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Borrego Springs, CA

Thursday, May 28, 2015

What’s the difference between a rock and a sea stack?

Oregon Islands NWR is made up of all the rocks, islands, and sea stacks that are located off shore from the coast of Oregon.  I’ve been a little confused about what the difference is between a rock, an island, and a sea stack.  I even asked the interpretive ranger here, but I sure didn’t understand her sort of answer.

After the fog finally lifted this afternoon, Emma and I went on a little road trip to view some of the other rocks, islands, and sea stacks north of us that are a part of the refuge.  We headed north on the Highway 101 scenic byway, and drove to Gold Beach, OR, before turning around so that all the overlooks would be on our right on our way back.  The Rogue River enters the sea at Gold Beach, and this is the bridge across the river on the north side of town.  I had driven down from Bandon on this scenic route two weeks ago, but didn’t stop along the way with the rig and car in tow.                                                                                                                                           

There are numerous turn offs and viewpoints along the way, and each one is pretty spectacular.  Many of them are along the Samuel Boardman State Scenic Corridor, and are administered by the Oregon State Park system.  Samuel Boardman is considered the “Father of Oregon State Parks”.  The winds were really howling, and I was glad I was in my car rather than the rig for this drive.

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At this stop, a couple of (crazy) people were getting suited up to go out on surf boards with sails on them.  With the high winds and turbulent water, I just can’t imagine wanting to do that.  Guess I’m just too old for that kind of excitement.
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One of my stops along the way was at the Arch Rock viewpoint.  Nice view, but I sure didn’t see any arch.  This area had picnic tables and pit toilets.  Eventually I saw a small sign pointing down a trail to the arch overlook.
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The trail is maybe a quarter of a mile long to a nice bench that overlooks the sea, and Arch Rock is right in front of you.  It was here that I learned what a sea stack really is.  These huge rocks (islands?) take a real beating from the winds and waves, and some of them erode away in spots to form the arches.  Waves continue to take their toll on the rock and widen the arch.
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Eventually, the arch collapses, after eons, and what is left are standing sea stacks on the sides.  Makes sense to me.  Not sure why the ranger couldn’t have just said that.  I know I probably could have looked up the definition of a sea stack on Google, but finding out this way with the arch right in front of me, I’ll more easily remember it.  I noticed those round black holes on the arch rock.  Beneath each hole is a lot of bird whitewash.  Some sea birds nest in this arch, but I didn’t see any around.

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The last viewpoint we stopped at was House Rock.  That’s where we found a monument dedicated to Samuel Boardman.  The view to the north was wonderful, even though a bit hazy.
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Emma especially liked hopping up on the wall around the monument for a better view.  Winking smile  I had another visitor ask me if I tied the leash around Emma’s middle on purpose, and I told him I sure did.  With that gentle reminder, she is quite calm on leash.

It’s always a good day when you have beautiful scenery, and learn something to boot!

Thanks for stopping by… talk to you later,  Judy

P.S.  This was originally Tuesday night's post that I couldn't get published with Live Writer.  What a frustrating afternoon it was for me today, Thursday, trying to get it moved over to the Blogger platform.  I really hate going back to this method of posting.  :(

30 comments:

  1. I, too, wasted way too much time trying to post directly to Blogger. I'm hoping I will get the hang of it and it will be quicker and easier each time, since from what I read it sounds like the problem won't be fixed anytime soon, if ever.

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  2. Looks great, Judy, hopefully it will be easier next time. I, too, managed to try a post copying the html from LiveWriter to Blogger and inserting photos via URL. Worked pretty well except for font size, but didn't take that long to do it. And...just love seeing our familiar coast through your eyes

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  3. I have been very lax about blogging lately, and if it hadn't been for Rick, I wouldn't have known about Live Writer ..I guess I will have to fight with Blogger again..if I can remember how that works!!!

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  4. I've used the blogger platform for publishing the entire eight years we've been running the blog, and so I have no problem with it at all.

    To get rid of the border around your pictures...Go to Dashboard - Template - Customize - Advanced - Scroll down to Add CSS - paste the following code - Press enter after the last character of the last line } - Apply to Blog.

    .post-body img, .post-body .tr-caption-container, .Profile img, .Image img,
    .BlogList .item-thumbnail img {
    padding: 0 !important;
    border: none !important;
    background: none !important;
    -moz-box-shadow: 0px 0px 0px transparent !important;
    -webkit-box-shadow: 0px 0px 0px transparent !important;
    box-shadow: 0px 0px 0px transparent !important;
    }

    That should fix it up! Good luck...

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    1. Thanks, Kevin! I used your instructions and did that to my blog, too. I like it better without the photo frames. :)

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  5. Thanks for the sea stack lesson.

