Buddha (and Oprah) say to attach a name to every furious thought.  We manage our emotions better when labeled.  OK…this is anger.  This is frustration.   This is pissed-off!  Nope, not any easier to manage.  Going to try moving away from the aggravation and see how that works.

Arrived in Newport, Oregon in the afternoon.  Rain is expected the entire weekend but no worries…it’s the escape, not the weather that is of concern.  This boredom of an unexpected extended stay in Eugene is wearing on my normally positive and patient self.  (yes, that was a joke)   Escaping to the beach will avail the ocean to Millie.  Running free to feel the sand under her paws and be the happy, happy, joy, joy pup she is when the sea air and salty spray breezes around her.  One more time, for old time sake, sweet old girl.  Enjoy the freedom.

Checked into the Inn, then all got back into the car to explore the immediate area.  Up over the monumental Yaquina Bay Bridge, another early 1900’s art deco bridge, that rainbows over Newport Bay just past our Inn.  We stopped at Don Davis Memorial Park, a veterans memorial park, taking the brick trail that wound down to the ocean.  John and the pups walked along the water’s edge until the rain picked up and we loaded back into the car and drove to Newport Bay Front for “to die for” Garlic Crab Soup and Brazilian Stew at Local Ocean before returning to the Inn and turning in for the night.

Beach in the morning and whales in the afternoon.  That was the plan when we began the day but stormy seas moved our whale trip into another day and a local event took its place.  The local paper advertised The Hatfield Marine Science’s annual science day, one day each year and we happen to be available, and all the classrooms were open to the public.   A delightful hands on exploration and feely touchy experience for the young and young at heart.  John and I sensed our way through tide pool inhabitants, fish skeleton’s, live crabs, tortoise friendly fishing nets, shells and ocean rocks and watched films of the robotic sea explorer’s journey a mile down under the ocean.  Up close and personal with volcano hydrothermal vents and oozing crimson lava quickly cooled by the frigid waters compassionately narrated by an oceanographer, questions patiently answered throughout the dialogue.   Before exiting, we walked back to the octopus in its habitat, which we were wise enough to get photos of before feeding time.

A lazy drive up the coast to Depot Bay for lunch and then followed the narrow one way bike road that hugged the coast back down to Newport.  Beautiful scenery, whale lookouts, hole-in-the-wall gift shops, 1930’s art deco bridge…all by the sea, by the sea, by the beautiful sea.

Morning walk by the sea with the pups, Newport Bay Front for breakfast at The Coffee House and a walk around the town admiring all the seafaring art on the sides of buildings.

Millie looked questioningly down below the docks at the California Sea Lions plopped on top of each other sun bathing.  Not sure if it was the smell or the barking that caught her attention.

The whale watching trip was postponed again so we took the pups to Historic Nye Beach, historic only for its age as no real architecture or land marks stood out.

Drove up the hill to Yaquina Head Lighthouse and chatted with three Oregon State grey whale researchers studying the sea for signs of gray whales, 15 counted as of the time we visited.  Mother’s and babies tend to come within the six mile radius of shore but in the fall, they travel further out.  The state park has a large interpretation center and an area along the beach that is filled with tide pools with information lining the easy access stairs and platforms on the way down.  Unluckily we happened along at high tide but the view from the lighthouse was amazing.

Dark clouds swirled with fluffy white and the sun shone through further out to sea making a brilliant white line running along the horizon.  Mesmerizing.  Before the sun went down we drove to Agate State Park and John took the pups out on the beach for a run.  Fresh fish dinner for us at Local Ocean then returning to the Inn to pack up and make ready for our departure late tomorrow morning.