Each year the eternal cycle of life continues as the Indian Creek Fish Hatchery collects, nurtures and then releases tens of thousands of young Salmon into the Rogue River. It is truly a labor of love.
Each year thousands of Salmon return to the streams in which they were born in order to spawn. Many of these fish are captured at the Indian Creek Fish Hatchery fish ladders or netted in the Rogue River. They are used as brood stock to help replenish and sustain the salmon populations. This drama takes place each year near Gold Beach Oregon. This clip is dedicated to the selfless efforts of both the volunteers and the staff of the Oregon Department Of Fish & Wildlife. Thanks from Green Water Films. (Public Domain Music By US Air Force Band)
Hello there, So. Oregon Coast adventurers! I am really excited to talk about the Sea Lion Caves in Florence, Oregon. It is a bit of a ride from Gold Beach (approx. 114 miles) but well worth the trip. Not to mention the lovely sights that you can see along the way. The Sea Lion Caves are open all year round and makes a great one day excursion from Gold Beach. We had a blast and will definitely return one day soon. I am a dog lover and loved visiting with these "Sea pups".
Here is a bit of the history and some great photos.
Sea Lion Caves is nature's home for wild sea lions and a variety
of sea birds. Sea Lion Caves is located 11 miles North of Florence
on the Oregon Coast.
The vast cavern with the roar of the great Steller sea lions,
the cries of the wailing birds, and the restless surge of the ocean into
the cave below, form an unforgettable experience.
Formation of the cavern began about 25 million years ago. It now soars to the height of a 12- story building
and stretches the length of a football field. Care is taken not to disturb the natural habitat of the wild
animals that dwell here. Sea lions gather in this natural amphitheater, usually during fall and winter. In
spring and summer, they breed and have their young on rock ledges just outside the cave.
Here are some facts:
The largest Sea Cave in the World
Discovered in 1880 by William Cox
Height: equivalent to a 12 story building
Length of a football field
Elevator access since 1961
Formed 25 million years ago
Cave is made of Basalt Rock
To view the cost of admission and more frequently asked questions, please visit this link:
Starfish and barnacles decorate a tidal pool on the Oregon Coast.
When tide pooling please remember these are living creatures so they should be treated humanely with care and respect. Here are some tips for having a wonderful time and supporting the continuation of this gift from nature.
When tidepooling, wear the proper attire and use caution. Exposed
rocks, especially if they're covered with vegetation, can be very
slippery. Look for rocky inter-tidal areas (rocky areas that are
alternately exposed and submerged by the tides). Plan your trip by
using the tide tables (available at our visitor center). Or, click
here for tide tables on line.
Regulations for collecting marine animals may change from time to
time. Consult the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife Sport Fishing
Regulations for the current rules. The best policy is to simply
observer and leave things in their place.
Viewing Tips:
Tides of 0.0 feet and lower are better for tide pool viewing; however, when the ocean is calm, many inter-tidal areas can still be viewed at plus one or two foot tides.
It is best to be in the inter-tidal area at least one hour before low tide.
Stand or sit still and observe a pool for a few minutes. You will soon begin to hear hermit crabs, small fish, shrimp and other life scurrying about.
Gently move seaweed aside to view the myriad of life that lives under, on and among the plants. Please remember to replace the seaweed in its original position.
Look carefully in cracks, crevices and under overhangs. You will see species different from those on surrounding rock formations.
Gently touching most inter-tidal animals and plants will not harm them--and it is intriguing to feel the texture of different species.
Use an aquarium dip net to catch a small fish or crab and view it in a clear plastic container filled with water. Release the animal after a few minutes before the water becomes warm.
Examine seaweed and small animals with a magnifying glass.
Best Local Tidepool Areas:
Myers Creek -
Travel 7.1 miles south from the Gold Beach Visitor's Center on Hwy. 101
to Myers Creek beach. This beach stretches south from the base of Cape
Sebastian. Park at one of many overlooks and easy access points. The
numerous rocks make for good tidepooling.
