January 14, 2022 Olalla Reservoir
We went inland just a bit to visit Olalla Reservoir. It is regularly stocked with keeper sized trout so Robert wanted to check it out!
It was a beautiful sunny, flat water day. Unfortunately we didn’t bring the fishing pole!
As we hiked around the reservoir and up the hill behind it we came across many rough-skinned newts on the trail. This guy/gal was probably heading down towards a pond or the reservoir itself in anticipation of breeding season which can start as early as January!
These newts are known for their toxicity. They produce a poison in their skin that is toxic if ingested by predators. The newts use a defense behavior of arching their necks and tails to expose their bright orange undersides as if to advertise their poisonous skin!
January 12, 2022 More of Yaquina Head
Our exploration yesterday continued around the ‘head’ to the Cobble Beach. The tide was up, so no tide pooling available while we were there. The cobbles were difficult to walk around on but the views of the rocks with the ocean pounding them down into cobbles was impressive.
A piece of jellyfish glistened in the intermittent sunshine among the gray cobbles.
Continuing on to Quarry Cove we spotted these seals lounging on the rock outcrop.
January 12, 2022 Yaquina Head
We drove out to the “Yaquina Head Outstanding Natural Area” north of Newport at Agate Beach to see the lighthouse and hike a few of the trails.
The view from the Salal Hill Trail, looking west towards the lighthouse. The treeless hillside was burned periodically by the native inhabitants to attract elk and deer.
An up close of the lighthouse, the tallest in Oregon.
A decorative element with the plaque below it reading:
“TO THOSE LOST AT SEA
WITH SPECIAL AFFECTION
FOR THE FISHERMEN OF
THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST”
January 10, 2022 More Hiking
Yesterdays hike took us into Yakona Nature Preserve from a different direction. We continued around our favorite paths in the preserve.
This moss covered stone stairway makes the hill climb a little easier!
A different perspective of the Yakona bridge!
January 9, 2022 A New Route
We explored another road on the peninsula between King Slough and the Yaquina river. We came onto an area with a dock out into the slough and what looked like a defunct oyster farm.
A line of ‘grow out bags’ didn’t seem to have any oysters in them!
We continued on a faint path through a primordial fern forest.
The path petered out, so we bushwhacked through the ferns and emerged at Yakona Nature Preserve!
