Thursday, May 10, 2018

Cannon Beach, Oregon: Ocean, Muffins and Puffins


The pictures for this post have been sitting in my blog drafts for almost a month now without posting, not sure why - perhaps because I don't like to end things. But I do like to have a closure, so here you have it - PART THREE (final) of our early Spring mini-break in Oregon State. Click here to read PART ONE and PART TWO.
More Oregon vacations from previous years in these posts:
I also invite you to look at my old Russian blog for a zillion photos of Portland, Oregon that we took during our first few trips there (prior to this blog):
(considered the best Japanese garden outside of Japan) 
Both posts written in February 2013, with pictures from 2007, 2011, 2013 taken by Justin and myself (yes, I used to bring a camera wherever I went, for many years!).
And now on to the final destination of this year's trip.


Terrible Tilly (1881) in the distance (read  Wiki article HERE and my post HERE)

Armed with all four new tires, we left Portland early afternoon, so we could arrive to the final destination of our family trip in daylight. Hello, Cannon Beach! There is a lot written about this magical place, and if you've been there once, you will most probably want to visit again! We visit almost every year, as you can see from the posts I shared earlier. This time though we decided not just to visit, but to stay in the village (as opposed to its neighboring towns, where we have stayed before), so without a single care in the world we could leave our car and walk the streets of Cannon Beach - a charming and unique wooden architectural ensemble with the views of the Pacific Ocean.




As soon as we left our stuff in the cute wooden hotel, we paid the ocean a visit. No matter how many times we come here, it doesn't get old! The long sandy coastline, the sound of waves, the sea breeze, the feeling of feet sinking into the sand, and the view of these gorgeous rocks standing upright in the vast water, some closer to the village (such as the iconic 235 foot high Haystack Rock in the photos above), others in the distance...all of it makes this place irresistible to visitors. All of it and more - but let's come back to that a bit later, shall we?


My last day outfit: the same elements paired differently!

We were quite lucky with the weather in the sense that we got just one rainy day - but it was our only full day in Cannon Beach, alas. We spent it walking down the streets and visiting shops and art galleries - either those we always love to visit, or those we always want, but never have enough time to visit. One of the most exciting things to me as a foodie is discovering unique places to eat, and this time it was a wonderful breakfast and lunch cafe called Lazy Susan. I can highly recommend without any reservations: it is not only competent, but soulful and inspired cooking - cooking at its best! And the cozy atmosphere of this quaint family restaurant makes it simply a must when you are in town.

Bran muffin (who knew they can be so good!) and melting-in-your-mouth quiche

A scone with enormous marionberries! (a type of blackberry developed in Oregon) 

Omelette, bacon, fried potatoes is heaven for Justin (and I rarely cook it at home).

The last day of our vacation started with sunny skies, and the temperature got up to 60 F. (As we came back home that evening, which is a 3 hour drive, it was 70 F and glorious sunshine - the first such warm day this year!) But being used to windy and wet weather which we experienced every time in Cannon Beach (except perhaps the very peak of Summer), we expected that it would turn out cold and breezy when we'd get to the beach, so I dressed in layers, like a head of cabbage, and insisted on dressing Anya the very same way (grumbling about children who never listen to their mothers, no less). But when we came to the beach, the sun continued to shine blissfully, and I soon started taking off layer by layer, feeling rather silly for being overly worried for no reason, and ended up carrying not just mine, but my daughter's extra clothes.

The Needles - rocks near Haystack 


The last - but not the least! - reason why we wanted to visit Cannon Beach were puffins! These beautiful, exotic looking creatures, are known for coming to the rocks every year in early April. They come here to nest and lay (each pair) exactly one egg and stay in this location for a hundred days to raise exactly one baby puffin, and leave till next April. We heard of this, but haven't had an opportunity to see it with our own eyes until this trip!



