Cannon Beach, Oregon

"If you reconnect with nature and the wilderness, you will not only find the meaning of life, but you will experience what it means to be truly alive." - Sylvia Dolson

The drive from Seattle to Cannon Beach was beautiful, as will be the theme for the remainder of my trip. It was just 175 miles from Tacoma to Cannon Beach. It took Fern and me longer to get there than the three hours suggested it would take, but we took our time and took pictures along the way.

This is the Willapa River just outside of South Bend. I thought it was a beautiful place to pull over, stretch my legs, and take pictures.

This is the Astoria-Megler Bridge, and it was intense! It is just over 4 miles long, and when It was built in 1966, it was the longest continuous-truss bridge in the world. It crosses the Columbia River. Winds as high as 60 mph have easily overturned 53-foot tractor-trailers. It is listed as one of the scariest bridges for truckers, and I understand why. Pulling Fern over it was anxiety-inducing for sure.

I had a death grip on the steering wheel as I made my way to the top, and as luck would have it, there was construction, and I was forced to sit there for about 15 minutes. I was afraid to look over the edge. lol It felt like being stuck at the top of a roller coaster. Not a great feeling. I was so relieved to be off that bridge.

This isn't my photo, but from the Oregon Dot, it gives you an idea of the incline and the massive scale of this bridge.

I caught the sun setting in Astoria on my way through after taking a break to recuperate after crossing the bridge. In case you're interested, Astoria was the site of The Goonies movie.

The Columbia River is one of the most challenging crossings and has a long history of shipwrecks. Especially where the saltwater and freshwater meet. Over 2,000 vessels have sunk in the area since 1792!

I don't know the story behind these two boats, but I'm sure they're interesting. The Astoria-Megler Bridge is just a few miles from this point.

I arrived at Cannon Beach just before sunset and got settled for the evening. I made a fire, relaxed, and enjoyed a s'more after my exciting day of driving. I stayed at Sea Ranch Resort. It was well cared for and hardly occupied. The location was easy to get to and close to town, which was nice.

It was surprisingly unnerving to me how I could hear and feel the force of the ocean even from my campsite. The roar was unsettling to me. The fact that I wasn't on the beach and was a ways from it but could still experience that much intensity from it was a lot. I wouldn't say I liked it. It didn't bother me in the daylight, but it was intense at night when everything was quiet.

It rained all night, and Fern leaked a bit for the first time. I was determined to see the haystacks that Cannon Beach is famous for. There was a slight break in the rain, so I headed out just before sunrise to see what I could see. It was also low tide and a good time to get close. I drove by them, and seeing this small mountain suddenly come into view next to you on a winding road next to the beach was intimidating.

I had no problem finding a parking spot on the side of the road because I was the only one crazy enough to be in the rain at this time of day. I walked down to the beach and stood there in awe. These would come familiar to me as I traveled down the coast, but I certainly didn't get used to them. It began raining pretty hard, so I didn't walk down to them as I would have on a nice day.

There was a break in the rain, so I decided to explore Ecola State Park. This is another site The Goonies filmed and a scene from Kindergarten Cop.

It was foggy and difficult to get a great picture, but it was still beautiful and mysterious.

Sitka Spruce and Western Hemlock trees grow in the forest in Ecola State Park. They are so unique and beautiful. I'm used to the forest in Minnesota, but this is like walking into a magical forest.

Elk and deer are known to live in this forest. I saw several deer but no elk.

A drive through the forest will land you at Indian Beach. It was a great place to sit on a tree that had washed up on shore and take in the ocean's magnificence or hunt for seashells and rocks. I did all the above.

The sun was trying to come out and burn some of the fog away while I was there.

The ocean was still stirred up from the storm the night before and the morning.

I went back into town for a late lunch and decided to walk on Cannon Beach. It was a pretty beach; I could take pictures of the haystacks from another view.

These guys joined me. They seemed content, just congregating together.

I walked back into town from the beach and had lunch at Driftwood Restaurant and Lounge. I sat outside and enjoyed the sunshine that was peeking through the clouds. Fish and Chips were in order after my day of exploring. They were delicious!

A few pictures of this small-town sea village. Cannon Beach has been recognized as the "best overall beach" in Oregon, one of America's best art towns, and one of the world's most beautiful places. It is lovely here, and I enjoyed the atmosphere.

If I wanted to relocate near the coast, I could see myself living here. There are several State Parks, the Tillamook Rock Lighthouse, hiking trails, sea caves, restaurants, boutiques, and galleries, and just a short drive to Portland, the Cascades, and Mount Hood.

Seaside is just a few miles down the road and known for its Promenade along the beach. It's a larger town with more shops and restaurants and is much busier. If you want a more relaxing and quiet experience away from the crowds, come to Cannon Beach. You won't be disappointed.

Next stop... Cascade Locks, Oregon.

Stay Wild 🌿