Bucket List

These four matching buckets were sitting on the beach right next to each other close to the waves. There didn't appear to be any small or large kids nearby. For the hour or so we were on the beach, they never moved.

Perhaps they were "art" or just washed up into this perfect formation.

That's Neap

Celestial Mechanic Bob and I have been observing that the same days the high tides are really high on the Oregon Coast, the low tides are really low. We also noticed this phenomenon happened during full moons and new moons which lead me to believe that witches and pagans were somehow involved. Well, possibly, but it turns out science has an explanation too and has determined two specific types of tides.

Spring tides have the largest tidal range and these coincide with either a new moon or a full moon. The term, Spring, refers to “jumping or moving forward” not to the season. So when a storm moves onshore during a high spring tide (as in Hurricane Irene last weekend) it gives extra cause for concern as the consequences can be severe. Low spring tides are good for clamming.

On the other hand…

Neap tides result in less extreme tidal conditions and occur during waxing and waning moons. The tidal range is at a minimum, slack water time is longer and the tidal currents are not as strong. No one seems clear about where the term Neap came from, although I have a theory on that too. Neap is derived from the noise, “Neap, neap…neap, neap,” made by those fuzzy two-headed characters on Sesame Street as they bounce around the screen causing trouble.

So we learned something today and are another step closer to solving all of the mysteries of the universe. We now turn our attention to answering to the age-old question, “Why is the ocean water so dang cold in the summer on the Oregon Coast?”

Thanks to Sesame Street and Wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tide for clearing this up.

It is Good to Have Wishes!

I am fairly certain that given a cape and a nice tiara, I could save the world!

The Mermaid Chair

All week long I wait (not so) patiently for Friday afternoon. Glorious Friday afternoon when I switch off my computer and cell phone, grab a good book and head out to the yard to the Mermaid Chair. There she waits, outlandishly pink surrounded by flowers and warm from the sun. Perfect for this mermaid!

Each time I settle in, I take a moment to give thanks for this life and all of those who love me so.

The Heavens in Summer

Tonight...I can smell the stars!

A (Bath)room With a View

There is a viewpoint on Tillamook Bay just south of Garibaldi. This is the view--a floating porta-potty right in the middle of the scene.

Now as picturesque as it is at sunrise on a summer day, couldn't they have located it just a tad to either the north or south of this wayside. It is not as if you can park and swim out to it and I don't think the fishermen care, but what do I know.

Miss the Beach?

Me too!

Whenever I am not physically at the shore, I like to do the next best thing, check the webcam http://67.76.145.98/ It may take a minute to load, so be patient, it is the coast.

This camera is mounted on a hotel in Rockaway Beach, with a view of the ocean and Twin Rocks. It would also have a view of the Emily G. Reed shipwreck if she weren't buried in sand. One day I watched a dad try desperately to launch a kite for his son on a windless day, but mostly I just check to make sure the ocean is still there awaiting my return. Now you can too!

(Thanks to the Rockaway Chamber of Commerce for the link)