April 12: Bathed in Blue

Riding south along the Pacific Coast today, I was bathed in delightful shades of blue all around –from sparkling sapphire ocean vistas stretching into the horizon to bright indigo skies punctuated with puffs of white above and beautiful azure bays on both sides. With the glorious sun warming my back I came home fully recharged for the week ahead.

Heading west on the Sunset Highway this morning, I passed large stretches of green and brown fields dotted with barns and farmhouses, pastures filled with grazing livestock, and orchards beginning to bloom. With temperatures in the forties, I luxuriated in the warmth of my electric gear and breathed in the cool, moist air.

Entering the Tillamook State Forest, I rose in elevation, temperatures dropped, and rain began to fall, bringing to life the bright green foliage lining the road and casting a fine mist over the evergreen trees covering the foothills. Glad that I had left the rain liner in my jacket, I leaned into the curves, bumping and jostling over rough spots in the road.

Turning south onto highway 101, I pulled over to enjoy the view of Haystack Rock, nestled in the cove just off Cannon Beach under the now bright-blue skies. The grey and brown 235-foot sea stack monolith jutted prominently out of the icy aqua-colored ocean waters amidst the crashing frothy white waves beyond the scrubby green trees lining the shore.

Continuing south past Nehalem, I wound my way along the Nehalem River and Nehalem Bay past Rockaway Beach, enjoying one glorious water view after another including a delightful cluster of grass-topped rocky outcroppings in Tillamook Bay near Crab Rock, their dark brown and black surfaces contrasting beautifully with the gently rolling waters around them.

Turning east on highway 6 in Tillamook, I began working my way back towards home, following the contours of the Wilson River as it snaked its way through the Tillamook Forest. Hit with rain again but warm in my thick layers, I reflected on how fortunate I am to live in such a beautiful part of this country.