NIRVANA

I am a dithering Goldilocks when confronted with too many choices for places to plunk.  On the Oregon Coast there are county parks, state parks, federal National Forest and BLM parks, National Recreation Areas and waysides; there are parks in ports and on piers, parks on rivers and creeks, parks on lakes; and the ubiquitous shopping center, strip mall or neighborhood.  I've done them all!

My criteria for a five-star squat, in order of importance:  free or inexpensive (a half price geezers' pass is perfect), easy on the eye and spiritually gratifying, internet connectability, a picnic table, refreshing sunshine (NOT HEAT!), a water feature, and, preferably, a place for Sambo to safely enjoy his outside privileges.  During the summer, I could care less if I have shore power or other citified amenities; RV "resorts" aren't an option because my rig's solar panels provide charge for all my basic needs.

I'm a map slut.  For this Summer's adventure on the Oregon Coast, my favorite go-to map has been the Oregon Central Coast Recreation Map published jointly by BLM and the National Forest Service.  This is a 3' x 3' topographic map that doesn't just show where to find sites (N/S from Tillamook to south of Coos Bay and W/E from the coast to I-5), it includes campground details for each site shown and color coded agency specifics for each federal, state and county *public* recreation site.  It has been indispensable.

Rarely do I find a place to squat where all my preferences are found in *one* place -- until now!  Then I discovered Eel Creek NFS campground.  It's at the north end of Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area, and for $10.00 a night, Sambo gets his very own private privy...

...And I get a clean, quiet, level pull-through site with a very private, wind-protected, enclosed sandy patio.  (Bring on the Tiki Lights!)  It's SO private, I could clothing-optional-sunbathe but for  kids chasing their unleashed dog through my "living room."  Since I'm a good citizen and realize that sight would damage them for life, I keep my clothes on!

I had this misconception that any campground in the "Dunes" area would be overrun with noisy dune buggies, off-roading, unmuffled ATV's, but all I hear on this sunny afternoon is the wind in the trees.  In this section of the "Dunes" no OHV's are allowed.  At all.  Whew!  The campground is maybe half full; and a practically-free ($3.00 donation)-state park-dump is just three miles north on Eel Lake.  I don't have a water feature in my back yard, but Eel Creek, is within walking distance.

WEATHER?....Sun is nice, but I like fog too -- Mother Nature's air conditioning.  It usually burns off by mid-day and keeps temperatures just where I like them...no higher than 76 degrees.

Could this be Brigadoon-by-the-Sea?  Say Ahhh!

"ABSENCE OF EMPTINESS"

In Newport, Oregon's Nye Beach District, there is a ginormous sculpture created from a single piece of redwood "driftwood."  The artist, Juergen Eckstein most likely needed scaffolding to coax his visions from the wood.

 

 

 

Photos of more of Eckstein's art can be found on his website, http://www.juergeneckstein.com

IN AND AROUND NEWPORT, OREGON

I hate heat.  And I hate to use the word "hate."  But I absolutely H-A-T-E heat.  Anything over 76 degrees makes me feel like I've got PMS all over again, and, trust me, I'm waaaaay beyond PMS.  Scary!  What to do? What to do?

Escape to my beginnings:  the coast.  Just one problem though...I had to go through heat in order to get to the coast where my favorite color (GRAY!) greeted me and miracle of miracles, I became a civilized human being again -- almost overnight!

Historic, Kitschy Bayfront

Breweries, Painted Buildings and Sidewalk Art

One of Several Newport Glass Blowing Hot Spots

Hatfield Marine Science Center -- So fun and interesting, there was no time left for the Aquarium!

Yaquina Head Outstanding Natural Area's Lighthouse...

and Bridge

Another "historic"...Historic Nye Beach

And yet ANOTHER "historic."  This one belongs on your bucket list .. even if only for the food:  Sylvia Beach Hotel, a Hotel for Book Lovers.  And lovers of leisurely, 4-star meals, four courses, prix fixe, served family style -- unique.

And whoever doesn't believe in Mother Nature's magic, go to your room!
Wind, water, waves.  One day Nye Beach was calm and flat.

After 24 hours of incessant, high wind, the beach grew from flat sand to sand dunes...deep dunes, unwalkable dunes (if one was looking for a flat beach!)

But wait!  Just wait another few days of tides and waves...et viola -- no dunes!

TAIKO DRUMMERS

Santa Cruz is well known for its spontaneous drum circles -- you never know when or where a group might appear here or there.  But an appearance in Santa Cruz of the Watsonville Taiko Drummers is considered a special event.  My son and I were treated to not one, but two Taiko groups at the Japanese Cultural Festival held in Santa Cruz each June.

These are some faces of Watsonville and San Francisco Taiko Drummers.  For me, these throbbing, rhythmic, goosebump-raising sounds are spiritual.

Young or old, the intense, passionate energy coming from these drummers is palpable and invigorating.

And the so-obvious enjoyment of their craft is so very infectious.

I don't consider my photographs "art," but I do hope that my images help tell a story.  Or, at least tell you something about the colorful world we live in.

San Francisco's Taiko Maestro on the left; my gorgeous son on the right.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MRYaQpVsFLQ

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CtLrxPdF7x4

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IQxp55Mon-Q