We weren't the only visitors who came to Cannon Beach to see puffins - the beach was crawling with families and whole classrooms of children having educational trips. And even though we weren't lucky to capture puffins on our cameras, I promise you that we indeed saw them!! I squealed with excitement like a kid under a Christmas tree when I saw them flying around the Haystack. We've only seen them at a zoo before, and they always seemed a bit unreal, a bit out of this world - are they birds? are they penguins? So seeing them with our own eyes was quite a treat and quite a marvelous ending of our yearly family trip to Oregon. If you plan a visit, keep in mind that you can still see them (as well as other sea birds) in May and June. Puffins are real! I guarantee you that!



Photos by Justin and me

Button down shirt, vest, corduroy jacket - thrifted
Skirt - eShakti (old)
Outer jacket - Lands' End (old)
Rain boots - Hunter (old)

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27 comments:

  1. better to peel off some layers then getting frozen in a thin dress :-D
    you look gorgeous in your british country style!! very in harmony with the cozy wooden architecture of the hotel.... looove the portrait of you at the beach!!
    puffins are to cute to be real! and the landscape is soo romantic with those wide beaches and rocks and mist - dreamy! thank you for taking us with you!
    tons of hugses!
    p.s.: thank you for you lovely comments on my old posts!!

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    1. Oh yes, you are right, my dear wise friend! I definitely don't complain about being well prepared (and thanks to you, also being so stylish in my travel!). I was just REALLY surprised that the weather was almost the opposite to what we expected! :)

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  2. Hachz I love this post so much ❤️. Stunning pictures, pictures from Anya and you... from Justin... your selfie is amazing...
    Thank you Natalia. Huge hug and much love Tina

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  3. I love the last pic!!!!!! This place is stunning!! Puffins are real---love it!!!

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  4. I'd love to have a poster of that first photo and stare at it for hours, it is so mesmerizing! My favourite kind of seaside scene, the tide not yet fully out, and with a light sea mist slightly distorting the reflection. That beach does look like heaven and I can quite understand why you return to it again and again. I am a little bit jealous of you getting to see puffins for real. They are the most gorgeous and at the same time comical birds! That photo of you and Anya is gorgeous too! Have a lovely weekend! Lots of love xxx

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    1. There is definitely something humorous about puffins - they make me smile!
      I hope you enjoy the photo! <3

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  5. I had to laugh, such a mother statement. Teenage daughters not listening to their mothers. And carrying all her discarded clothes as well as yours. Why do kids think you deal with all the discards, including food they don't want. Here Mum, they say. Crazy! Well trained from birth.
    Anya is getting tall. Those long legs. 15 already?!
    Thanks for your lovely comment on my video. Yes the kids would get on I'm sure.
    We visit the beach again soon...can't wait! Your photos of your lovely misty beach has given me even more of an appetite to see ours in the late autumn.
    xo Jazzy Jack

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    1. Oh your beaches are amazing! Hope to see them IRL some day! :)
      Kids, huh? ;)))

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  6. Oh, I would love to see puffins in real nature-not a zoo. I trust you got to see the lovely birds.

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    1. Maybe you can plan a trip to the PNW some day! It's an amazing place to live and travel! <3

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  7. What a mystical beach!This beach is stunning...and the way those rocks seem to rise from the mists makes the whole place look magical. What a great destination to visit! I absolutely loved seeing those rocks. I saw rocks of similar shape and size in other places, but here they look so unique, it's like there is a perfect harmony between them in the beach. Maybe it is their placement, maybe it is feng shui but they sure do look pretty.

    Lovely family photos! Your daughter is getting taller, she's already your height. Children grow up so fast, don' they? You have such a lovely family. The restaurant looks nice. That muffin with those big Marionberries looks yummy. I had to google Marionberry to see what they look like and how they were created. How fascinating!

