A Nice Day at the Beach

My blog friend Gracie and I swim together and chat while we're paddling back and forth and we have been saying for quite a while now that we should do a day trip somewhere fun.  As we both love the beach we decided just last week that the time was right - the weather has been nice - so we picked yesterday for our adventure.  We headed out before noon planning to have lunch in Cannon Beach at my favorite restaurant - the Wayfarer - Gracie had never been there.  It's got wonderful seafood and a killer view of Haystack Rock.  

Someone else had "my" table in the corner with the best view, but we still had a nice view of the ocean.  Gracie tried a fresh caught tuna salad and I had beer battered halibut and prawns.  Num!

After lunch we walked outside and snapped a few photos of Haystack Rock.. I've never seen it so green!

Heading back to the car I saw some Salal, this is a native plant found all over at the coast, the Indians used the berries extensively in their diet.  Read more about it HERE.

We saw this big sculpture of a Puffin and both snapped a shot of it.  They are to be found on our coast but are a rare treat to see.

We both brought our watercolors and paper and brushes and I took Gracie to a favorite beach park south of Cannon Beach at the Tolovana Beach Wayside.  I had in mind that we'd park on the water view end but all the spaces were taken, then I noticed a man had parked next to Mo's restaurant and he'd backed his car in and he had the PERFECT view of Haystack Rock from his car - luckily when I decided to park next to him.. he pulled out.. and I back my car in and was triumphant in the perfect spot for us to paint.  We'd brought folding chairs but the wind was blowing and it was fairly chilly.. so we got all settled in our seats and painted for two hours! :-)  We left the windows cracked open so we still had fresh air but were warm.  The other good part was it wasn't restaurant or park parking, just roadside so we weren't in anyone's way.

I was amazed at how many people were enjoying the beach, but it is spring break in Washington so I gathered that's why it was so busy.

I just love this big rock.

Way out past the rocks is this decommissioned lighthouse, it's rather spooky and definitely interesting.  It's called the Tillamook Rock Light - it's story is HERE.

Here is my painting in the works.  I laid my big clipboard over the steering wheel and went to work.  I got this wonderful Rembrandt paint box, the colors are wonderful and intense and I love using them.  It was a challenge to do the ocean, leaving white spaces to indicate the waves breaking.

Here is Gracie working on her painting.. she had this wonderful wooden table easel.. 

Two hours flew by as we worked away.. it was fun!

I asked a passerby if he'd snap a photo of us both with our paintings with the view we tried to capture behind us.  :-)

As we packed up our paints and brushes and other supplies I snapped a shot of the late afternoon sun shining off the Pacific Ocean.  Then we headed south to Tillamook.  We drove by Hug Point SP (State Park), Oswald SP, Manzanita, Nehalem Bay SP, Nehalem, Wheeler, Rockaway Beach, Garibaldi, Bay City, then Tillamook.  We actually had wanted to get an ice cream at the Tillamook Cheese Factory but it closed at 6 pm and we pulled into the lot at 6:03 - but the doors were still open and we raced in and ordered.  I asked the girls when they really close and she said if customers are still coming in they stay open until 6:30.  :-)  Have you ever had ice cream for dinner?  If not.. you should!

What a fun day we had!  I think some more painting adventures should happen.  I'm wondering where next?  Any ideas or suggestions?  Here is a shot of my picture.. I think I need to frame it!  I'm no Winslow Homer.. but it's fun.

Well.. gotta pack my swim bag and head off soon!  What are you up to today?  ((hugs)), Teresa :-)