Capes North of Lincoln City

Fog has been our seemingly-constant companion on travels along the Oregon coast.

On this day we were headed north of our home base in Lincoln City. Along the way to Cape Mears, near Tillamook, we caught glimpses of coastline and rock formations through breaks in the fog.

We could see a face in this large rock (below) just off shore.

Located within Cape Meares State Scenic Viewpint is the Cape Meares Lighthouse. These next two photos show the views from the trail to the lighthouse.

The trail reached a point where it was above the lighthouse. It stood 217 feet above the ocean, but its 38-foot tower is the shortest on the Oregon coast. First illuminated in 1890, it was decommissioned in 1963 when an automated light was installed on a small concrete building just east of the tower. Although it is no longer in service, the lighthouse still contains the original Fresnel lens.

On the return trail, we caught this view of the coastline,

the Octopus Tree, a most unusual Sitka spruce, and

a couple enjoying a picnic in the fog.

We shot these photos while driving through Cape Lookout State Park.

As we head into Pacific City, the sun is our new companion.