| Cannon Beach, Oregon | May/June 2006 |

Facing South, with Haystack Rock on the right Source: Wikipedia

Looking Northwest up the beach Souce: Wikipedia

Haystack Rock Souce: Wikipedia

Click here to go straight to my photos without the "National Geographic" descriptions!

The day after our misadventure at Mt. Hood, we bound westwards -- this time to see the Pacific Ocean! I had never seen the pacific before. We took Highway 26 and ended up at Cannon beach within an hour. The beach was excellent, with two big rocks rising out of the water just a few hundred meters from the shore. This was the Haystack Rock -- apparently home to seagulls.

From here we headed off to another beach -- Ilwaco Long Beach in Washington State.

From Wikipedia:

"The first recorded American or British journey to this area was made by William Clark, one of the leaders of the Lewis and Clark Expedition in January, 1805, when a group of Native Americans invited him to view a beached whale at the nearby beach. The expedition was headquartered at the time near the mouth of the Columbia River. Curiosity got the better of him and Clark had to journey south over Tillamook Head, which he described in his journal as “the Steepest worst and highest mountain I ever assended…” to get there. From a place near the western cliffs of the headland he saw “… the grandest and most pleasing prospects which my eyes ever surveyed, in front of a boundless Ocean…” That viewpoint is now called Clark's Point of View and can be accessed by a hiking trail which leaves Indian Beach within the Ecola State Park.

"Upon arriving at what is now Cannon Beach, he and his companions found the flensed skeleton of a 105' whale on the beach and the Indians busily boiling blubber for storage. A 105' whale would have to be a blue whale - certainly noteworthy so far north. But Clark was a professional surveyor so it is unlikely he was wrong.

"Clark and his small company bartered for some blubber and whale oil, then headed back home. Thus ended the first tourist visit to a west coast beach.

"In 1964 a tsunami, generated by an Alaskan earthquake, came ashore along the coasts of the Pacific Northwest. While it did not destroy the town of Cannon Beach it did inundate parts of it and washed away the highway bridge at the north side of town. The authorities decided to move the highway further inland in order to prevent a repeat of the damage. Cannon Beach being only a few blocks wide found itself bypassed by the highway. In their isolation they decided to hold a sandcastle building contest - an event which is repeated annually to this day.

"Cannon Beach is recognized by its well-known landmark, Haystack Rock, located to the southwest of downtown Cannon Beach, near Tolovana Park. This igneous rock has an elevation of 327 feet, and is often accessible at low tide, especially in the summertime. There is a small cave system that penetrates the rock and can be seen from the coastline. The rock is also protected as a marine sanctuary.

"Near Haystack Rock are the Needles, two tall rocks rising straight out of the water. Together with Haystack Rock, the Needles create a photogenic panorama that is even more appealing during a sunset over the Pacific Ocean."

Now for my photos --

Cannon Beach, First Visit

On way to Cannon Beach The roads in this part of the USA are so beautiful and green, with mountains filled with trees and flowers.	Cannon Beach Looking from the higher road, the Needles sticking out of the shore.
Cannon Beach The Haystack Rock and the Needles looking North.	Cannon Beach Looking Southwards, a few more big igneous rocks.
Cannon Beach Oceanwaves reflecting the noon sunlight. The time we arrived there was not very good for taking snaps, and we were too eager to see the sunset at Ilwaco Long Beach. Too bad we did not capture the famed Sunset at Cannon Beach.	Cannon Beach The Haystack Rock, there is a cave system penetrating the Rock.
Cannon Beach The Needles near Haystack Rock. Together with the Haystack Rock, the Needles, create a photogenic panorama that is even more appealing during a sunset over the Pacific Ocean.	Cannon Beach Seagulls nest in the Haystack Rock.
Cannon Beach A sea-weed covered rock on the shorebed.	Cannon Beach Waves crusing over a rock, when a seagull flies by.
Cannon Beach Seagulls flying over the Ocean.	Cannon Beach One of the Needles.
Cannon Beach Two identical looking dogs pose on the beach. At a point, one of them was looking towards the Ocean like a poet! "Warf warf, the Pacific smells of fresh crabs today, my dear!"	Cannon Beach Seagulls returning to Haystack Rock.
Cannon Beach My favorite Canon's "Tungsten" effect again at play.

Cannon Beach, Second Visit

Cannon Beach, Oregon Haystack Rock	Cannon Beach, Oregon The Needles from the South.
Cannon Beach, Oregon Haystack Rock from the South.	Cannon Beach, Oregon
Cannon Beach Oregon The Needles from the North.	Cannon Beach, Oregon Coast Pacific Ocean Waves crashing on rocks.
Cannon Beach, Oregon The Needles from the South.	Cannon Beach, Oregon One of the Needles from the North.
document.write(" "); Cannon Beach, Oregon Haystack Rock.
Cannon Beach, Oregon The Ocean from Haystack Rock.	Cannon Beach, Oregon The Ocean from Haystack Rock.
Cannon Beach, Oregon The Rocks from the North.	Cannon Beach, Oregon Haystack Rock from the North.
Cannon Beach, Oregon Seagulls on the seashore during dusk.	Cannon Beach, Oregon Sunset.
Cannon Beach, Oregon Sunset.	Cannon Beach, Oregon Haystack Rock just after sunset.
Cannon Beach, Oregon The Needles just after sunset.	Cannon Beach, Oregon Haystack Rock and the Needles just after sunset.
Cannon Beach, Oregon The Needles right after sunset.

 

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