The 2700-acre wonderland
in the Siuslaw National Forest has awe-inspiring views, crashing surf,
tide pools, old-growth forest, and 26 miles of interconnected looping
trails. There is a visitor center with RV parking, exhibits, gifts and
a theater. Cape Perpetua was once a 2,000+ acre source of fish and game
for early Native Americans, home to European settlers, and a military
outpost. Recreation pass required for all areas. (The two RV Gypsies
have a senior pass to get in all National Parks, and that saves them
a lot of money). This is the second time the two RV Gypsies have been
to Cape Perpetua. |
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The inlet from the ocean to the Spouting Horn; which
unfortunately was not spouting much today. The two RV Gypsies got
to this area at low tide and it was not possible to hang around until
high tide. That was a big disappointment, especially since they really
wanted Karen Duquette's sister, Ilse Blahak, to see the Spouting Horn
in all its glory like they did back in 2009.
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Below: Lee
Duquette and Ilse Blahak went down the staircase to the inlet to see
the Spouting Horn. Karen Duquette followed them down the massive staircase
to the cliffs. |
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After the waves
come into the inlet, they crashed against the rocks, then went behind
the rocks and shot upwards into the air like a Spouting Horn. Today
there was a little bit of action, but not as much as sometimes, because
it was NOT high tide. |
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Below: A brief
walk on the Captain Cook Trail away from the Spouting Horn area, tides
pulsed over craggy rocks and life in the tide pools had to adjust to
new conditions. Plants and animals are pounded by the surf, submerged
in saltwater, or exposed to drying sun and wind. It seems like a harsh
place to live! Yet, the inter tidal life zones are among the most biologically
diverse areas in the world. These photos show mild action at low tide. |
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Below: Karen Duquette's sister, Ilse Blahak, photographed some flowers,
plus the two RV Gypsies.
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Not far from Cape Perpetua
is an area called Strawberry Hill. |
Standing on this
small cliff is a small island of rocks. Waves come in from the left
side of the rocks and waves come in from the right side of the rocks
simultaneously. The waves from the left meet with the
waves from the right, and explodes into bubbling white froth and splashes
upwards. After the froth combines in the middle,
it separates, and goes back to the side of the cliff it came from. The
wave and froth action repeats over and over again. At least this
was the action that the two RV Gypsies saw in 2009 when they were here,
BUT today the area was a dud because it was low tide, so Karen did not
take many pictures, although it was still a beautiful area.
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If you would
like to see pictures from 2009 when the Spouting Horn was in full action,
plus photos of Strawberry Hill when there was milky white foam and forth
popping everywhere, click
here, but after seeing those pictures, be sure to return to this
page. After all this 2013 trip is far from over and there is a lot of
excitement and fantastic photos ahead. |