Lighthouses, agates and fish

Heceta Head Lighthouse, halfway between Florence and Yachats on the Central Oregon Coast, is perched atop 1,000-foot-high Heceta Head, the lighthouse (1894) is the one you always remember after having  traveled the Oregon Coast. It is nowadays an automated beacon and rated as the strongest light on the coast. 

 

 

 

The assistant lightkeeper's house (photo on right, above), built in 1893, is operated as a Bed & Breakfast today, with six rooms and a highly recommendable 7-course breakfast, which we got to enjoy before an interpretive talk and a walk to the lighthouse itself. Unfortunately, weather wasn't too good, but, at least, it didn't rain (yet).

On from Heceta Head (pic on left) to Ten Mile Creek near Yachats, Oregon, walking the memory lane,,, Friends of us had operated a B&B from 1994 until around 2010, situated directly on this rocky, wild stretch of the oceanfront (in the background on the pic showing the two of us), and, we stayed there many times. Collected agates and watched elk, deer, birds and whales passing by. The house is still there, though it appears uninhabited. We were lucky, and, despite rain and a therefore only short hike along the rocky beach, we found a couple of (smaller) agates!  

In Newport, on the banks of Yaquina Bay, the seafood industry and fishing fleet still thrives today. It is one of the busiest ports in Oregon, dungeness crabs  one of the main products. The Bayfront is home to Oregon's largest commercial fishing fleet and to Pacific Coast Seafood
, which plays, from  humble beginnings in 1941, an important role in the community. It processes a wide variety of seafood species. and has become one of the largest producers of whiting fillets on the West Coast.  

 

Popular with visitors besides the Bayfront with its shops and restaurants: The Oregon Coast Aquarium - unique, but we've been there before - and famous Rogue Brewery, one of the pioneers in the craftbrewing industry, which grew enormously in the last decade and includes a distillery now. 

 

Driving through the "Deco District" towards Yaquina Bay State Park and Lighthouse then, passing by Agate Beach. The Yaquina Head Lighthouse, opened in 1873, is part of the Yaquina Head Outstanding Natural Area, and offers trails, tide pools and Oregon's tallest lighthouse (93 ft.). One highlight there is the interpretive center with informative exhibitions on seabirds and marine life as well as human history from the headland.

 

It was pouring down in the meantime (pic above), and, we didn't stop too often anymore on our way north. Glad when we checked into the SCP Hotel in Depoe Bay - what a great place! " Soul Community Planet" is the motto of this small chain of hip, modern hotels. The idea was born out of a vision to help make the world a better place: thoughtfully designed, environmentally friendly, fairly-priced places - called "Holistic Hospitality". Our room offered a bathroom with a bathtub, a patio, a hammock seat and  other amenities. The "Great Room" for all guests was cozy with comfy seating, fireplace, yoga space with Peloton Bike, fridge, books and games. 

 

Grabbed some food and a beer in the Depoe Bay Brewery, only a 5-min walk from the hotel. Fish burger (left photo) and fried oysters were delicious!

This Sunday morning, we enjoyed a small breakfast and watched a Bald Eagle while doing so in the "World's Smallest Harbor", just in front of us in a quiet bay.