More images of the Yaquina Head Lighthouse

Beach grass where the old homstead for the light keeper and family was with the Yaquina Head Lighthouse in the background.
The impressive iron work stairs all brought in by boat.
The 1000 watt electric light inside the French imported lense. The signature signal is two seconds on, two seconds off, then two seconds on and 14 seconds off.
Common Murrers through a spotting scope. Near the center at 10:00 is a chick among the nesting birds. This guano covered rock was only 5o yards off shore and had quite an odor.

Fascinating floating islands

While crossing the bog Martin caputured this great black bear picture as I paddled him into position. They are rather timid during the day.



You can see my foot sinks up to the ankle as you walk on the floating mass of boggy stuff.
Martin is standing on the edge of a hole the water is more than 8 feet deep. At least that is as far as I was willing to stick my arm and paddle into the holes.
It seems this plant has very little chlorophyll with the bright reds.

One of many holes that would be a bad idea to fall into. Latter in the day we spotted a mature Bald Eagle and a young lone bear. It was a great paddle. I was very glad I had ignored the weather reports of rain.

Tahkenitch Lake

It was a fine warm overcast day to canoe Lake Tahkenitch. The overcast made for little wind and great difuesed light for taking pictures. Martin and I put in up 5 mile arm and launched a Mad River Canoe I wanted to test the repaired seats of. I had refinished the bright work and replaced the wicker seats with parachute cord I wove around the ash frames.

This sea monster looking at its reflection greated us as we paddled for the quaking islands.

You can see the ripples in the water as Martin walks on the edge of the floating vegetation.
Animal trails mostly beaver and otter have worn the thick moist moss with their little feet.
This is a beaver lodge hidden in the rushes. You see very few lodges for beaver in Oregon mostly they just dig a hole in the bank of the lake or river.

Portland Sunrise

I spent the weekend in Salem, Portland and Lincoln City with lots of stops in between. While in Portland I just happened to have a canoe on the van and while waiting for my wife, I went for a morning paddle.The sun was reflecting off the buildings as it rose over the Rose City. It was a perfect Friday the 13th on the Willamette River.
I was not the only early morning boater. Lots of rowers and Dragon Boat paddlers were getting their exercise too under the many bridges. As a newbie to the area it did take a little time to find a safe place to park and launch. This is near the OMSI parking lot under the Morrison Street Bridge. There were lots of empty parking spots when I arrived at 5:40 A. M. but by take out time of 9:00 they were all full of cars. I was a little concerned about the homeless asking for money and admiring my gear as I left my valuables in the van.

I was most impressed with this river art that can only be seen from the water. I had to wonder who would go to the effort and risk arrest to paint this image.

On the way home we stopped at the Yaquina Head Lighthouse and took the tour. They have a nice interpretive center with volunteers to answer questions. It was worth the $5 entry fee.

I also spent a few hours on Devils Lake near the Outlet Mall in Lincoln City. While paddling for exercise I noticed a large ski boat with black smoke billowing out the stern. The crew was taking turns paddling with a single blade to shore on opposite sides of the boat. I approached in my 10' 6" canoe and asked if they needed help. They thought I was nuts to offer to rescue a 1500 pound hull with an inboard outboard motor while I am in a boat that weighs 24 pounds. I threw them a 40' line that was tied to my forward thwart and with it tied to their painter, towed them to shore. When I reached the dock I ran the line around the dock and began pulling them in. A bystander came to help. I untied to get out of the way from their massive crushing hull against my fragile little boat in the 2 foot waves as the bystander pulled them in. It was ironic the big boat with the 250 hp. motor was unable to control its movement as well as I could control it with no motor.

This lucky day 7/7/7 at 7:00 A. M. the Happy Paddlers back yard adventure.


With less than a days notice two new paddlers enlisted in this lucky adventure. We already had a breeze so Troy, Eteban and I headed into the North West to put the wind at our backs on the way home. The North Bend Bridge is an impressive structure when you are in a little canoe and it towers over you. The seagulls made a lot of noise and warned us off of their territory with several near misses of whitewash. We were very lucky.




We took the hint after a few pictures of the returning Coast Guard Cutter, Orcas passing in front of the North Bend Hanger.

Lucky again to see the Orcas returning to home port in front of the airport hanger with two birds in the foreground.

The two dark birds in the foreground may be loons. One had a white neck band.

We paddled to this island and found a skull. It was about the size of an otter head and looked a little long for a racoon. I did not know if the otters had molars.

Lucky to find an interesting skull to examine.

The wind shadows made a huge difference when the hills stopped the 25-30 mph gusts.

This crab molt was on a bed of Pickle Weed, which had little yellow flowers. We collected two trash bags of litter from the island and began the journey home in an overloaded 15'6" boat with three adults. The winds had generated white caps and 3 foot waves were building in the ship channel as the tide ran against it. Heading into the waves with a small angle we crossed the bay a quarter mile above our destination. At the crest of a lucky wave we spun around the canoe and ran with the wind. Using strong braces and rudder strokes we enjoyed the roller coaster ride back to the dock. Troy and Esteban were troupers and never complained. I did indulge their request for a bailer as the bilge water increased to ankle deep. The real test of their assurances they enjoyed the trip will be if they ever return for another adventure with the Happy Paddlers.

No doubt about it this was a luck day for a beautiful adventure out our back door.