A Salute to Peter Pan and Coffee

Heading West on the Sunset Highway from Portland, will lead you smack into (hopefully onto) Highway 101.  Just take the second exit to the right and straight on to Cannon Beach.  This Oregon beach town, larger and more touristy than Manzanita (see previous post) sits nestled at the junction of Hwy 26 and Hwy 101.  There are many shops and restaurants, though I visit one spot every time I head to the beach. At the indelible  Sleepy Monk you will have one of the best cups of coffee or coffee drink ever.  Grab one of their pastries too.  You are welcome.

The orange sun peeks through the clouds on the horizon as it sets behind the stacks on Cannon Beach. Purple and white clouds are strewn across the sky with light blue skies on the left fading to dark blue skies on the right. Three smaller stacks sit on the horizon to the left of the looming Haystack Rock with the entire scene reflected on the wet sand.Sunset over Cannon Beach

A violet hued sunset on Cannon Beach with wispy clouds strewn in the sky and the sea stacks of rock including Haystack Rock sit in silhouette reflected in the small wave flowing onto the beach.

A violet-hued sunset over Cannon Beach

I don’t usually use filters on my photos, but sometimes I like to play.  And there are times where that pays off.  These two images were taken within minutes of each other.  The top one is unfiltered, showing the rich blues and warmth of the sunset.  The bottom image I applied a slight violet filter and came up with this glowing version.

What’s in a name?

Cannon Beach was named after a cannon (or a few) that had been lost to sea after a shipwreck in 1846. The USS Shark was a Navy schooner that sank while trying to cross the Columbia River bar, which is located roughly 25 miles north of Cannon Beach. During the ship’s sinking, several cannons fell into the sea and were seen over the years in the sand and surf.   James P. Austin built the area’s first hotel and post office.   He was obsessed with finding one of the lost cannons and, as a result, named the area Cannon Beach.   Click here for more details on the history of the USS Shark, its sinking, and subsequent cannon stories.

If you time that second exit to the right and straight on to Cannon perfectly, you might catch one of these blazing sunsets. Make sure to check when the sun sets, though. We are far enough North that I had to wait until almost 9:00 to catch this scene.   Same rock – different day.

Orange and black striking clouds lit up by the sunset sit low in the sky with lighter streaks of orange sky sit above. Sea rock stack sits to left of center with silhouetted bird perched on lower section of rock. Rolling wave in foreground with the tip of the wave catching the sun's light giving an orange splash on the purple wave.

A wicked-looking sunset glows behind a sea stack of rocks silhouetted with a bird perched on a lower ledge watching the sunset.

A yellow glowing sky at sunset illuminates the image with a silhouette of a rock stack on Cannon Beach in the foreground with waves rolling in in front. A large ocean wave splash crashes into the lower part of the stack with the sun's light lighting up the wave and the spray around it

A wave crashes on Cannon Beach’s rock stack catching the sun’s shine.

Ocean rock stack sits in the sea in front of an orange and purple streaked sky at sunset. A double-crested cormorant sits atop the stack watching over the sea as sea gull silhouetted against the orange sky flies by. Rolling blue waves in the surf in front of the scene

Double Crested Cormorant sits atop a rock stack in the shallows of Canon Beach at sunset.

Terrible Tilly

Just a bit north of Cannon and nestled between Seaside and Ecola State Park lies the Elmer Feldenheim State Natural Area.  Within is the Tillamook Head Trail, which offers spectacular views of the Pacific and a view of the extraordinary Terrible Tilly Lighthouse.  Shrouded in mystery with a storied past, she stood as a beacon of light for sea-faring vessels for 77 years. Withstanding voracious seas, she rode out the worst storm on record in 1934 where she lost her windows and lens to boulders heaved by the storm.  23 years later, her light was turned off for good.

*A note of caution.  If you decide to hike this trail to see Tilly, try to wait until dry weather.  From October to late June the rains can cause trecherous conditions on the trail with slick mud as you ascend 900 feet in switchbacks on this moderate-difficult trail.

Terrible Tilly Lighthouse sits silhouetted against a dramatic orange sunset behind. Streaks of shades of orange clouds line the sky with the giant yellow sun emitting waves of light around it as it just touches the sea in the horizon. Silhouetted seagulls fly around the lighthouse.

Beautifully terrible, she sits in silhouette against a massive sun kissing the ocean.

Portrait setting of dramatic grey clouds edged with orange from the setting sun with streaks of clouds covering the middle and lower sky to the sea. A silhouette of teh Tillamook Rock Lighthouse also known as Terrible Tilly sits at the bottom in the dark sea.

A dramatic sky hangs over a glowing sunset behind The Tillmook Rock Lighthouse.

An orange streaked sky glows from the sun that has set below the horizon. The silhouette of the Tillamook Rock Lighthouse sits in a cobalt blue ocean.

Is it the mother ship?

A cloud filled sky with open patches are filled with sunlight with sun beams shooting down out of the clouds in an upside-down V over the sea with seagulls flying across the sky and walking on the beach.

As I close out this edition, I will remind you that all my images are available for purchase. I also have stationary, so embrace the pen, grab a pack, and send your mom, dad, grandparent, lover, sibling, or whoever a lovely note.

If nothing else, subscribe below and join me on my adventures and invite your friends too!

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