Oregon Coast vacation: the wildlife

We visited the tide pools at Seal Rock twice. Thursday morning Jeff and I got up early, when tide was low. None of our children wanted to get up so we left without them. We joined several of Jeff's siblings. There wasn't a youngster among  us, but the setting was so full of childlike wonder that we knew we wanted to see it again: the next time, with the kids. We saw pink and green anemones, tiny crabs, mussels, sea snails, barnacles and limber, expressive starfish. 

 Anemones 

Interlocking star fish

Our rental house was in Waldport, not far from the Alsea bay and bridge. There was something so appealing about crossing above the ocean on foot. I wanted to do it! Jeff was a great sport and, nearly every time we returned to the house, dropped us off and drove to the other side of the bridge to wait. The first time walking we approached a sandbar. I saw brown and gray lines en masse. What were they? Birds? As we walked closer I saw that was unlikely; the forms were too big. Logs? No, not quite. Wait, they're moving!

Can you guess?

Walking across the bridge

Did you guess seals?

I loved watching them. These lines in their sand are their tracks -- the body drags the continuous line, and the flippers form the divots on either side.

Newport is a bigger town north of Waldport. Its historic Bayfront District is a charming mix of galleries, shops, docks and ... sea lions. If they weren't sleeping they were barking. Now that's ambience!