I was most alive…on a trip to the Central Oregon Coast in 2022. It was a very cold and rainy spring in early April. My husband and I took time to explore the coast near Eugene, Oregon. We took a day to wander the rugged coast and saw our first whale sightings near Yachats. We stopped at a Neptune’s Beach a hidden cove, with boulders that appeared to have been smashed and tossed onto the beach by Neptune himself.
Walking the path to the beach, we began to hear the North Pacific Ocean. Rain pelted our coats and the wind picked up.
The path opened up to a beach full of big black boulders, many covered with slippery sea grass at low tide. Once there, it felt like the most rugged and natural place I had ever visited. The cold wind and rain whipped around my face - yet the air was so fresh and pure it was revitalizing. The area was untouched to us, and amazing to explore boulder after boulder as they wrapped around on the beach into the next cove. Cold waves splashed sea spray near by and we felt so alive, to be in that moment with nature.
I meant to continue on , I have to say your experience was incredible beyond all the other adventures you have shared with northern lights and early morning trips into caves .
I can well understand how it would never leave you and the photographs are fabulous and happy I could take that journey seeing them . I will remember !
This pretty much left me spellbound this morning. Your words of “ I felt most alive , most in the presence of the power that moves in the world even when we are not looking “….. says it all….Sacred awe. A perfect message to read on Valentines Day. Thank you
So when thinking about what your question means to me , In my life certain moments on the back of a horse , or having the sun come out miraculously lighting up the white cliffs and arches of Etretat France , while I am laying flat to photograph and not be blown off the cliff. However It is a toss up between first being in a double Kayak with son and the waves are feeling threatening by the caves , but then we were encouraged to come on in by the pros who are just out there playing not leading groups . The late afternoon sun and cliffs were blood red . It was the beginning of my photographic and artistic journey with sea caves . But then maybe the same winter to come , we discovered the wonderland of ice . There have been at least 3 trips to the ice caves , the last being 2008 . It was generally a week celebrating my February Birthday , and the best present ever . By now the experiences run together in my memories, always leaving me exhilarated beyond other life experiences . Hopefully another opportunity , but can still enjoy kayaking into them . And I have my large painting of the ice waterfall that changes as sunlight comes in the window lighting up the many colors in it.
What a profound and visceral post!
I was most alive…on a trip to the Central Oregon Coast in 2022. It was a very cold and rainy spring in early April. My husband and I took time to explore the coast near Eugene, Oregon. We took a day to wander the rugged coast and saw our first whale sightings near Yachats. We stopped at a Neptune’s Beach a hidden cove, with boulders that appeared to have been smashed and tossed onto the beach by Neptune himself.
Walking the path to the beach, we began to hear the North Pacific Ocean. Rain pelted our coats and the wind picked up.
The path opened up to a beach full of big black boulders, many covered with slippery sea grass at low tide. Once there, it felt like the most rugged and natural place I had ever visited. The cold wind and rain whipped around my face - yet the air was so fresh and pure it was revitalizing. The area was untouched to us, and amazing to explore boulder after boulder as they wrapped around on the beach into the next cove. Cold waves splashed sea spray near by and we felt so alive, to be in that moment with nature.
-Kelly Blumenthal
I meant to continue on , I have to say your experience was incredible beyond all the other adventures you have shared with northern lights and early morning trips into caves .
I can well understand how it would never leave you and the photographs are fabulous and happy I could take that journey seeing them . I will remember !
Oh how I long for the return of those cold winter days! Thanks Jeff!
This pretty much left me spellbound this morning. Your words of “ I felt most alive , most in the presence of the power that moves in the world even when we are not looking “….. says it all….Sacred awe. A perfect message to read on Valentines Day. Thank you
So when thinking about what your question means to me , In my life certain moments on the back of a horse , or having the sun come out miraculously lighting up the white cliffs and arches of Etretat France , while I am laying flat to photograph and not be blown off the cliff. However It is a toss up between first being in a double Kayak with son and the waves are feeling threatening by the caves , but then we were encouraged to come on in by the pros who are just out there playing not leading groups . The late afternoon sun and cliffs were blood red . It was the beginning of my photographic and artistic journey with sea caves . But then maybe the same winter to come , we discovered the wonderland of ice . There have been at least 3 trips to the ice caves , the last being 2008 . It was generally a week celebrating my February Birthday , and the best present ever . By now the experiences run together in my memories, always leaving me exhilarated beyond other life experiences . Hopefully another opportunity , but can still enjoy kayaking into them . And I have my large painting of the ice waterfall that changes as sunlight comes in the window lighting up the many colors in it.