Coos Bay, OR - Nature's Fireworks

Sometimes we are in the right spot at the right time and today was the day. Several days ago we spoke with a couple who were pulling their crab pots out of the ocean because there was some 20’ waves coming into Port Orford and points north. These might ‘relocate’ their pots so they pulled them all out. Gary checked this weather report out and found that they were supposed to be the highest between 12 pm and 12 am. Well, we’re not going to be watching waves at midnight (I’m not thinkin’ we want to get up and out at midnight and how big a light would you need to see waves at midnight?) but we did get up early enough to get a good start and give us lots of opportunities to see the waves. He had also checked on maps and found several possible locations for great views.

Our first stop was at a beach in a cove and we could see the waves rolling in but by the time they got all the way into the beach, they were pretty small. So we drove up the coast a ways to a turnoff, parked and hiked closer to the ocean. Here we were on some cliffs and could look down at the waves. However, the best part about this spot was that we could see the waves hitting the rocks on the left and on the right. And, did they ever smash into the rocks and then, whoosh, they spurted up. Higher and higher.

Obviously we were not the only ones here to watch the waves. Several professional photographers were here along with all of us amateurs.

But all of us were in awe of what we were seeing and the cries of ‘ooh’ and ‘ahh’ were passed around. Just like a 4th of July fireworks show but these were natures fireworks. Beautiful and powerful all in the same.

Here’s Cape Arago Lighthouse, obscured by the mist.

My favorite was when waves crashed over a small under water rock ledge farther out and just exploded into the air.

the rock pattern on the ledge where we were standing were so intriguing. Imagine what forces of nature caused this.

And look at the wavy pattern of the foam coursing down this rock after a wave crashed over it.

And, the rainbows that appeared as if by magic over the exploding water added to the show.

After the show, we strolled through the formal gardens which were also in this State Park. The colorful blooms put on a show of their own.

Back once more to the show on the ocean.