
it seems i documented my vacation in reverse. see, i had the most recent things on my mind and could think of nothing more than portland and cupcakes and food carts (oh my!). but i can't forget the first part of our trip to manzanita, on the gorgeous oregon coast.

we drove down on my birthday (aside: on which i woke up to cupcakes and fresh eggs from my most wonderful neighbors, all discovered after the most perfect morning swim in the lake with my favorite swimming peeps) to stay at our friends' cabin in manzanita. they were there the first night and there was much game playing and talking and we stayed on for an extra day of hiking and beachgoing and tidepool watching. yay for good friends with awesome cabins!


our hike was along the coast through ecola state park to indian beach, that wound through beautiful a coastal forest with occasional views of the water and the rocks below.

i had fun watching the surfers and walking barefoot in the sand. and enjoying the long shadows made by the setting sun.

the next morning we got up bright and early for a tide pool walk led by a naturalist during a minus tide at oswald west state park. what fun!


we saw lots of sea stars and mussels and barnacles and sea anemones and crabs.

there was a gorgeous fog over the water and it was bracingly chilly, yet still, there were surfers out there in the scary looking waves. i so admire our crazy pacific northwest surfers.
but no time for lingering... it was onward to portland and all its delights.