before the onslaught of visitors. “Because so many are planning to be here this weekend to escape the heat, this means the best days to be here are actually just before the heat wave – on Wednesday and Thursday" he said. Cooling Off on the Coast Emerick and her husband have found a way to keep cool and help others do so as well.
“Roy & I lead Kayak tours for the parks department on Devils Lake,” she said. “That’s really where you’ll find me. Tours are $10 for a two-hour tour and you can sign up through the Devils Lake campground.” “Wheeler is a great place to be when it's hot in the valley,” said Old Wheeler Hotel owner Winston Laszlo. “A lot of folks will be kayaking this weekend, which is a great way to keep cool. It takes no experience - beginners' kayaks are almost impossible to tip over. You can rent them at the Wheeler Marina.” Laszlo said he still has rooms available on Sunday and Monday, when the heat wave is expected to remain.
“Inland people who are crabby from the heat can come to the Oregon Coast Aquarium and be greeted by the crabby residents of our Claws exhibit - and soon their frowns will be upside down.” Linda Neigebauer, of Newport’s Nye Beach area, said folks may want to cool it at the Nye Beach Bead Festival on Saturday. It happens at Nye Cottage (208 NW Coast Street, one block north of the Performing Arts Center), starting at 10 a.m. on Saturday and Sunday.
“This celebration of the arts includes vendors of contemporary and vintage beads; semi precious beads like Peruvian Opal, Pietersite, Oregon Sunstone and Turquoise,” Neigebauer said. “There will also be cabs; dichroic glass; fused glass; handmade silver pieces; jewelry; and more. Neigebauer said visitors can take Nye Beach’s free shuttle and visit all the major tourist attractions in Newport. The shuttle runs from 9 a.m. until 9 p.m. daily in July, August, and September. There are park and rides for RV’s and passenger vehicles. |
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