Tuesday, September 26, 2006
Coastin' 3: Dream Warriors
Here's the final photo set of the trip.
We started the day with another attempt to fly Phil's kite (1 2). Once again, not so much flying as getting it airborne and then winding the string back up half a minute later. Oh well.
After packing and leaving the hotel, but before arriving at the Oregon Coast Aquarium, Dina, Phil and I detoured to the Yaquina Bay Lighthouse. It's not as photogenic as the one at Yaquina Head, but the parking lot has nice views of the Yaquina Bay bridge and jetty. Here's Phil at the bridge.
About halfway through our visit to the aquarium the focus decided to go out on my digital camera. A reboot fixed it, but I neglected to go back and re-shoot the jellyfish. What I have looks like this:
After that it was back in the car, down to dinner in Florence, and up the winding highways to home. A good weekend. Thanks to Grammy & Poppa for making it possible.
We started the day with another attempt to fly Phil's kite (1 2). Once again, not so much flying as getting it airborne and then winding the string back up half a minute later. Oh well.
After packing and leaving the hotel, but before arriving at the Oregon Coast Aquarium, Dina, Phil and I detoured to the Yaquina Bay Lighthouse. It's not as photogenic as the one at Yaquina Head, but the parking lot has nice views of the Yaquina Bay bridge and jetty. Here's Phil at the bridge.
About halfway through our visit to the aquarium the focus decided to go out on my digital camera. A reboot fixed it, but I neglected to go back and re-shoot the jellyfish. What I have looks like this:
- Phil and Crab
- There was also a "Dance Like a Crustacean" exhibit near the crabs: 1 2 3 4
(I'll give someone a dollar to fix the kerning in the DLaC signage; see photo 1) - Phil and Mantis Shrimp
- Many fascinating shots of three species of jellyfish would go here, but, alas...
- The Obligatory "Giant Shark" Teeth Picture
- Who's in that Diving Helmet?
- Who else?
- Mother and Son at the Sea Otters
- Phil, the Crafty Otter
After that it was back in the car, down to dinner in Florence, and up the winding highways to home. A good weekend. Thanks to Grammy & Poppa for making it possible.
Sunday, September 24, 2006
Coastin' 2: Electric Boogaloo
Here's another photo set from our weekend at the coast. We're home now (sorry to spoil the ending) and the photos that wouldn't upload yesterday did mostly fine today. Look for more from the trip later this week.
After a donut run to Fred Meyer (would've patronized a local shop, but couldn't find a donuteria on Hwy 101), Phil, Poppa, Dina, and I headed down to the beach. We quickly found a bunch of crab parts (this Tuesday's show and tell) and then came across a weird lump of sand. Phil was the first to suggest it was a jellyfish. I rubbed some sand off the surface and, sure enough, he was right. Here's the boy and the beastie. Mom's no wimp; she touched the jellyfish, too. (If you're curious, it felt like the soft rubber jellyfish available in finer nautical toy and novelty shops; lifelike? they mean it.)
After the invertebrate encounter, Phil flew his kite until it became frustratingly clear the wind wasn't going to cooperate for more than 30 seconds at a time. Still, Saturday and Sunday's kite flying (Sunday's wasn't much better) was the best use of Phil's kite we've had in two years (the winds here don't cooperate at all).
We all piled into our rental car and headed down the road to the Hatfield Marine Science Visitor Center. Cool Yellow Submarine outside; no Liverpudlians or Blue Meanies in sight. Inside we were greeted by a Giant Pacific Octopus. Later Phil got up close and almost personal with a turtle, frog, and an interactive exhibit.
Next we drove to lunch (Subway) and the Yaquina Head Lighthouse. Going up the stairs -- all bazillion and eight of them -- was not a great deal of fun. Coming down was much easier (going down and coming up from the beach and hotel was a similar experience). Seeing the lighthouse light was worth the trip, though. (Anyone know the number of a qualified sherpa who can shlep me around the house until I recover from shin splints?)
The views north and south of Yaquina Head weren't too shabby from ground level. Several whales were playing well out of camera range just east of the "north" shot. Saw a whale's fluke rise out of the water just west of the "south" view; would've made a great picture if I'd had the camera ready and trained on that spot of ocean for the half second the tail was visible.
Then dinner, then a bunch of Power Rangers on TV for Phil and I-don't-know-what for Dina (I was off on a quest of my own), then bed time. Sweet, sweet bed time. Aaaah...
After a donut run to Fred Meyer (would've patronized a local shop, but couldn't find a donuteria on Hwy 101), Phil, Poppa, Dina, and I headed down to the beach. We quickly found a bunch of crab parts (this Tuesday's show and tell) and then came across a weird lump of sand. Phil was the first to suggest it was a jellyfish. I rubbed some sand off the surface and, sure enough, he was right. Here's the boy and the beastie. Mom's no wimp; she touched the jellyfish, too. (If you're curious, it felt like the soft rubber jellyfish available in finer nautical toy and novelty shops; lifelike? they mean it.)
After the invertebrate encounter, Phil flew his kite until it became frustratingly clear the wind wasn't going to cooperate for more than 30 seconds at a time. Still, Saturday and Sunday's kite flying (Sunday's wasn't much better) was the best use of Phil's kite we've had in two years (the winds here don't cooperate at all).
We all piled into our rental car and headed down the road to the Hatfield Marine Science Visitor Center. Cool Yellow Submarine outside; no Liverpudlians or Blue Meanies in sight. Inside we were greeted by a Giant Pacific Octopus. Later Phil got up close and almost personal with a turtle, frog, and an interactive exhibit.
Next we drove to lunch (Subway) and the Yaquina Head Lighthouse. Going up the stairs -- all bazillion and eight of them -- was not a great deal of fun. Coming down was much easier (going down and coming up from the beach and hotel was a similar experience). Seeing the lighthouse light was worth the trip, though. (Anyone know the number of a qualified sherpa who can shlep me around the house until I recover from shin splints?)
The views north and south of Yaquina Head weren't too shabby from ground level. Several whales were playing well out of camera range just east of the "north" shot. Saw a whale's fluke rise out of the water just west of the "south" view; would've made a great picture if I'd had the camera ready and trained on that spot of ocean for the half second the tail was visible.
Then dinner, then a bunch of Power Rangers on TV for Phil and I-don't-know-what for Dina (I was off on a quest of my own), then bed time. Sweet, sweet bed time. Aaaah...
Friday, September 22, 2006
Coastin'
Dina's folks have been in town for a few days and this afternoon we all headed out to the Oregon Coast for a couple nights. We're staying at the Newport Hallmark Inn & Resort. This is the view outside our room: out on the lanai. Here's a detail from that photo; the Yaquina Head lighthouse is off in the distance. Here's the in-room view.
Dina and Phil took a walk down to the beach earlier. Here they are coming back.
Julia, the jellies in the hotel lobby say "Hello."
Feel free to still leave a comment/ask a question on the bookshelf meme. I'll fill in details when we get back.
Dina and Phil took a walk down to the beach earlier. Here they are coming back.
Julia, the jellies in the hotel lobby say "Hello."
Feel free to still leave a comment/ask a question on the bookshelf meme. I'll fill in details when we get back.
