OK OREGON

Well, I finally made it to Oregon! I have wanted to photograph the coastline of this western state for years....but never made it. So this year.....I am treating myself to a birthday trip to the great Northwest of the USA.

First things first! It is pronounced Oregen....not Oregone (like gone)! Being a Spanish speaker, I tend to pronounce words using the full vowel sounds. Not so here. Anyone from this state will quickly correct you if you say it any other way.

So here we are....the beginning of November cruising the beautiful green coastline of rocks and surf and more state parks than you can possibly imagine. It seems that there is one every 10 miles or so. But in the end it is worth it if the Park Service Fees keep these beautiful and natural places clean and undeveloped.

Speaking of clean.....on the way down to the coast from Portland, we saw a sign that stated "No Littering! Maximum fine $6,250.00". So be forewarned.....NO LITTERING in Oregon if you don't want a big hole in your bank account.

They seem to take the green thing to extremes....except when it comes to cutting down trees. The forests of huge spruce trees seem to be fair game for logging companies and everywhere you look there are bald mountainsides. No reforestation projects here. Thank goodness for the parks. Without them, Oregon might look brown instead of green.

Now sitting on the deck of my resort, the Salishan Spa and Golf Resort just south of Lincoln City and just a few hours drive from Portland.......it is time to rest and relax and relive the beautiful sights of today....lovely Cannon Beach, quirky Seaside,the Three Capes Loop Drive....all bathed in beautiful sunshine. How lucky was that?

Tomorrow is another day and they are predicting rain. We came for those misty scenes and rainy capes overlooking the Pacific Ocean. Now on to enjoy some great seafood and some spectacular Oregon wines.