Oregon Coast

In Oregon, the place where mountains and ocean collide is The Coast.  Calling it the beach or the shore will mark you as an "other" just as surely as mis-pronouncing the state name.  (It's Orygun, by the way).

Looking south from Cape Meares

Anyway, at the coast there are surfers, and large sandy stretches, and even children with shovels and toys.  The thing is, the surfers wear wet suits--always!--and the kids with the shovels are just as likely to be digging for clams as they are to be building sandcastles.  And more than likely, the surfers and the kids go hang out at a driftwood fire to warm up as needed. Most of the Oregon Coast is pretty chilly most of the time, especially in summer.

The Motorcade hit most of the coast from north to south and has the sand in the trunk to prove it. A glimpse of the view along the way:

The Octopus Tree at Cape Meares is a Sitka Spruce that is over 250 years old.
 

The Peter Iredale ran aground here in 1906, and no one seemed to have the heart to get rid of it.

Now it's a cool hangout for beachcombers and barnacles.

See? There's lots of beach.  Looks toasty, huh?

Thousands of people make their home on the coast.  They are probably vastly outnumbered by the other residents: anemones, urchins, sea stars, mussels, and sea lions.

Cape Perpetua is down there somewhere. Gulp.

The Oregon Dunes have to be experienced to be believed. 

Cape Blanco lighthouse.  One of a dozen along the coast.

Cape Blanco is the westernmost point in Oregon.  It's a bit windy.

Things do warm up as you head south.  Just past Gold Beach,  the Pacific Ocean finally got some play time.

The Oregon coast is what the motorcade is all about...it's not the destination, it's the journey.