Buddy and I are visiting the Pacific Northwest for the first time, and he’s been busy with his camera while I’ve been working. Here is his view of Haystack Rock at Cannon Beach, Oregon. It’s quite different than our own rocky coast, although the tufted puffins-- which are related to our Atlantic puffins-- had arrived for the season just before we got there.
We are so excited to have you here. We’re 12 miles south of you in Manzanita. We wait for your letters and never fail to read each one. You have many followers in the Pacific NW. Thank you for every letter.
Dear HCR -- I spent the first 18 years of my life in Portland, ME, and will always consider myself a Mainer. Nonetheless, the West Coast (we have lived in CA since 1980), esp OR, has a different kind of coastal charm, including sunsets over the ocean! Please take time to enjoy your visit to the Pacific Northwest. I am sure that many (most) of your readers would not begrudge you however much vacation time you want to include in your travel itinerary. We can wait! -- Take Care
Enjoy yourself on our lovely west coast. While you are here, try to visit some of the McMennamins properties. They buy schools, churches, abandoned railway stations, and even an amazing former "poor farm" in Troutdale (fairly near PDX airport) and develop them as hotels and restaurants. At one time they employed more artists than any other Oregon employer, and the research into each building's history and the artwork is phenomenal.
We love Cannon beach, so glad you are there. One day, visually looking through the tidal pools and on the lookout for Puffin, we were surprised when all of the birds suddenly stopped singing. The Oregon DNR representative told us to just observe and just a minute later a huge eagle swooped in on the lookout for lunch. The birds went quiet, protecting themselves and their babies. While eagles gotta eat as well and what we were watching was nature “red in tooth and claw,” I couldn’t help comparing the scene to how voices are silenced by a voracious dictator through fear and threat of violence. Unlike the eagle, dictators aren’t on the lookout for mere sustenance, of course. But dictators certainly see the people under their thumbs as meal tickets to power and wealth, to be had for the taking.
I’ve lived in coastal Maine most of my life and am always astounded when I visit the beaches out West: how wide and expansive they are compared to New England’s nooks and crannies (at least in my favorite spots.) How lucky we are to live in a country so diverse in landscape and people.
Welcome to the North Coast. After a full day of canvassing for our progressive local county commissioner it was good to hear you are in our midst! We're working hard to ensure good governance.
Welcome to the west coast. The Maine coast is a special favorite place for us, and we are Californians so the west coast is our beautiful home. Knowing you are on our side of the continent puts you close by, like we could just reach out and touch.
Thank you for educating, encouraging, and providing perspective on our socio-political lives
as fellow Americans. Enjoy your travels in safety and good health. (If you get to California, brace yourself for the gas prices🥴)
I hope you can continue south a bit. Humboldt County has beaches, Redwood trees, lagoons and without a doubt the best elk viewing. You have a lot of fans and daily readers in Humboldt 🦌🏄♂️🏊🏽♀️🚴🏿♀️
One of my favourite places on earth. Arch Cape, nearby was a regular getaway from my home town Seattle. So beautiful. That sea air can blow your troubles away. 🧜🏻♀️
Heather I can’t decide whether you are Superwoman or Batwoman. (Or both) Whateever, you are truly extraordinary. Earlier you quietly mentioned that you had visited Gettysburg before dropping by the White House for a chat with President Biden. Now you have taken a moment from Maine seals to cherish the tufted puffins in Oregon.
How you can take a 3,000 mile ‘breather,’ and write about picking up the nightly Letter tomorrow boggles my mind. Perhaps you’ll start your letter with a squib about how Oregon has had broad mail-in voting for years with excellent results.
You and Buddy enjoy the tufted puffins and we shall endeavor to ‘stop the world’ to provide you a few days of rest and relaxation before you return to your irreplaceable role of oracle to those who believe in a functioning democracy.
It is fitting that you are in the state where Edward R Murrow was born, grew up, and became a union member when he worked in logging. Murrow would have lauded you.
We are so excited to have you here. We’re 12 miles south of you in Manzanita. We wait for your letters and never fail to read each one. You have many followers in the Pacific NW. Thank you for every letter.
