Haystack Rock, Cannon Beach, Oregon
We’d dreamed of coming here for months. But unpredictable weather at the coast and even more unpredictable schedules kept it out of reach until, finally, last week, a lovely alignment of circumstances, centered around a promise of clear skies and a tiny break in D’s travels, afforded us the chance.
We drove the easy four hours, stopping for lunch and a little exploration in historic Astoria before rounding Ecola Point and turning off US Highway 101 into Cannon Beach. Welcoming us – a rare combination here – warmth, little wind, piercing blue skies, and a town and beach devoid of crowds.
We walked for hours along the shoreline, talking in snatches of nothing in particular – shells, birds, vague musings about coming here to work on our fiction projects. The rhythmic, booming surf dominated with its own conversation, delivering its messages to the sand, as it has done for centuries and will continue to do when we and our words are gone.
The unspoiled town echos its environment in ambiance and hue – weathered cedar shingles, splashes of blue at doors and windows, relaxed and unfussy.
The Oregon Coast has always been a constant for my family. We came here as children, my mother came here as a child and even my grandmother stood on these shores, taking photographs of her sisters as they splashed in the sea foam. Pounding breakers, mist, wheeling gulls and the delicious tang of salt air. Years and people pass but these endure.
We walked for hours along the shoreline, talking in snatches of nothing in particular – shells, birds, vague musings about coming here to work on our fiction projects. The rhythmic, booming surf dominated with its own conversation, delivering its messages to the sand, as it has done for centuries and will continue to do when we and our words are gone.The unspoiled town echos its environment in ambiance and hue – weathered cedar shingles, splashes of blue at doors and windows, relaxed and unfussy.
The most vibrant splashes of color being offered by the local confectioneries…
… and then by the brilliant sunset.
Ever constant, yet ever changing.
The locals had proclaimed it one of the best days of the year. And so it was.
But by morning, the fog had crept inland, enveloping all in a soft, cool embrace. The views became rugged and less friendly, though no less beautiful.
A hoped for clearing never came, the clouds settling in with authority.
With a sigh, I accepted the inevitable entrance of autumn, grateful for this last dance of the season, as summer twirled away into the mist.
• • • •
TRAVEL NOTES
Thank you so very much for your well wishes for our little getaway! I apologize for being mysterious about the destination – some details of it were a surprise for D and I didn’t want to reveal it in case he happened to stop in here. :)
The Oregon Coast – over 360 miles of pristine, public coastline. The 1967 Oregon Beach Bill law allows free beach access to everyone. No landowner can take away or deny access, nor can they build on the beach.
Cannon Beach, named for a cannon washed ashore from an 1846 shipwreck, has a population of approximately 1,600 and is dominated by Haystack Rock, one of the largest monoliths of its kind in the world and a noted bird sanctuary.
Dining at the Warren House Pub, two doors from the hotel and at Morris’ Fireside Restaurant, cozy and already offering autumn fare such as bread pudding and cider. Cannon Beach has numerous shops and art galleries, well worth investigating. We purchased lots of salt water taffy for friends and relatives. But it would be very wrong of you to assume that I’m sitting here indulging in some with my morning coffee. :)
Thank you, thank you, for your continued visits and sweet comments. Sending wishes for a wonderful new week. I’ll catch up with you and then return with some of the promised posts.
xoxo – g
p. s. I just realized today is my one year anniversary of seeing the sunrise at Machu Picchu! A bit about that trip here if you’re interested – no obligation. xo
Ohmygosh Georgianna, those are fabulous photos. I am so glad you had a wonderful time. Took a peek at the photos from your trip to Machu Picchu, they were wonderful. It must feel like a dream a year later. I hope you have a great weekend.
Hi Georgianna,
Your photos are just so beautiful! I especially love the beach one with the people walking. The one with the blue door and also the old grey shingled building are very eye catching too.
I am glad you enjoyed a lovely getaway. I always look forward to your posts!
Carolyn
What marvellous images and it sounds like heaven.
I couldn't believe how alike this place is to somewhere in New Zealand where I grew up. It's on the West Coast and has a rock jetting up out of the ocean like yours, it's called Lion Rock and the beach – Piha. I have fond memories of this place- wow – I never thought there would be another like it half way across the world.
The images certainly make me feel like Summer days are still lingering-
x Suzi
Your post title drew me in, your pictures satisfied my senses, and your eloquent words filled my spirit:)
oh my gosh!!!!! All your photos are just breathtaking! I gasped out loud at the beauty of the one with the people walking on the beach!!!!!!!!! WOW! PERFECTION!
