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Borrego Springs, CA

Thursday, May 21, 2015

A different view of the beach

On Wednesday mornings, most of the volunteers at Harris Beach State Park and two other close by parks meet for breakfast at Mattie’s Pancake House in Brookings.  I may be a volunteer for the Federal Fish and Wildlife Service, but I’m stationed at an Oregon State Park, so I decided to participate.  I don’t think I’ve eaten out for breakfast since 2008! 

I was able to get a suggestion of where to get a hair cut.  There’s a lady barber in town that only takes walk-ins, is fast, very reasonable, and didn’t scalp me.  Can’t beat that.  A bonus of finding the barber shop was that I also found a farmer’s market just setting up.  I love farmer’s markets.  As I approached the booths, the fragrance of fresh strawberries was dominant.  You can bet I’ll be there most Wednesday mornings while I’m here.  I won’t linger on the homemade macaroons and jar of strawberry/balsamic jam that I also purchased…

It was back to work for me today, and I was set up under overcast skies by 8:30.  I had a few visitors, but by 11:00 a huge fog bank had moved in that obliterated any view of the island.  Time to pack up and go home.  This assignment is totally weather dependent.  If you can’t see anything, you quit for the day.  I can live with that.

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By the middle of the afternoon, the fog had backed off a bit so Emma and I went for a walk on the Rock Beach Trail.  There is a nice view of the bay from some wonderfully placed benches along the trail.  I’m thinking this may become my favorite spot during my time here to just sit and enjoy.

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The view near the railing gives a little bit different perspective of the beach.  You can see and hear the wave action, but you’re way up on topIMG_1050Looking to the right, you can see the day use area down below.  All of those rocks and islands out there are part of Oregon Islands National Wildlife Refuge.

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This is the first time I’ve tried using the ‘Paint’ program to point some things out to you all.  The arrow on the right shows the overlook area where I set up my scope to show folks the birds.  The arrow on the top left is Bird/Goat Island where the birds nest.  And the dot by the lower left arrow is, in my opinion, a crazy person out trying to ‘catch a wave’!  The outside temp is only in the 50’s, and I can’t imagine how cold that water is. 

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If you look to the left from the railing you can see the water filling in between the mainland and this big rock island as the tide comes in.  There’s a tide pool hike scheduled for Saturday morning that I think I’ll go to, and I believe this path leads to those tide pools.  I need to learn about the tide pool inhabitants so I can let visitors know about them.

As the holiday weekend approaches, the campground has already begun to fill up.  From what I’ve heard, there won’t be one empty site come tomorrow night.  Maybe I’ll have a few more visitors at my overlook this weekend?

Thanks for stopping by… talk to you later,  Judy

22 comments:

  1. I'm enjoying your new volunteer job!

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  2. I am thinking that you are really going to enjoy this volunteer job! The scenery looks gorgeous, I am thinking that we are going to have to make a trip to Oregon soon.

    www.travelwithkevinandruth.com

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  3. Crikey that sure is beautiful scenery. I think Mum would like to visit Oregon. I would too but I'd have to go into quarantine to come back home again and I don't think I'd like that. Those homemade macaroons sound like something I'd like.

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  4. I think I could get to love sitting still for the summer with a view like yours. Then to be able to smell the salt air...... Maybe someday

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  5. looks like you are enjoying yourself! the Oregon coast for the summer! how perfect!!

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  6. No nasty skeeters I'm betting......I have never donated my blood to them on our "best" coast..
    Upriverdavid

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  7. Your words, strawberry balsamic jam stopped me in my tracks. I could immediately imagine how it will taste. l knew to add balsamic vinegar to fresh strawberries to make them sweater, especially when they have white centers BUT THIS? Unfortunately strawberry season is but a memory since it happens in April in Texas and Louisiana and doesn't happen here at all. And of course the rest of your story is fabulous as well. Oh the things that you'll learn!

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  8. It's going to fill up at our campground, too ... but it's doubtful anyone is going to get much beach action here with all the storms predicted.

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  9. I love the scenery in that part of the world but I tire quickly of the fog and temps in the 50's... but yes, I will return there because the scenery trumps the less desirable weather...

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  10. What a wonderful place!! Our son-in-law has sisters living in Seattle..and fog seems to be almost a daily occurrence!

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  11. I can "hear" the satisfaction in your writing!

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  12. Yep, the header photo is a beauty.
    Good job with the paint brush...especially that crazy person....hehe

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  13. You sound so happy at your new post. Happy and excited. I'll be curious to see how the weather is overall while you are there. Fog and cold are not for me. However, I had hoped that maybe we could come back down south out on the coast but since we are still sitting in AJ, that won't happen this year.

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  14. I could spend a lot of time just staring at the coastline:)

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  15. A great change from your last workamping job. And breakfast, too! :c)

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  16. Sounds like you are settling in! Good for you on finding a barber and a Farmers Market! Next bread and sponge candy...certainly they are on your list:)

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  17. Looks like an upcoming great 3 months

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  18. I love looking in and poking around in tide pools, such fun, and you never know what you'll see. Hey, a farmer's market with homemade macaroons ... yum yum.

    One of the best things about being retired is that we can wait till the day AFTER Memorial Day to head out in the motor home for the rest of the week Let the working stiffs have their long weekend in the great outdoors.

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  19. I think I love your favorite spot as well. . .nothing like listening to the surf!

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  20. Hi Judy!
    I can imagine the place so well with your words and the scenery is so awesome that I want to visit the place as soon as possible! My son Ayushman and I would love to go camping at the place. Also, your paint imagination is so super cool!

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