Northern California to Southern British Columbia. This return trip I stopped at Cannon Beach, before overnighting in Everett. With a cat in a bag, I headed toward the ocean to see Oregon's iconic Haystack Rock. It was worth getting on the road in the dark.
The Oregon Coast has long been on my travel list. The sand dunes. The dramatic rock formations. As I planned my drive back to Canada from Northern California early December, I looked to see where was a good spot to stop. I was definitely not driving all the way through like I did coming south! My goal was to overnight in the Seattle area so I could leisurely make my ferry reservation for Vancouver Island. And Cannon Beach fit the schedule.
I got a taste of the Oregon Coast earlier in September, when we visited Gold Beach, just 40 miles from the California border. We spent most of our time inland, on the Rogue River, at the Tu Tu’ Tun Lodge. Wade’s parents invited us to join them for a couple of relaxing days. It was their anniversary.
A couple of days wading in the river, sitting in the hot tub, watching the deer, having great BBQs, playing games and enjoying everyone’s company. I also got to try my latest “toy” – the GDome Mobile. It houses my phone and lets me take underwater photos, as well as capture those half in and half out of water shots.
On the way home, we stopped at a beach. It was my photo op. At that time, fires were escalating in both Oregon and California, and we could already smell the smoke in the air at the lodge. You can tell from the video that the skies were already smokey. By the time we drove south, the air was red and thick with smoke. Martian, many people called it. Here’s a short clip on how surreal that was.
20 reasons to Love Gold Beach, Where the Pacific Meets the Rogue – Oregon Live
North Cali to Cannon Beach
I left Northern California pre-dawn, with a plan to reach Everett by dinner time. It was about an 8-hour drive to Cannon Beach.
I pulled out of the driveway and into thick mist, as if I was leaving in secret. I could barely see a few feet in front; at times, it was even less visibility. I thought it poetic – I arrived pre-dawn among the calls of the seals and I left before the sun could highlight my movements. Undetected by Big Brother.
Somewhere in the Redwoods, I stopped. Luna was meowing. I think she was talking to the Sasquatch, perhaps getting a message to pass onto their northern kin. Yes, the Sasquatch.
On the way down, we also stopped somewhere in the Redwood forests as she was getting agitated, excited, intrigued. I finally found a safe bend in the road to pull into. So dark the forest then, back in March. The world felt dark at that time, descending into chaos. March 2020. Now, it appears to have been the dark before the dawn.
So we sat together, her on the dashboard, eyes wide open, for about 15 minutes. Mist was still rolling in all around us. Sleep was heavy on my eyelids. I took this time to replenish. A swig of something I don’t remember now and a nibble of breakfast. I needed to get oriented and grounded into my next adventure. It was a long drive north.
It took a while to emerge from the mist and winding roads. I was wondering if I’d even make it to Cannon Beach before dark. I did.
Cannon Beach & Haystack Rock
The seaside town of Cannon Beach was pretty closed up, being late in the day. I pulled in before 4PM. And because, you know, something was going on all over the world. What exactly it is, who really knows.
I drove by the beach, to see Haystack Rock. So you can’t park anywhere here. I drove back to the main street, and found the public lot on Hemlock (by E Gower). With Luna in tow, I headed to the beach with my camera gear, unsure of where to go.
Here’s more information about where to park to see Haystack Rock.
Basically if you head toward the beach, you’ll find different access points. I met a mother and her two adult daughters on the way who pointed me to the nearest one. They had noticed Luna in her bag and we stopped to chat.
You can’t miss Haystack Rock.
From HaystackRock.org:
Haystack Rock is 235 foot tall rock called a sea stack. It is one of 15 rocks in the U.S. named Haystack Rock, with six of them being in Oregon. However, this is the most famous of the Haystack Rocks because of its large size and beautiful location in Cannon Beach. The Rock is made from basalt (lava) that came from massive lava flows to the east of here. It was once connected to the coastline, but erosion has separated it from the coast. The rock spires to the south of Haystack Rock are called “The Needles.” Be careful! There is a strong rip tide on the south side of The Needles. Surfers sometimes use this rip tide to carry them out to the where the waves are good. But, watch out for the whirlpool the sometimes forms just beyond The Needles. In other words, if you don’t know what you are doing, don’t go into the water here.
