Winter whale watch 2013

 

 Ever since we have lived in Oregon I have wanted to visit the coast during the whale migrations. I was lucky enough to see a whale near the Devils Punchbowl in late summer during one of our first visits to the coast many years ago and I was totally thrilled, it was amazing!
This year a few days after Christmas we took a spur of the moment trip to the coast for a few days to see if we could spot any whales spouting as they make there way south to California.  Ben and I don't exchange gifts for the holidays so this was our gift to each other
The whales are more than a mile from the coast so you need a good pair of binoculars or a high viewpoint to see the spouting. We stopped at the Depoe Bay Whale Watching Center and saw a few whales from there. From the upstairs viewing area you could make them out with the bare eye but binoculars are definitely needed to get a good look. They also had a camera set up and hooked up to a t.v. monitor so you could see them up close. There were also binoculars for visitors to use.
I am hoping to make it back to the coast for the spring migration. I learned that the whales come closer to shore to rest and eat when they make their way back North up the coast. I am hoping to get some binoculars for my birthday so I am better prepared, but it seem like the spring migration would be a better chance to see them in action.
The weather was beautiful and sunny and I could hardly believe it was December. Someone found a beautiful blue glass art float on the beach down in Lincoln City while we were there.The local artists who blow glass hide floats on the beach between October and May to boost tourism. I bet it works as I have tried for many years to find one. You could always buy one at the store, but its not the same thing as finding one. Finding the real Japanese floats from fishing nets are pretty much a thing of the past although a friend of mine from art school has a basket full of the real glass floats he has found in Oregon and Alaska. I guess anything is possible, you never know what you can find. I can't wait to retire to the Oregon Coast and beach comb every day, I don't think it would ever get old.

 Looking for glass floats in Lincoln City,Oregon.

Our hotel was right on the ocean so I was able to go out rockhunting alone in the evening while the kids watched cartoons with their Papa in the warm hotel, they were pretty happy about that.

 Tiny surfers near the Devils Punchbowl.

 One last rockhunting stop at Oceanside,Oregon.