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Those Useful Oregon Coast Winds, and Those Pesky Seagulls |
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Covering 180 miles of Oregon coast travel: Astoria, Seaside, Cannon Beach, Manzanita, Nehalem, Wheeler, Rockaway, Garibaldi, Tillamook, Oceanside, Pacific City, Lincoln City, Depoe Bay, Newport, Waldport, Yachats & Florence.
09/27/08
Secrets of the Season |
Those Useful Oregon Coast Winds, and Those Pesky Seagulls
By Guy DiTorrice
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| Kite-boarders make use of late summer winds in Manzanita |
(Newport, Oregon) - Walk on any Oregon beach, any time of the day, and you're impressed with two things:
One - The beach is pretty clean, save for the occasional pile of driftwood, dead (and smelly) jellyfish and seasonal flotsam and jetsam populating the shore.
Two - You'll have a breeze blowing. Its direction pretty well determined by the time of the day and the month of the year.
These two ingredients provide the perfect recipe for a full menu of activities - from cooling off from those hot, summer days "in the Valley" to high-flying recreational antics. There's even a side benefit hiding in there when it comes to avoiding the nerve-wracking dive-bombings of seagulls.
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| Hang gliders over Newport |
Burrowed deep in the stored memory of my youth, I recall windy summer months in the Midwest, trying my hand at a homemade kite with instructions provided by the latest edition of the BOOK OF KNOWLEDGE. (My parents were really strong believers in the "Look it up" method of teaching us.)
Parts were simple: a crossed-frame of lightweight wood or plastic, even lighter cover of plastic or cloth, the obligatory tail of ripped rag cloth and the trickier task of tying some sort of bridle to that precious roll of twine.
Tree-free locations were tough in the city parks of the Midwest - a problem seldom encountered on our many sandy shorelines, waysides and state park campgrounds. The good news is that oceans of air are always moving around us; it's a basic function of the land usually having a different temperature than the Pacific. (Good thing, too!).
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| Above Oceanside: this spot is frequently used by hang gliders. |
Summer months, we get these nice healthy breezes during the day coming out of the northwest (winter months from the southwest). We can also count on the wind blowing back out to sea after the sunsets.
But, let's leave more detailed study of currents, winds and temperature to the Weather Channel and the host of weather wonks entertaining us on Portland TV (who manage to seldom properly guess what our coastal weather will do).
Back to breezes and the recreational opportunities presented on the beach. We can all agree on kite flying, with retailers along the entire Oregon coast aptly stocked with the widest array of colors, designs and prices to accommodate the child in each of us. Forget the standard single-string kite design with the skies full of streamers, boxes, foils, deltas, and socks as well as nylon-shaped animals, our favorite cartoon characters (personally partial to Betty Boop), the family crest and an occasional live person.
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| Hang gliding near Pacific City, |
You read me right: one of the latest rages on the Oregon coast is kite-boarding. Stop thinking about those Hood River sail-boarders; these are serious surfers looking for even faster thrills at the double-cord end of large kite sails.
The phenomenon has even got the seagulls re-thinking their white-encrusting bombing techniques when faced with the high-speed controls of a surfer ripping across the water at hair-raising speeds thanks to a car-sized kite. (I would not want to be a seagull caught either by this kite flying through my traffic pattern or behind the slipstream it creates, any time of the day or year...)
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| A seagull in Newport, probably looking around for someone to poop on. |
Naturally, our sandy stretches of breezy beaches from Astoria to Florence provide some of the best kite-boarding conditions for basic beginners to top-flight professionals. Short boards are preferred, designed more along the lines of a Cascade snowboard, with the additional attachment of some important hardware, high-tech lines and the nylon sail (or chute).
I've come to really appreciate kite-boarders working portions of the surf when I'm on the beach. Not only do they provide the thrill and excitement formerly limited to sail-boarders, they've added the extra sky patrol element of pushing the seagull population well away from their white-encrusting strafing runs on the beach where I'm walking.
Thank you kite-boarders!
Guy DiTorrice lives, works and writes in Newport
on Oregon's Central Coast, where he frequents local beaches to relax and
enjoy the state's most attractive natural resources. He’s also known
as “Oregon
Fossil Guy,” giving beach tours of prehistoric bits and pieces
to be found on the coast.
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Tradewinds Motel, Rockaway Beach. All rooms are immaculate and have TV’s, VCR’s and in-room phones w/ data ports. Oceanfronts have queen bed, a double hide-a-bed, kitchen, cozy firelog fireplace and private deck. Both types sleep up to four people. Others are appointed for a two-person romantic getaway, yet still perfect for those on a budget. Elaborate oceanfront Jacuzzi suite has two bedrooms, kitchen, double hide-a-bed, fireplace and private deck, sleeping as many as six. For family reunions or large gatherings such as weddings, some rooms can connect to create two-room and three-room suites. Some rooms pet friendly. 523 N. Pacific St., Rockaway Beach. (503) 355-2112 - 1-800-824-0938. www.tradewinds-motel.com |
 Inn
at Cannon Beach. Beautifully wooded natural setting at quiet south
end of Cannon Beach. Great during winter storms with a new book by
the fireplace – or when the sun is out for family fun and beach
strolling. Handsome beach cottage-style architecture. Lush flowering
gardens and naturalized courtyard pond. Warm, inviting guest rooms.
Continental buffet breakfast. Warm Cookies. Family and Pet Friendly.
Welcome gifts. Smoke-free. Complimentary Wireless Connectivity. Wine
and book signing events. 800-321-6304 or 503-436-9085. Hemlock At
Surfcrest, Cannon Beach, Oregon. www.atcannonbeach.com. |
The Ocean Lodge. There will not be another property built like this in Cannon Beach in our lifetimes. Rare, premiere ocean front location; handsome, dramatic architecture and tasteful, fun (nostalgic) beach interiors. Overlooks Haystack Rock. 100 percent smoke free. Imaginative special occasion packages. Massive wood burning lobby fireplace. Library w/ fireplace, stocked with impressive book collection. Pet and family friendly. Lavish continental buffet breakfast. In-room fireplaces, mini-kitchens. Jacuzzi tubs in select rooms. DVD players, complimentary movies. Morning paper. Warm cookies. 888-777-4047. 503-436-2241. 2864 Pacific Street. Cannon Beach, Oregon. www.theoceanlodge.com |
Arch
Cape Property Services.
Dozens of homes in that dreamy,
rugged stretch between Cannon Beach and Manzanita known as Arch
Cape. Oceanfront and ocean view , or just a short walk from the
sea. |
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