Whiskey Creek -
(Boardman State Park) - Approximately 14 miles south of the Gold Beach
Visitor's Center on Hwy. 101. Park in the gravel lot at the Boardman
State Park sign. It's a bit of a hike down to the beach but worth it.
The rocky beach to the north lends itself to some first-rate tidepool
exploration.
Lone Ranch Wayside - (Cape
Ferrelo) - Located 4 miles north of Brookings (Approximately 23 miles
south of the Gold Beach Visitor's Center), this area has ample parking,
rest rooms and easy access to the beach. Large numbers of rocks of
various sizes are scattered about the beach. There is an excellent
inter-tidal area out on the cape to the north of the parking area.
Rocky Point
- 23.5 miles north of the Rogue River Bridge (turn left on gravel road
just past the 305 mile marker). This inter-tidal area consists of a
large boulder field surrounded by a gently sloping beach. It has easy
access and provides good viewing opportunities.
I was channel surfing yesterday came across this wonderfully thrilling movie about white water rafting starring Meryl Streep. I had seen the movie before but it was just as exciting and engaging the second time around, probably because of the skill of the actors and of course the glory of the wild river locations where it was filmed. Parts of the movie were filmed in Grant's Pass and the Upper Rogue River.
Take a look at the trailer:
For those of us that are not quite as adventuresome - I'm more of a class one or class two kind of gal ;), there are opportunities to experience rafting at your own pace. Grants Pass is the perfect place to enjoy some of the Rogue River's greatest wonders. When your done rafting on the Rogue, you can visit the abundance of antique stores, specialty shops and art galleries located in the historic downtown district, and dine at restaurants offering the finest in Pacific Northwest flavor.
Here is a little reminder of what you might be missing. If you need a minute to chill out return to this post and watch this video -- it will sooth your soul.
Hilltop House Website It has been a while since I posted to the blog and I plan to be doing so much more often. First, I want to thank all of my loyal readers and all the people who have supported Hilltop House and enjoy staying there too. We appreciate you patronage and your kind comments and praise.
We are currently offering the house as a month to month rental which makes it a great headquarters for Storm Watching. Hilltop House has extensive decking where you can storm watch in the comfort of it's luxurious rooms. While viewing the storms you can sip wine and enjoy the wonderful smoked Salmon that Gold Beach has to offer in the spacious Gourmet kitchen, throw a Storm watching party in the fabulous Great Room or snuggle up in the master bedroom and watch nature's wonder unfold before your eyes. To take a virtual tour of Hilltop House and see what I am talking about please go to Hilltop House website and click on take a virtual tour.
For the more adventuresome souls, you can hop in your four wheeler and drive along the rugged coast for an up close and personal view of the spectacular Pacific ocean. Here's a preview of what you will see:
Many of you know that I am a big fan of the writings of Eckhert Tolle. I have awakened to so much about myself by reading his books and studying his teachings of Inner Stillness and The Power of Now. I originally wanted to post about the storm watching opportunities on the Oregon coast this time of year. But after finding and watching this breathtakingly beautiful video of an Oregon coastal storm, I realized that this post is really meant to be about the stillness that comes out of the storm when we allow ourselves to be fully conscious of it.
So I felt that it was appropriate to follow with a wonderful flower meditation video as well. I hope you will pause a moment and enjoy them both and I hope you have a chance to visit the Southern Oregon Coast this winter or sometime soon.
I wanted to share a video that is a bit off the topic that I usually write about, in that it is not specifically about traveling to Southern Oregon coast. (however I did include a wonderful video clip about the Oregon coast at the end of the post). But this post is really about a feeling that has grown in me since I have been spending time on the coast and through the research and experiences I have had while authoring this blog. In light of that idea I have found a wonderful clip on You Tube that I want to share.
