Exploring Newport and a Bit of the Surrounding Area

 April 15, 16, 17 - Our days off are Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, so I arrived just in time to do nothing, which was nice in a catch-up-on-sleep-and-recover kind of way. 

Tuesday we did some grocery shopping then I hung out for most of the day before hiking up Communication Hill. It was a moderately steep climb - a challenge for out of shape me - but it had some beautiful views.

Horsetail plant in early stage

Looking north towards Moolack Beach

Much of the trail is heavily forested

The communication equipment dominates the clearing at the top of the hill

But this is the view looking out over Agate Beach

On the descent I was looking down on our campsite

Wednesday I spent some time going through cabinets and figuring out what we had and organizing things before we headed off to explore the Newport's historic Bayfront.

 

These are all males as the females stay in California. It was amusing to watch them jostle for position - as Matthew said, so much like our kids on the couch anytime we are all together  

The Bayfront is an interesting combo of working fishing industry and beachy tourist spots

This is part of a dock from Misawa, Japan that broke free in the 2011 tsunami and floated here

Thursday, after more organizing and rearranging, trying to fit everything we have in a way that makes sense, we headed to Depoe Bay, the "Whale Watching Capital of Oregon". We did not see any but enjoyed chatting with the volunteers in the state whale watch sight.

Entrance to the "worlds smallest harbor"

It's a narrow approach for boats

Water shoots out of a lava tube after a wave has crashed

We drove the picturesque Otter Crest Loop on the way back - "our" lighthouse can be seen on the point

View from Otter Crest overlook

The Devil's Punchbowl at Otter Rock

Surfers off the beach from Otters Rock