Commute

There are some advantages to living 30 minutes from the dentist. Now if I were living somewhere else, say, in Portland, that wouldn't be a true statement. But here on the coast, anywhere you drive is a beautiful outing.


While I wasn't exactly thrilled to be headed to the dentist (crowns), I did grab my camera on the way out the door - a weather day labeled as "changeable" was bound to provide some Kodak moments. Dr. Gilbert has an office in Wheeler, commuting from his Portland practice several days a week to provide outstanding dental care for north county folks. He was late, snow on the pass. Arrived in a hailstorm. Within 15 minutes it was sunny - for a spell. That's what changeable weather means!


Some views of Nehalem Bay, from the hill where the clinic is located.
That's Neah-Kah-Nie Mountain in the background. Where it drops to the ocean is about a 900' cliff. Highway 101 curves around that cliff, with several big pull-outs for enjoying the incredible view down the coast and out to sea. Prime whale spotting place from late December through March. I saw 14 spouts during one outing there, my personal record!

I'm enthralled with clouds right now, they are so wonderful to play with using watercolors or pencils - my cloud photo reference file is growing, with shots like this one:

Heading home, coming around the curve on the north end of Garibaldi just where the highway breaks over the hill, I almost kept going straight on in amazement as these two eagles seemed to be perched right in the middle of the road. A quick dodge to the small parking pull-out right there, and I had the camera out in a flash and started snapping.

Looks a little grouchy, doesn't he? It's been extremely windy the past 36 hours, I'm sure it didn't help the fishing - for man or bird.

It was nice to come home to a cozy warm house and crackling wood fire in the stove. Changeable weather is fine, as long as you don't have to be out in for long!