Three Days of Sunsets, Astounding Weather, on Oregon Coast

Published 01/28/2011

(Oregon Coast) – It all really begins on a rainy, stormy night on the north coast. Earlier this week, on this day, the central coast was warm and sun drenched, but apparently not the north coast.

Driving from Portland to Cannon Beach around 9 p.m. also meant the inconvenience of getting caught in that massive detour because of the Highway 26 tunnel closure after 8 p.m. This route is no fun – especially in the dark. It is highly advised to get through that tunnel before its curfew.

Yet along that way, the stars were out in full force, and it gave you the impression there would be a beautiful night awaiting you on the north coast.

Nope.

The following day there, however, was gorgeous, and the end of it painted the skies and water of Cannon Beach some extraordinarily beautiful colors, as in this stump in the sand in the photo above, and the shot directly above here.

The next day also cooperated for the camera and proved largely photogenic, as this wispy moment in Rockaway Beach illustrates. There is a lingering mist, however – one which eventually takes over.

Later in the day, in Oceanside, the sunset is a subdued affair, where blues – caused by all the haze – dominate the scene. Behind this view, the lights of the tiny town do some interesting stunts as a fog moves in and causes them to do all sorts of funky special effects.

Another sunny day, another chunk of mileage on the car. With Depoe Bay as homebase, it’s the kind of sunshine that demands exploring to the tune of 100 miles round trip. Lincoln Beach, just north of town is basking in glorious colors as a winter sun beats down on it. Temperatures are balmy, sometimes around 70 degrees.

Then, it’s south to Seal Rock and Yachats, and even beyond. Along the way, you are sad witness to the massive police presence at Waldport as they keep watch for a shooting suspect.

At the end of the day, Cook’s Chasm and its spouting horn (about five miles south of Yachats) is in a bit of a timid mood, but not entirely hiding. As the sun gets further down the horizon, this creates some startling sights when the cannon of sea water fires off at its distinctive angle. This funky feature always resembles the black smoke monster from LOST, except a white version. But today, with the sunlight at just the right angle, it becomes a pinkish smoke monster.

Then, a ways after the sun has disappeared, leaving still remarkably vibrant colors splashed across the sky, Yachats and the Yachats River take on a whole new look.

It was an expedition of nearly 150 miles, encompassing Seaside all the way down to Yachats and nearly to Florence in these four days.

The third sunset in three days has resulted in the most stunning sights. It’s too bad the next – Friday – is doomed to be dreary and a little stormy. But then, on the Oregon coast, you’ve got to take what you can get when it comes to amazing weather moments like the last few days.

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