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  6. very interesting I too AM disappointed in losing Live Writer oh well maybe I'll just move my blog someplace else

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  7. Microsoft is ignoring Google and Google is ignoring the complainers. It is a discouraging setback for those of us that use live writer.
    Beautiful views in this post! :)

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  8. Love your post and learning about the arches and sea stacks. I could look at your beautiful ocean all day long. Really great idea for Emma's leash. Glad to see you two got out and about today. I'm sorry to see that so many people are caving on this blogger thing and allowing Google to keep their customers after treating them so badly. I may try to post the Wedding blog on Blogger but my integrity is giving me a very hard time about continuing to patronize a business that will treat me with such total disregard.

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    1. Has nothing to do with "integrity," Sherry. I looked at lots of alternatives all day yesterday, including Word Press, and I simply didn't care for any of them. Blogger, no matter its faults, allows the most customization to a blog without paying an annual fee. Perhaps because of the way I've been writing my blogs in LW all along, the copy-paste method doesn't create much of a hassle for me. Yes, it's not ideal ... yes, it is a workaround ... but it allows me to continue my writing while slow-moving corporate wheels turn ... either the way I want them to or in another direction. Why let them frustrate me in the meantime. Perhaps I'll switch to something else at some point, but it will have to be when I have more time to spend on it than I have at the moment.

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  9. I love the area around Gold Beach, and hope I get a chance to drive up there while you are still there.

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  10. I have never been in that area. Those are really neat structures, carved out by the sea over time.

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  11. Your blog is very inspiring. I would love to travel to the places you’ve been to. You’ve motivated me to make the most of my life and live it to the fullest. Thank you. :) If you have time, visit us here at the Daintree Rainforest

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  12. Crikey ...... what a beautiful coastline. We have similar in Australia but EVERY coastline is just that little bit different, aye?? Thanks for nothing for the picture of Emma with the lead around her tummy. Mum'll try that on me now. A GENTLE reminder, you say. I need more than a GENTLE reminder.

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  13. Total agreement -- it’s always a good day when you have beautiful scenery, and learn something to boot!

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  14. Beautiful coast... love your photos!

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  15. I love the wild look those islands, and arches, and sea stacks give the coast.

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  16. Hi Judy, Just wanted to say how much I love your blog and appreciate all the extra work you had to do to make it publish - I have been following your adventures for several years and your photos are beautiful - I admire your volunteer work with the NWR and that your blog is informative and inspiring and often funny ! On days when you don't post - I just go back and read an old one. Enjoy your day and have a great summer - Thanks for sharing - Cindy in Ohio

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  17. Gorgeous photos Judy--I haven't used Blogger in a long time but I did teach a friend how to write a blog using Blogger not to long ago so at least I've had some recent exposure.

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  18. We do appreciate your efforts to get your blog posted. You know we all love your pictures and your sharing your new knowledge with us. I think my problem is I really hate change (especially on computer stuff) as I get older and I knew LW so well.

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  19. The water there is usually pretty rough. If a person wants to get in the water, they just have to go for it. The waves are gorgeous though.

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  20. Thanks for taking the time to get your pictures posted, they bring back memories of our many visits to Oregon, in fact we have pictures of some of the same rocks, er, Sea Stacks. Even with my limited photography skills, I was able to get great pictures of the Oregon coast, as long as I remembered to keep my thumb out of the way of my lens... ;c)

    Yes, I think we miss Oregon a lot!

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  21. That's very interesting, what you did with Emma's leash. I've never seen that before. Katie is little enough that I don't have a problem keeping her where I want her, but if I ever need to walk a bigger dog who is strong, I'll remember that. Great photos! :)

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  22. You and Emma have the most fun.

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  23. I echo the thoughts of others...that I love learning about stuff on your blog, and appreciate the effort you take to share your adventures with us. I am at Wordpress, so don't know about whatever is going on over at your service, but I hope it gets resolved soon and in a manner that you all like.

    Love the picture of Emma; we use that leash method when in obedience training with a new dog on occasion. You are right, a gentle reminder of what is being requested helps the dogs to pay attention.

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  24. Whatever you call them, it is sure beautiful!

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  25. loved learning the difference in the terms as well. . .we've seen several of the "arches" or "natural bridges" but did not know they were called stacks once the center collapsed. . .very interesting info. . .

    We've spent a few cloudy, foggy, cool days on the coast as well. . .we don't care. . .it's just glorious!

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  26. Thanks for the rock lesson, and I guess I'm glad I never heard of Live Write as I read everyone's comments! I like the tip about getting rid of the frame around the photo and I'll try it, hadn't ever really paid attention to it before so I'll try and see which way I like it better. I used to scrapbook and am used to viewing my photos "framed".

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  27. Thus the above information you are saying is very nice ... It is helpful to every on e. I want to live like that places.. Your photos was very nice It makes interest to visit this place ..http://www.catford-minicab.co.uk

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  28. I was born down near Bandon and grew up on the south coast of Oregon. I live in the mid valley now, but I miss the coast and when I go, and crest the coast range and get near enough coming down to where the air turns to a smell of ocean salt, I am happy. I don't get down to the south coast much, the last times being when I would travel to Coos Bay with a load of unfixed cats to be fixed at a low cost clinic there and would spend the day sleeping in the sand at Sunset Bay, beyond Charleston.

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