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I spotted this field of towering wind turbines creating shadows across the hills near Maryhill, WA just as the sunlight peeked through the fog. The wind turbine fields are becoming a common sight along the Columbia River that divides Oregon and Washington. It's a perfect place to install this form of alternative energy as there is rarely a day that the wind isn't blowing!
The end of January promised some great "storm watching" over on the Oregon Coast, so my husband and I decided to drive over to the Newport area to do some photography and eat some clam chowder. (More on that later)
One of my favorite areas for crashing waves is Boiler Bay State Park. There are several good sites along the paved road into the park, and at the turn-around area, you will find picnic tables and several great viewing spots. If you look back toward the highway, you will see a small waterfall just back from the tide line which offers some great photo opportunities. Just make sure to protect your camera gear from the ocean spray!
Newport and Depoe Bay both offer some great restaurants offering everything from fresh seafood to Japanese sushi! One of our long-time favorites had been Mo's Restaurant in Newport - down on the historic bayfront. While on our trip, w decided to go to Mo's for the famous chowder and ordered a couple large bowls. But when the waitress brought out our lunch, we noticed the chowder didn't look the same as it had before. After tasting it, it didn't taste like the Mo's chowder, either! When the waitress came by to ask how our lunch was, we told her we were very disappointed in the chowder - one of the bowls even had small pieces of gravel or large sand pebbles in the bottom! The waitress informed us they had been inspected recently by the USDA and were told they needed to change the way they processed their chowder. They manager the employees that the new procedures would affect the taste and texture of the chowder and he was worried that long-time patrons would be upset. He was right! After that lunch, we will be searching for a new place to eat clam chowder, that's for sure! Too bad, we've had lots of good memories of eating chowder at Mo's for over 40 years!
The Deschutes National Forest near Bend, Oregon is a scenic forest with a variety of natural landscapes. From forests of Ponderosa Pine and fir trees, to sagebrush flats with rocky lava flows. Dormant volcanoes and sparkling clear lakes, wildflowers and wildlife everywhere. This is truly an outdoor lovers paradise! Whether you are a fisherman, hiker, mountain biker, kayaker, golfer, windsurfer, camper or photographer, the Deschutes National Forest has something for everyone.
Beautiful Elk Lake is popular with windsurfers and fishermen, and the beach area is a favorite for families. Wildlife in the area includes Osprey, Mule Deer, Elk, Black Bear, Coyotes, Chipmunks, with a wide variety of other birds and insects.
Travel the Cascades Lakes Highway out of Bend for unprecedented views of snow-capped mountains, clear blue lakes, and deep green forests. Adjoining the forest are beautiful resorts and golf courses including Inn of the Seventh Mountain, Black Butte Ranch, Sunriver Resort, and Widgi Creek.
For an unforgettable outdoor vacation - spend your next one in central Oregon on the beautiful Deschutes Naitonal Forest. And don't forget your camera!
During the months of June through August, the Ochoco National Forest in central Oregon is a haven for wildflower lovers. Photographers will find a large variety of wildflowers on each district of the forest, with some locations providing an outstanding variety in a single area. Examples of wildflowers to be found on the forest include Indian Paintbrush, Penstemon, Columbine, Lupine, Yellow Violet, Yellow Bell, Scarlet Gilia, and many more.
One of the top wildflower viewing areas is Big Summit Prairie. This area not only has a wide variety of flowers, but also offers some wonderful camping areas and fishing in nearby streams. Other great wildflower viewing areas include Walton Lake, Maury Mountains, meadows along Mark's Creek, and on the far east side of the forest around Paulina.
When visiting Central Oregon in the spring and summer, don't pass up a trip to the Ochoco National Forest east of Prineville. Wildflowers, wildlife, camping, fishing, hiking, mountain biking and more!
The coast of Oregon is not only well-known for it's picturesque beauty and the relaxing sounds of waves breaking on the sandy shores, but it has a history full of wonderful stories and colorful unique buildings.
One of the favorite stops for travelers is the Sea Lion Caves which is located south of Newport on Highway 101. Here visitors can either take an elevator down into the caves, or walk to several viewpoints where Sea Lions rest on the rocks below.
Another popular destination is the historical Heceta Head Lighthouse State Park also located off Highway 101. There are several turnouts along the highway that offer outstanding views of the lighthouse and lightkeepers residence. For the more adventurous visitor, tours are offered to the top of the lighthouse for amazing views. There are docents that will lead tours and offer information about the history of the lighthouse and the people who worked here.
The Oregon Coast is a must-see for visitors traveling to the western United States, and be sure to take your camera!
Early season thunderstorms peppered the high desert of Central Oregon over the past week. Photographers were treated to some outstanding displays of cloud formations, including these "Mammatus" clouds which are indicators of a severe storm and can sometimes be a precursor to a storm cell spawning tornadoes.
On a recent trip through eastern Oregon, I was excited to see several wind farms up and running in farming areas south of the Columbia River Gorge. This area is known for frequent winds and is a perfect area to harness this natural energy.
Hopefully soon, more and more states across America will build wind turbines to use the clean energy this natural resource will provide.
