One of my favorite places to stay at the beach is Siletz Bay. For several years, my friends that I teach with and I would spend a weekend on Siletz Bay. We haven't been able to do that in the last few years, but I have wonderful memories of my time there. My friends love it when we luck out and get sunny weather, but I consider myself lucky when it is rainy and stormy. That's my favorite weather on the bay. There's just something beautiful about the bay on a misty, gloomy day!
It had been my plan to go North, to Oswald State Park, and spend the day hiking around. Even though Oswald is closer to Portland, I never seem to get there and I wanted to spend an afternoon tromping around. But since I was stoopid enough to leave my coats in Lincoln City, at the KOA, and had had to drive back to get them, I decided to walk the bay instead. There were a LOT of people out on the bay, crabbing and picnicking by fires. The rain was no deterrent! So of course, there were lots of very wet, very friendly dogs out too. What is it about me that says "come, lean on me" to dogs? I wish the picture had come out (darn iphone!) but there was THE cutest little ball of a puppy out there. He kept running into the water, just the littlest bit - enough to be completely soaked and then he would run over to me and rub his little chubby body all over my legs!
There were even people collecting driftwood and making little forts out of it. It was funny, how many little kids seemed to be taking naps in sleeping bags, inside of these little shelters. There were quite a few families crabbing and instead of setting up tents (which only one or two did) for the little ones, they would have the older kids drag the driftwood over and build "houses" for the day while mom/dad built a big fire nearby.
And I couldn't believe it, but there were even people out IN the water. I usually only see people silly enough to do that in the summer, when at least there is sunshine for warmth. These people were not surfing - no wetsuits on. It's not like the ocean here in Oregon is warm or anything. And today... the air was certainly not warm either! Crazy people!
Once I walked a mile or so down the beach, I was alone again. People tend to stay near the parking lot and the rest rooms! The driftwood also is not as concentrated in one spot and it's bigger, more interesting. This was a huge tree that had washed up and it's roots were completely encased in barnacles. I thought it looked so cool... like it had been dipped in frosting! I know that I'm slightly odd in what I find beautiful or interesting when I walk the beach. But I've never been accused of being normal in anything!
After a few hours of walking, I was soaked pretty thoroughly. THAT'S when you are wishing for a beach house! I was ready for a hot drink, a fireplace, a fuzzy blanket and a nap! But since I was three hours from home... I settled for iced tea, a granola bar and the car heater for the drive home. There's a rest room in the parking lot and I was smart enough to bring a big beach towel to dry me and my hair and then change clothes. So with one last look at the bay, I headed home.
