Linear view vs. Masonry View

Tidepool Tidbits

Lincoln City uses a portion of the local bed tax on hotel rooms to pay for educational programming which is offered free to the public, spring through summer. Thus far I’ve attended a Beachcombing Clinic, a Bird Walk, and now a Tidepool Clinic. Each of the outings was led by a local expert and though I’m not a novice there was still plenty for me to learn.

For instance, I learned that some species of sea stars can live 150 years. Wow! Ochre Sea Stars, the ones most common in Oregon’s nearshore tidepools, can live up to 40 years. Ochres primarily prey on California Mussels so when their population crashed due to sea star wasting syndrome a few years back there wasn’t a predator to control the mussels.

Thankfully, sea stars are rebounding along the Pacific Northwest Coast. However, some of the mussels are now too large for the sea stars to eat. This imbalance has led to a dramatic reduction in diversity in some tidepools since the large mollusks have dominated the available “anchor space”. A healthy, balanced tidepool is akin to old growth forest; its diverse habitats supporting a plethora of species.

Giant Green Anemones primarily owe their namesake color to a symbiotic relationship with photosynthetic algae. Did you know anemones can move? They appear to be permanently suctioned to the rock but nope, when they decide to move they let go and float away. Wild!

I think I’ll pursue a degree in lifelong learning…

Baby Starfish on California Mussel
Moonglow Anemone
Sixteen Sculpins Skulking
Coralline Algae
Polychaete Worm
Checkered Periwinkle (Littorina scutulata)
Splendid Iridescent Seaweed (Mazzaella splendens)
Splendid Iridescent Seaweed
Low Tide Scenery
Splendid Iridescent Seaweed
Moonglow Anemone (Anthopleura artemisia)
Ochre Sea Star Working on Opening a California Mussel
Giant Green Anemone Devouring a Dungeness Crab
Ochre Sea Stars and Giant Green Anemones
Giant Green Anemone
Black Leather Chiton (Katharina tunicata)
Thatched Barnacles
Ochre Sea Star Predating on California Mussel
Black Pina Algae
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Cape Meares Daytrip

A few weeks back I scratched my itch to wander by driving the Three Capes Scenic Route. This used to be branded as the Three Capes Loop but a section of road north of Cape Meares collapsed in a landslide in 2013 and ODOT doesn’t have the funds necessary to rebuild it. Thankfully, I have my memories from driving the route in years past.

Since I was heading up from the south, my first cape was Cape Kiwanda by Pacific City. Next up was Cape Lookout but before I reached it a small sign by the road announced that the Jacobsen Salt Company was open. Ever curious, I pulled in to check it out. In the small gift shop I learned that Ben Jacobsen started the company in 2011 by pumping up water from Netarts Bay at high tide.

As they proudly proclaim, they are the first salt works on the Oregon Coast since the Lewis and Clark expedition in 1805. There’s quite a bit of effort involved in reducing seawater to fluffy, white flakes. In the early days of civilization, salt was a precious commodity and if you’d like a fascinating, in-depth look at this mineral that we keep on our tables I highly recommend reading Salt by Mark Kurlanksy.

My last stop was the lighthouse at the Cape Meares Scenic State Viewpoint. Though decommissioned in 1963, the lighthouse (built in 1889) has been carefully restored. The lighthouse’s revolving Fresnel lens produced a specific “characteristic“: 30 seconds of white light followed by a five second red flash. On good nights, the light could be seen 21 nautical miles away.

It was warm up by the lens during my tour courtesy of a sunny afternoon, imagine the intense heat back when the light was powered by burning oil! Overall, it was a lovely way to spend a day.

Jacobsen Salt Co Sign
Boiling Vats for Salt
Cape Meares Light
Nesting Colony Islands
Thimbleberry Flower
Lighthouse Interior Detail
Lighthouse Stairs
Wheels for Rotating the Lens
Signature Red Lens
Looking into Fresnel Lens
Shortest Lighthouse in Oregon
No Jakes Sign
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