It may seem a bit random because it is about horses and the fact that we share higher consciousness with them and all living and non-living things on the planet. And, it is about what we can learn from them.
Eckhart Tolle
I am not sure how I came to find the writings of Eckhart Tolle. Tolle speaks of a spiritual awakening that leads to the realization that we are all connected. By this he means the big WE -- everything on this planet and beyond. I think my visits to Southern Oregon have confirmed that feeling of knowing in me. The wilderness and wildlife that one can experience in southern Oregon confirms for me what Tolle and other spiritual teachers through the ages have been saying. I recommend reading the “Power of Now” by Eckhart Tolle. Here is a clip of him speaking.
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The Oregon Coast
Since this blog is about southern Oregon here is a stunning photo montage of the Oregon Coast – can you also feel the connection?
Here is a note from the "Whale spoken here site" that lets you know more about the upcoming whale watching season:
Winter Whale Watching Week - Thurs, Dec 26, 2008- Wed, Jan 1, 2009 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Trained volunteers will be present at the 26 sites listed on the map (see previous post) to show visitors the gray whales.
This is not the only time you can see the whales. About 18,000 gray
whales will pass by in about 4 weeks, from mid-December to mid-January.
The same locations are still great viewing spots.
The main body of whales is about 5 mile off shore, but some can be seen as close as 1-2 miles off shore.
During the southern migration whales seldom stop to eat, but travel steadily to the Baja lagoons of Mexico.
I started this post with the intent to talk about the Southern Oregon Coast and to spotlight all the places you can visit if you are interested in whale watching. I do cover that later in the post, including a map provided by Whale Spoken Here a site dedicated to whale watching on the coast. I also will follow this story with a part II since there is so much amazing information and resources about the whales available. What a great way to get your kids interested and involved in saving our planet so we will have a legacy to share!
Before I go on that I would like to share this video:
After watching how alive and intelligent these creatures are, I realized how much I take for granted. I think that it's great to take a vacation and get" in touch" with nature. And I certainly can't deny that one of the reasons that I write this blog is in the hopes that people will want to come and experience Hilltop House and all that the Southern Oregon Coast has to offer. But I can't help thinking, what happens if someday soon, when you come it isn't there anymore? I do believe that when brought into their awareness most people really care about what is happening to the planet and the creatures that share it with us.
So I hope that you won't mind that before providing information about what you can come to see on the Oregon coast; particularly the whales watching opportunities that are available, that I bring some information to your attention. Here is some information I got from the site Whale Spoken Here
Save the Whales - AGAIN!
Apparently the whales are in danger of extinction again due to human greed and the obsessive need to consume and then irresponsibly dispose of things. Here is part of the article I read:
"The Gray Whale was hunted almost to extinction twice: in the 1880s and again in the 1920s. The International Whaling Commission was formed in 1946 by whaling nations, including the United States, to divide the annual catch into national quotas. A massive public outcry (Save the Whales) in the 70s culminated in 1986 when the International Whaling Commission adopted a 10-year moratorium on commercial whaling. All of the endangered whales are internationally protected from commercial harvest, but Japan is leading the demand for a return to commercial whaling and is currently hunting endangered whales even in the International Whale Preserve in Antarctica.
But all whales today face a wide variety of threats, far more than were present in whaling days. They all face severe pollution and degradation of their habitats and destruction of their food sources. Larger, faster, and more plentiful ships cross their migratory routes injuring whales. Each year many whales die as a result of entanglement in fishing gear. Twenty-one countries including England, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa oppose Japan’s hunting in the International Whale Preserve."
What We Can All Do To Help
Keep garbage, especially plastics, out of the
ocean.
Pick up litter and put in receptacles
Don’t put paint and hazardous waste down drains
Use non-toxic household cleaners.
Use lawn and garden chemicals sparingly.
Recycle used motor oil and old tires.
Be thoughtful: Reduce - Reuse - Recycle.
Volunteer, Support or Get Involved!
Call or write the president or your congressional representative.