Dear HCR -- I spent the first 18 years of my life in Portland, ME, and will always consider myself a Mainer. Nonetheless, the West Coast (we have lived in CA since 1980), esp OR, has a different kind of coastal charm, including sunsets over the ocean! Please take time to enjoy your visit to the Pacific Northwest. I am sure that many (most) of your readers would not begrudge you however much vacation time you want to include in your travel itinerary. We can wait! -- Take Care
I hope you can also spend time simply relaxing and drinking in the restorative scenery. The Oregon coast and light are a special paradise. ❤
Enjoy yourself on our lovely west coast. While you are here, try to visit some of the McMennamins properties. They buy schools, churches, abandoned railway stations, and even an amazing former "poor farm" in Troutdale (fairly near PDX airport) and develop them as hotels and restaurants. At one time they employed more artists than any other Oregon employer, and the research into each building's history and the artwork is phenomenal.
We love Cannon beach, so glad you are there. One day, visually looking through the tidal pools and on the lookout for Puffin, we were surprised when all of the birds suddenly stopped singing. The Oregon DNR representative told us to just observe and just a minute later a huge eagle swooped in on the lookout for lunch. The birds went quiet, protecting themselves and their babies. While eagles gotta eat as well and what we were watching was nature “red in tooth and claw,” I couldn’t help comparing the scene to how voices are silenced by a voracious dictator through fear and threat of violence. Unlike the eagle, dictators aren’t on the lookout for mere sustenance, of course. But dictators certainly see the people under their thumbs as meal tickets to power and wealth, to be had for the taking.
I’ve lived in coastal Maine most of my life and am always astounded when I visit the beaches out West: how wide and expansive they are compared to New England’s nooks and crannies (at least in my favorite spots.) How lucky we are to live in a country so diverse in landscape and people.
Welcome to the North Coast. After a full day of canvassing for our progressive local county commissioner it was good to hear you are in our midst! We're working hard to ensure good governance.
Hope you can make it north to the San Juan Islands. Enjoy your time
Welcome to the west coast. The Maine coast is a special favorite place for us, and we are Californians so the west coast is our beautiful home. Knowing you are on our side of the continent puts you close by, like we could just reach out and touch.
Thank you for educating, encouraging, and providing perspective on our socio-political lives
as fellow Americans. Enjoy your travels in safety and good health. (If you get to California, brace yourself for the gas prices🥴)
Olga and Marshall
Enjoy my BLUE home state!
I hope you can continue south a bit. Humboldt County has beaches, Redwood trees, lagoons and without a doubt the best elk viewing. You have a lot of fans and daily readers in Humboldt 🦌🏄♂️🏊🏽♀️🚴🏿♀️
One of my favourite places on earth. Arch Cape, nearby was a regular getaway from my home town Seattle. So beautiful. That sea air can blow your troubles away. 🧜🏻♀️
Heather I can’t decide whether you are Superwoman or Batwoman. (Or both) Whateever, you are truly extraordinary. Earlier you quietly mentioned that you had visited Gettysburg before dropping by the White House for a chat with President Biden. Now you have taken a moment from Maine seals to cherish the tufted puffins in Oregon.
How you can take a 3,000 mile ‘breather,’ and write about picking up the nightly Letter tomorrow boggles my mind. Perhaps you’ll start your letter with a squib about how Oregon has had broad mail-in voting for years with excellent results.
You and Buddy enjoy the tufted puffins and we shall endeavor to ‘stop the world’ to provide you a few days of rest and relaxation before you return to your irreplaceable role of oracle to those who believe in a functioning democracy.
It is fitting that you are in the state where Edward R Murrow was born, grew up, and became a union member when he worked in logging. Murrow would have lauded you.
Those folks in the foreground really give Haystack a nice perspective. Yeah, please enjoy yourselves. : )
I miss the Oregon Coast!
**Sea Lion Caves near Florence, Heather. 🐙
**Hatfield Marine Science Center in Newport. (Donations welcome.)
Somehow I've wound up in Central Washington.
Looking forward to seeing you at the Schnitz on Tuesday night. Welcome to Oregon!