    Puffins are adorable birds indeed. I'm sure it was fun seeing them. I love birds too. I don't do the typical bird- watching but I always like to keep my eyes open. When birds see that you are friendly,and somehow they can tell, usually they are more than willing to show themselves. If you compliment them, they will continue to come back to you. Birds are so much smarter than people give them credit. I'm always annoyed when people say 'bird brain' as an insult. Many birds species are amazing intelligent and if you look at them closely, you can see it in their eyes.

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    1. I'm like you - I don't have any equipment for traditional bird watching, but I learned to pay attention to birds when we first moved to the Pacific Northwest and lived in a beach house for three years. They are amazing to watch! Each with their own unique character.

      The pastry with berries is actually called scones over here. In England, scones are traditionally plain, but in the US they like to make them sweet and often add berries or fruit to the dough.

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  8. btw Today I listen to an audio version of Turgenev's Mumu. Such a sad story! Have you read it?

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    1. I read it in middle school - it was in our school program. It's been a while since I read Turgenev, but he used to be my favorite author! I had the whole collection of his works back home. My favorite ones were Вешние воды and Ася back in a day. I was thinking about Turgenev just recently, and maybe nowadays Отцы и дети would be more interesting for me to read? It was another must-read at school.

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    2. I've been listening to Turgenev a lot lately...I listen to audio-book recordings of his work on YouTube, so I always get new recommendations. I really liked Ася! I've recently found a copy (in Croatian) of Вешние воды at home, I didn't even know I had it. I've read somewhere that one famous Russian ballerina made her students read Вешние воды and Первая любовь before they danced Giselle. They are both sad tales, but I liked them a lot. Life is a but a fleeing moment, they seem to tell, and if we don't hold onto love, we'll lose it.

      I've read Отцы и дети a couple of times...and every time I read it, I find something new in it. It is a true classic. This novel is usually a part of our school curriculum. Another Turgenev's book that is taught in schools is Записки охотника (Croatian translation Lovčevi zapisi). I didn't know of his other works until recently, it's lovely to discover them now. I seem to gravitate more and more towards classics lately.

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  9. We often make the trek to Tofino up the coast on Vancouver Island. It has the same light quality as your photos of Cannon Beach. Misty with high resolution contrasts, inspiring big smiles and hearty meals. There is nothing like a windswept beach, even a chilly one. Maybe especially a chilly one. Thank you for these photos, Natalia. I love them.

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    1. Thank you so much for your beautiful and kind comment, Karen!

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  10. A magical place with the misty views , I can see why you loved your visit there. The photographs are truly wonderful. I did smile at your shedding layers, both yours and Anya's, better to be warm than cold. Loved your outfits too.xx

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  11. You look fantastic, I love this English country gentlewoman look on you!
    Those beach photos are wonderfully atmospheric shrouded in the mist, I can almost feel the sea air on my face,
    Anya is so lovely, so grown-up.
    The quiche and salad are just my kind of lunch. xxx

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    1. Thank you, Vix! The English country gentlewoman - I love the sound of it! I am such an anglophile! <3

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  12. love those mistycal foggy landscapes, the rocks, the sea!, so fantastic! and the wooden houses look amazing!
    you look fabulous in your plaid skirt and cute waistcoat, comfy&cool, classic with a modern twist!, gorgeous!. And so lovely that you took care of Anya and wrapped her in clothes, mwahaha, as moms use to do!
    besos

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    1. Thank you! It's great fun being a mama, though we can freak out sometimes a little too much, hehe!

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  13. You really pay tribute to Cannon Beach with this wonderful part three of your mini series ! I love the photos of the rocks and the puffins, The family photos are beautiful as well. There is a distinct vibe to these photos that are very compelling. It also reminds people to travel within the country , not jet it jet fuel needed, as there is so much beauty to be seen and enjoyed. Thank you so much for sharing these Natalia !
    I love you and that fabulous plaid outfit as well and the photos of Anja are so lovely .
    ❤️❤️❤️
    Elle
    https://theellediaries.com/

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    1. Thank you, Elle! I love travel in all shapes and forms - local, national and international! Can't wait to do more national and international travel some day!

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