I headed out this morning with my 12 year old son to our favorite spot to walk on the Central Oregon Coast here in Lincoln City.

• Beach Lover?
• Agate Hunter?
• Rock hound?
• Bird Lover?
• Mammal Tracker?
• Dog Lover? 
• All of the Above?

Walks like the one this morning make me wonder what crazy part of my brain keeps me from venturing out every morning!!! Down with Facebook and Google Reader and Winter Socks and Mugs of Coffee!!!
On with the Show!
Best part of the early a.m. is fresh open sand, plenty of room for a dog to run. Your feet get to make the first tracks of the day.

The clouds are high- dark. Wind is faint enough on the ears, not bold enough for a pony tail, temperature is fleece jacket cold  – sandals stay on – toes do not enjoy long dips in the water.
We talk about the waves – the surf.  Of the difference between our arrival in the October/November months – rushing out to see the 25 foot swells that often came our way. Of how 2 hours after low tide, we would be forced to stay near the sea wall, if we were able to walk at all on the beach.
Nate talked about the waves, sharing his thoughts on the surf – even with a summer system coming in – there is not alot of wind to push the water forward, yet the movement of the water still comes. And then it stubs it’s toe, unexpectedly on the beach as the sand forces the depths to decrease. Moving along, its undertoe gets stubbed – and stopped, and the rest of the body of water falls over in the unexpected jarring.  And we see a wave. Beautiful. 🙂

We wander down to mystery beach  – up near the cascade head area –
and squeal in delight. An agate hunter’s dream spot. Enough bounty to make a seasoned rockhound be finding the need a neck brace at the end of the day. Agates, Corral, Jaspar, Reds, Greens, Blues, Purples, Petrified Wood, Agate Clams, Thunder Egg innards, Blacks, caramels – shells.  Even a foot ball we’ve been watching for months – still trapped in the rocks. 🙂 Well go ahead, scroll down and look for yourself. I tried to take a few shots so you could pick out your favorites. 🙂
 
But the birds – the Common Murres and Guillemot were close enough for some nice shots  – which pulled the birding photographer away from the rock pile . . . .
 
We watched a black bird with a REALLY long neck (Brant’s or Pelagic Cormorant?) pluck a red rock crab out of a tide pool – shake him, splash him – and eat him.  Amazing to witness!
 
Too cold and 3 hours past low tide – to meander in these tide pools north of Lincoln City. Also – there is so much birding activity, that one feels like they are trespassing on a breakfast diner. 🙂
 
But we did stop to pick up a few gems to tantalize the rest of our rock hound family to join us at low tide this afternoon!
 
Well – If it’s going to look and feel like winter – at least the bounty of mystery beach gave up a winters parcel!
 
The dog kept looking at something on the beach, we didn’t hear any people – or see any heads over the rocks – but she seemed to be aware of “something”.  When we came back to the beach, we saw evidence of what she must have smelled. 🙂  Good Girl! they walked down the cliff and walked right up to the ocean,  then turned around and walked back.  Funny. Even deers love the ocean! We’re thinking from the tracks it was 4-5 at least and a few fawns.
 
It took a while – but Nathan figured out where the deer came down, then walked along the edge to the rocks, and then circled back. This is the “slide” they used. 
Its a pretty large – tall cliff!  Jon would have been jealous!  Below, their tracks to find some water.
 
They meandered up the beach and took a much better path back to where ever “home” was. 🙂

7:30 – a few more people on the beach 7 or so – What a wonderful way to start the day!

 
Pocket full of blue, green, teal, white and brown sea glass with many colors of agate, petrified wood, jaspers and shells. 🙂
Until the Next Beach Walk!
If you can’t make it to the beach today- what is your favorite part of the walk?  If you’d like me to capture the photo – let me know a topic!