Your photography is amazing, that last shot of the couple running silhouetting that gorgeous background is stunning. I love the end of summer, the sky seems bluer, the ocean seems more inviting, and the sand seems whiter.
Karen
What a lovely getaway! I especially love beaches in the Autumn and Winter, when it's peaceful and foggy and quiet. ::Jill
One of my very favorite places!!! This makes me want to jump in my car right now:)
I LOVE that shot of the sunset with the couple perfectly placed in front of Haystack rock..gorgeous!
Glad you got to have your little getaway!
Lovely photos. The taffy colors just steal my breath away.
How wonderful – I keep hoping to get there myself – maybe next year… these images are incredible. Love the mist around Haystack Rock – and your collages. They are so fun! Glad you got to go on your trip!
Oh Georgianna, it doesn't matter what the subject is, your photographs are always magic. Have a loveliest week!
Hello Georgianna I really don't know what to say, I'm without words know, the place is so amazing. These photos causes real pain to my heart because I know now there is such a beautiful place in the world and I can't see it or feel it. But I'm glad you gave me change to see it in photos, thank you.
Georgianna!
These are so beautiful and mood evoking! I visited the Oregon coast often when I was child living in the Seattle area… the stability of nature in the case of monoliths that take so long to change is a comfort to ones soul. It really feels good to know that this beautiful area is the same today as it was 40 years ago when I was blessed to enjoy its wonders.
Thanks so much for the lovely memories these gorgeous photos brought back to me just now!
It's a very nice way to start my day…
Ann
Bonjour Georgianna, those pictures are stunning and the beach looks so peaceful. I actually prefer Autumn beaches to Summer ones – quieter and more atmospheric… The photos of the weather-beaten houses and the sweets are my favourites though, the colours are wonderful and lively…
Have a great week, Love from London xo
Wonderful photos and what a lovely beach I could feel myself walking along with the water gently lapping at my feet.
I've never heard of saltwater taffy ~ are they sweet?
So pleased you've had such an enjoyable & safe trip.
~Dianne~
you realize, of course, that you are fanning the flames of my desire to travel to the pacific northwest. right now i am on fire with those pictures. they are killing me….. :)
soon, i hope,…soon…..
Oh, how beautiful. I've never been to the Oregon coast, but the photos I see of it are always stunning. I love the sunset photos, Georgianna. Just gorgeous.
xo
Claudia
These photos are a wonderful dream!
Both posts are wonderful and full of enchanting views of splendorous places. You manage to find just the right words and descriptive phrases to make reading your blog a magical journey.
Brenda
Dearest g, i couldn't stop looking at these gorgeous photo! They are truely amazing and they make me miss summer… i know this mutsa sound weird to you since it's always summer here in malaysia. Your trip to Machu Picchu looks amazing!! Have a lovely merry happy week and love to you!
Thank you all so much. I'm really thrilled that you enjoyed these photos as it's a place near and dear to me. I wish I could invite you all for a long weekend there, wouldn't that be fun?
Suzi, I'm amazed that there is a place similar in New Zealand, although I shouldn't be as I know NZ is so gorgeous. I looked up Lion Rock and you're right, the setting and feel are very reminiscent.
Dianne, salt water taffy doesn't actually contain salt water. I always thought it did when I was a kid. There are different theories as to the origin of the name but most likely it was a combination of accident and marketing opportunity in the 19th century. For us it's a tradition now even though it's regular taffy full of sugar and very sweet.
Thank you all again. :) xo
So beautiful! I am glad that you were able to enjoy it on such a glorious day, and that we could see it as well! :)
I hope your week is full of smiles, G!
~ Zuzu
Oh my goodness what wonderful photographs all of them but especially the sunset. I also want to visit that bookshop! What a gorgeous destination for a mini break at the end of summer.
You have worked your magic again G and I feel I spent a little while at this wondorous place seeing it through your eyes & almost hearing the waves breaking.
In a way it echoes Machu Pichu in it's other worldliness and mystery. There's a meditative quality to the atmosphere you have captured as well.
(btw It must be just over a year since we became friends!)
Love Kat xox
I enjoyed your photography. It looks like the best place to be. Isn't it wonderful that it is protected and cannot be altered so that people can enjoy that vista for many years to come. I am happy that you enjoyed the time away. We all need that downtime to unwind in our own way.
These beautiful images just took my breath way, so wish I can go there someday! Thanks for sharing, happy Monday!
What a delightful place and what a delightfully written post. On top of that your wonderful photographs. It must have been a treat!
