Heceta Head Lighthouse

Heceta Head Lighthouse is in a picturesque area. All of the coast is beautiful but there is just something to like about Heceta Head. It sits out on a point above the water. The trees come right up to the lighthouse. There are interesting things nearby such as the Seal Caves, the beach, forest trails, a bed and breakfast, and some state parks. Heceta Head resides north of Florence, Oregon.

Heceta Head Lighthouse from Heceta Head Trail

Below you will see photos of Heceta Head Lighthouse from Highway 101, The Heceta Head Trail, the trail from the beach and parking lot to the lighthouse, and at the lighthouse itself. There are two trails to the lighthouse. The most commonly used one starts at the parking lot at Heceta Head - Devil's Elbow State Park and beach. THe other starts from Highway 101 north of the lighthouse. The second one is the harder one to find but the parking is free. It also requires more hiking but in my opinion it is worth it. The scenery is excellent and refreshing. This is the route we took but we ended going down the other trail to visit the beach. We did not get to visit the Sea Lion Caves but I highly suggest going.

9 photo panorama - Heceta Head Lighthouse from Highway 101

Heceta Head Lighthouse. Seen from Highway 101

Heceta Head Lighthouse. Seen from Highway 101

Heceta Head Lighthouse. Seen from Highway 101

Heceta Head Lighthouse. Seen from Highway 101

Sun Rays and Tree Shadows on Heceta Head Trail

Sun Rays and Tree Shadows on Heceta Head Trail

Ocean, Mist, Trees, and Greenery - Heceta Head Trail

14 photo panorama - Vegetation along trail to Heceta Head Lighthouse

Trail to Heceta Head Lighthouse

Trail to Heceta Head Lighthouse

Trail to Heceta Head Lighthouse

My wife and I at Heceta Head Lighthouse. Behind us you can see where I took the photos of the lighthouse from Highway 101

16 photo panorama - Heceta Head Lighthouse

2 photo panorama - Heceta Head Lighthouse Through Trees

Devil's Elbow State Park Beach and Heceta Head

Devil's Elbow and Heceta Head State Park is quite the place. It is a picturesque location. There are tall rocks that jut out of the sand and ocean. It helps one see how it got the name Devil's Elbow.  There is a stream that feeds into the ocean on the beach. The mossy rocks are beautiful.

At the south end of the beach there are some more rock formations jutting out of the ground, and a crag in the side of the rock that I liked. The sand was quite light and the whole area made for some nice photos. It was all really nice to see in person as well!
Enjoy the photos and wish you were at the beach!

Mossy Rock Reflection at Devil's Elbow Beach

12 photo panorama - Devil's Elbow Beach

Trees through Beach Rocks at Devil's Elbow Beach

4 photo panorama - Craggy Rock Face at Devil's Elbow Beach

Craggy Rock Face at Devil's Elbow Beach

Trees through Beach Rocks at Devil's Elbow Beach

Sand Waves on Devil's Elbow Beach

Rock and Sand on Devil's Elbow Beach

3 photo panorama - Mossy Rocks and Stream at Devil's Elbow Beach

18 photo panorama - Devil's Elbow Beach

Craggy Rock Face at Devil's Elbow Beach

Sunday in the Forest of the Oregon Coast

A few years ago, while on a trip up the west coast of the United States, my wife and I took part of a day just to explore the forest along the Oregon coast north of Florence. We went to church meetings in Florence and there a local told us about a road to take to see the beautiful forest. We decided to check it out.

The forests along the coast are much more green than the forest I grew up with. It seems that even the dirt is green. Not only are they green but they are a lush green full of life! It was quiet and you could hear slight breezes moving through the treetops. What a peaceful relaxing place to stop and ponder upon the wonderful world we live in. Nature is so perfect and beautiful. True it does have its imperfections and decay but it is still wondrous to behold. The creator of the world does impeccable work!

Now for a photo challenge...
Of the images below you have to guess which ones are HDR (multiple photos taken to help have a larger dark to bright range) and which are not. I will give you a hint that there are some of each. I an giving this challenge to show that HDR can appear very real and it has a legitimate place in the realistic world.

Light coming through trees on hill - Oregon Forest

Logging Road - Oregon Forest

Logging Road - Oregon Forest

Logging Road - Oregon Forest

Oregon Forest Floor

Redwood Sorrel on the forest floor, but no redwood nearby - Oregon

International Peace Gardens - Salt Lake City

The International Peace Gardens is a hidden gem of Salt Lake City. There are individual gardens for a variety of countries. Some of the popular ones are the Switzerland, Japan, China, and Denmark gardens. There are plenty of benches, and a path through the Gardens. There is some architecture from around the world as well as plants and gardening styles. There is even a little Matterhorn.

At the bottom of this post there is an image and link of the map of the garden.

3 photo panorama - Hedges in the International Peace Gardens - Salt Lake City, UT

5 Photo panorama - Stone monument in the International Peace Gardens - Salt Lake City, UT

Map - International Peace Gardens

Lightning Storm

here are a few photos from a summer lightning storm in Idaho. The storm was spectacular! I was slightly in a valley so you can see what looks like a big black band at the bottom of all the photos. The black are is actually a type of mesa flatland above the valley.

Lighting storms are wondrous and marvelous to behold. They are full of energy. They can also cause destruction when the lightning hits. Besides the direct destruction they can also cause wildfires. I like to think of them as those lights that entice bugs to fly to them but also kill the bugs when they touch it.

Lighting Strike at night in Idaho

Lighting Strike at night in Idaho

Lighting Strike at night in Idaho

Lighting Strike and Water Droplet Blur at night in Idaho