Where The Forest Meets The Sea

When we left Tumwater, WA we drove west to catch the Pacific Coast Highway to head down the Oregon coastline. From end to end the PCH spans 1675 miles from Olympia, WA to San Diego, CA. Some travel sites rank this stretch of road the most scenic drive in the US. When we crossed over the Astoria / Megler Bridge we began to experience the beauty and majesty of this part of the country. I have always thought of myself to find enjoyment in exploring woodland and mountain ranges where Colleen has developed an affinity for the ocean. The Oregon coast offers the best of both worlds. There is a natural melding of these two environments where the forest meets the sea.

Our first stop was in Cannon Beach. Like many of these quaint communities, there are various shops and dining. Cannon Beach is also home to Ecola State Park famed for the 80’s cult movie “The Goonies”. Our aim was to enjoy the beach and the calming energy of the ocean. The heart of Cannon Beach was bustling when we arrived just before Labor Day weekend. I thought it would be wise for me to venture out by myself to scout areas we could access the beach with Colleens chair. I found an access point that was ideal. There was a paved ramp that lead down to the sand where we could roll right out to the water. As the waves washed over the sand it created a natural hard pack that was ideal for Colleens Grit Freedom Chair to roll freely down the beach. As an added bonus this access was walking distance from Cannon Beach RV Resort where we were staying which eliminated the hassle of parking.

One of the main attractions in Cannon Beach is Haystack Rock. Haystack Rock is part of Oregons geological history formed millions of years ago by lava flows according to cannonbeach.org. The rock towers 235 feet above the edge of the shoreline and is home to various species of water fowl and of course marine life. Haystack Rock is part of the Oregon Islands National Wildlife Refuge and is a State protected marine environment. At low tide novice marine explorers could find anemones, sea lettuce and sea stars around the rock. One day we were rolling on the beach waiting to witness the sunset and a young gentleman brought a sea star to us. Colleen was in heaven.

Staying next to us at the resort was a family from Portland. They come to Cannon Beach during Labor Day Weekend every year. They told us about an area in Gearhart about 18 miles north where you can drive on the beach. One day we loaded up the dogs and took a drive. There were signs that guided us where to drive on. We threw our Ford Diesel in four wheel drive and rolled out. We found a stretch of beach a few hundred yards away from our nearest neighbors and let the dogs loose. They are not water dogs, but they absolutely love the sand! They were tearing around like they were 10 years younger. They engaged in their old game of cat and mouse with Veruca taking off triggering PoJai’s herding instinct. This game didn’t last as long as it did when they were younger, but we believe they enjoyed it just as much as their younger selves. As sunset approached we drove down the coastline enjoying the scenery as God was turning down the lights on this day. As we departed this oasis, people were preparing their campfires to enjoy under the stars while listening to the nighttime whisper of the sea.

The last time we saw the ocean was in the fall of 2019 in Savannah, GA. From Atlantic to Pacific, we had now officially traveled from coast to coast. There was certainly something mystical about this place. It seemed to offer a restorative energy that was easy to plug into. Instead of “doing”, we found ourselves simply “being”. Before this stop I considered myself a devout adventurer of terra firma. I found myself joining Colleen with her love for the ocean and expanding my world.