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Just south of Newport, Oregon on our way to Florence, Oregon (where we "stealth camped"), was a series of impressive rock formation like Seal Rock and nice gentle long sandy beaches. We stopped at many just to sample the best that each had to offer.

Monday 5 October 2009
We arrived in Newport Oregon, Monday evening in time to secure a good camping spot at the Oregon State Park South Beach campground (hot showers and right on the beach). We organized our camp which didn’t take long since our bed was already made up in the back of our 1994 Toyota 4 X 4 pickup truck with a cab high canopy (screen windows & reading lights).

Then we grabbed the cameras and hiked to the beach to take a few photos as the sun dropped below the horizon over the Pacific Ocean.

Tuesday 6 October 2009
We broke camp and drove to the Oregon’s tallest lighthouse at Yaquina Head, north of Newport. We rated this visit as one of the highlights of our entire road trip. The lighthouse was built in 1873 and was interesting to visit. The staff there gave a nice tour and provided us with interesting facts and stories about the lighthouse. We arrived early and the beach just south of the lighthouse was not crowded and had a large gathering of harbor seals, pelicans, cormorants and other sea birds. We thoroughly enjoyed the visit.

After the Yaquina Head lighthouse visit we made our way to the Oregon Coast Aquarium. We were at first disappointed because the otter and aviary exhibits were both closed, but once inside the many excellent aquarium exhibits, we enjoyed our stay. The weather was perfect the entire day.

Leaving Newport, we headed south on highway 101 and made frequent stops and took short beach hikes all down the coast to Florence. Ona Beach, Seal Rock, and an enjoyable visit to the beach and then the lighthouse at Heceta Head.

We camped near Florence and watched the sun go down over the Pacific once more this time after a hike to the end of the North Jetty. Strong winds came up in the evening.

When we arrived early morning to the Yaquina Head lighthouse, we decided to hike down along the beach before visiting the lighthouse. The pelicans were graceful in flight and comical as they vied for prime perches on the rock islands along the coast. They looked absolutely ridiculous trying to preen and spiff up. Let's face it, homely is homely. Still they tried.

Below the high tide mussel beds, the harbor seals consisted of two groups. Adults soaking up the sun with their tail ends and snouts high in the air. Adults in the vertical treading water position and swiveling about to see everything that was going on about them. And then, last but not least (and the most entertainin), were the harbor seal "teenagers" purposely splashing, and doing everything possible to try to get the attention of the adults trying to relax on a rock. They were persistent!

Monday 5 October 2009
We arrived in Newport Oregon, Monday evening in time to secure a good camping spot at the Oregon State Park South Beach campground (hot showers and right on the beach). We organized our camp which didn’t take long since our bed was already made up in the back of our 1994 Toyota 4 X 4 pickup truck with a cab high canopy (screen windows & reading lights).

Then we grabbed the cameras and hiked to the beach to take a few photos as the sun dropped below the horizon over the Pacific Ocean.

Tuesday 6 October 2009
We broke camp and drove to the Oregon’s tallest lighthouse at Yaquina Head, north of Newport. We rated this visit as one of the highlights of our entire road trip. The lighthouse was built in 1873 and was interesting to visit. The staff there gave a nice tour and provided us with interesting facts and stories about the lighthouse. We arrived early and the beach just south of the lighthouse was not crowded and had a large gathering of harbor seals, pelicans, cormorants and other sea birds. We thoroughly enjoyed the visit.