The path down to Harris Beach in Brookings offered amazing views. The temperature was a balmy 70-something degrees in late October, and there was none of the normal, biting wind. Both sides of the walking path were covered in berry bushes. The fruit was gone, but the leaves were still bright green. The sun was so bright that the greenness sort of gets drowned out in the above photograph. In person, the contrasts between the green of the bush leaves and the blue of the ocean and sky were stunning.

Posted on November 9th, 2008 under nature. Tags: beach, brookings, water. Comments: 1

The above photograph was taken a couple weeks back when we went to Brookings, Oregon. I’ll have another picture up soon that shows our cabin window in which you can see the reflection of this tree.

Posted on November 8th, 2008 under nature. Tags: autumn, brookings, trees, water. Comments: 1

Posted on November 7th, 2008 under nature, only in ashland. Tags: autumn, clouds, grizzly peak, home, mountains, trees. Comments: 5

After a number of warm days in a row, this was the sunrise on the last of those warm days, about 24 hours before the rain hit and the temperatures turned much colder.

Posted on November 5th, 2008 under nature. Tags: clouds, home, mountains, skywatch, sunrise, trees. Comments: 4

Although not quite as pretty or secluded as Harris Beach, which we found on Sunday, Sporthaven Beach, just south of the harbor in Brookings was still very nice on Saturday.

Posted on October 29th, 2008 under nature. Tags: beach, brookings, water. Comments: 2

Today’s picture is the exact same as yesterday’s. I took both from the same location within 10 seconds of each other. The difference is that in yesterday’s I focused on the trees and in today’s I focused on the sky.

Posted on October 28th, 2008 under nature. Tags: brookings, nature, trees, water. Comments Off on Chetco River – different focus

On a map, Ashland doesn’t look far from the Oregon coast. Birds can probably make the trip in fairly short order. Unfortunately for those species forced to take cars, there are two mountain ranges in the way so it takes a couple of hours on a roundabout course which first takes you quite north of your destination (Grants Pass) and then quite south of your destination into California. The drive is beautiful though–especially this time of year. For part of the drive you are along the Smith River with incredible views of the fall colors lining the banks. Unfortunately, we didn’t stop to take pictures this time.

Once we got to Brookings, Oregon we headed up the Chetco River for a cabin in Alfred A. Loeb State Park. A 30-second walk from the cabin afforded the above view.

The little ripple in the water is from a fish hitting the surface to get a bug. It was dinnertime for the many fish in this little part of the Chetco River.

Posted on October 27th, 2008 under nature. Tags: autumn, brookings, trees, water. Comments: 2

I just got back from two days in and around Brookings, Oregon. I have been to the Oregon coast many, many times, but this was by far the best experience I’ve ever had there. Usually it is windy and/or cold and/or raining and/or foggy. And usually it’s not just one of those; pick two or three and you’ll have a better picture.

Not this time. It was beautiful. No wind. No clouds. No fog. 70 degrees both days.

I’ll have some more pictures from the trip during the next week or so.

Posted on October 26th, 2008 under nature. Tags: beach, brookings, water. Comments: 6

A couple weeks ago we had a few cold days which resulted in a bit of snow on the nearby peaks. If the trees on the top of Grizzly Peak, pictured above, look a bit strange to you it is because of a fire that charred them six years ago. The contrast of the black and white is kind of cool. In spring, with late snow dustings like the above you can see a nice mixture of black, white, green (from grass), yellow, and purple (from wild flowers).

I’ll have to post some pictures of the valley from up on Grizzly Peak from prior hikes I have taken one of these days. It’s a great hike, just not this time of year as the back road is in the shade and likely covered in snow even if the front side looks dry.

Posted on October 23rd, 2008 under nature. Tags: grizzly peak, mountains, snow, trees. Comments: 1