Bidding farewell to the Winter Beach

Yesterday, as I finished up work at 4pm, I took off to Wheeler, OR, a wonderful coastal village only 4 miles from Manzanita.  Wheeler is located on Nehalem Bay - and is called “Pukalani” , which means "hole in the sky", the surrounding hills seem to protect Wheeler from the prevailing northwest wind and fog.

While Wheeler began in the early 1900's as a major port, today it is home to only 385 residents with a median age of 50.  My draw to this sleepy town is a wonderful quilt store called Creative Fabrics.  My sister Christine and I visited there on our last trip up and down the Oregon coast.  I got there about 4:50, and they closed at 5:30pm.  The woman that ran the store struck up a conversation with me, and we talked and talked about quilting - she even showed me some of her newest free motion quilting.  When I left - it was 5:45pm, was great to talk quilting and odd to be so talkative with a stranger.    Guess quilting will do that to you!!

The Wheeler train station - decked out for the holiday

Today, Tuesday,  was a rainy windy day on the Pacific Ocean beach - I thoroughly enjoyed getting drenched in the rain, feeling the rain on my face, and walking into the 12 mph gusts.  I started the day with a walk on the Manzanita Beach - that which I never tire.  After some work and a trip to the Post Office - to mail all my paper back home - to lighten the load on my suitcase - I ventured out to Cannon Beach, 13 miles north of Manzanita.

While Manzanita feels like a small town with all the amenities one would need, Post Office, Fire, Police, bar and grille, grocery store, galleries and motels; Cannon Beach felt like a tourist town that had rolled up the carpets for the winter.

Cannon Beach street

The beach is difficult to gain access to - with most walkways marked off with fences and signs that say "No public beach access".  But I finally found my way - and the roar of the waves and the rain were great - maybe the waves drown out the words in my head :-)

But it was great to stand on the beach and enjoy the winter wind without worry of frost bite!

Cannon Beach OR

Cannon Beach OR

Hug Bay

Found all the birds hanging out in the cove

Manzanita Beach from the road above

I am all packed up and anxious to see the girls (Jenelle, Colleen, Seneca - with Kili joining us on Thursday night) in Portland tomorrow morning.  I am convinced that if I get to sleep early enough 4am will not be quite so painful!  Their flight gets in at 5:30am, and I am 2 hours from Portland. 

We are spending the weekend in Portland to eat, walk and shop, sleep, then start again!!  Our annual December Christmas shopping weekend.

Feel like I have my dose of the Oregon coast - maybe it will last me until next year!
Cheers my friends and family
K