All the best.
Ingrid xox
Wow, what a sunset, especially with the double image on the water and the silhouette against the rock. Truly magical!
And about telling people where you're going… I've never thought it was a great idea to write on a blog, especially since I wander through the woods (never alone, but still). Safety is important!~ :)
Telling us where you've been, though~ that's a different story. I always love reading your poetically written stories.
This is absolutely wonderful!! I've found my next destination for a future trip to the Usa! :-)
Thank you and have a great week xo Stefania
Goodness I have chills in a good way, but chills. I have dreamt of this place. I must have seen a photo in childhood or something for now that you have shown me I know this place is REAL. I have dreamt of it with that mist. Sakes, I am in love with these photos and I am shaking with joy to know it exists. I just can't believe it. It is really something to think of all the things we see and must forget we saw. Deja vu. Well, you have a gift friend of bringing joy to this spirit. Thanks for that. Blessings.
Fantastic photos of your getaway G. How nice to see the same view on a clear day to become shrouded with mist.
Looked like the kind of place I'd like to poke around. And, salt water taffy is a weakness of mine!
Judith
What amazing photos–the beach looks so tranquil and the colors are mesmerizing. Congrats on being able to sneak away and find such beauty as autumn knocks on the door.
Debi
Oh my — what a beautiful place, your photos are a dream. It looks magical. :-)
i LOVE how you documented your travels georgianna! oregon is really lovely!! and that candy… YUM!!!
Ohh, so absolutely beautiful – misty beach, foamed waves, sunset reflection on water and candies too!! That's great you had such a wonderful time and now so dear memories!
And thank you for your visit Dear Georgianna, I am very glad you enjoyed the post!
Excellent week!
xo~zara
How wonderful that the sun generously smiled down on you for one more time. Such a beautiful place, even more special because your family had walked the same footsteps in the sand. What a magical place, quite breathtaking. xx
This post is wonderful, and these shots are amazing!!!
It looks so beautiful here, G.! Your photos are stunning (as always!) and I love, love, LOVE that mist on the water. *sigh* How lovely that so many generations of your family have enjoyed the same spot. Have a wonderful week! xo ~ Lynda
OMGosh, I LOVE that first photo! Well I love them all but that first one is amazing! :) We wanted to go there too when we lived in Tacoma but the closest we ever got was Astoria LOL Gorgeous photos! Have fun! :)
hello dear, so wonderful and your writing brings me back in the past…;)…long time ago, in 1997 i was in cannon beach, too and have fallen in love with this magical and so inspiring place…in the past with another man, another love…;)…but still memories stay with us and this is so good to see this place again…so many memories which make me smile…;)…thanks, was a wonderful surprise for me to jump here over and discover this post…have a great week and take care…you amazing woman…hugs and cheers…yours i…
the beach looks so beautiful. i felt transported there immediately through your photos. i'm in dire need of such a beautiful getaway. hopefully time permits me a short getaway soon.
thanks for always being so encouraging, g. :) much love. do have an amazing week ahead!
i am almost speechless here, after seeing the shot of the couple walking in front of the haystack rock (aptly named)under the pink clouds. so incredibly beautiful and how lucky for you to be there to capture it!! i have just returned from the beach and i miss it so much. thank you for sharing these gorgeous images and your magical way with words……i am adding this beach to my bucket list……..
erin
It's always a pleasure came here … it's so nice to see by your images how many magical place there are in this fantastic World.Thanks
Monica
Oh what a beautiful place! The rock reminds me of Monet's haystacks. And mist is one of my favorite things to photograph. These images are so lovely, G! Thanks for taking us along on your trip. :)
Oh Georgianna, This gorgeous post brought tears to my eyes as it is a stroll back into memories for me. My hubby and I lived for several years in Corvallis, OR and we loved the OR coast, visiting Canon Beach many, many times. Thanks you so much for the memories!! Each photo is incredible. I so love your work my precious friend. ♥
Awesome atmospheric shots! Especially love the sunset and the shot of the morning fog. Wini xo
Machu Picchu?? Machu Picchu!!!! Oh, I am just getting over Cannon Beach and all the happy memories your pictures brought back and I read that you've seen the sun rise over Machu Picchu. Cripes! Were we separated at birth, or what? Long lost cousins at least!
This is just amazing G! It looks like a magical place and your captures are so wonderful of the area and the coast. The image of the couple walking along the coast and their reflection… well that is as good as it gets! Were you so lucky that they came along then? Love you and your beautiful artistry… Dianne