Being Tourists on the Coast

Of course we had to do a few "touristy" activities while on the coast!  On Friday afternoon, after spending the morning checking out the little shops in Lincoln City, we headed south and checked out the Devil's Punchbowl.  Nature is just so amazing - how the water and elements have carved out the rock over the years.  As the tide came in, it looked like the water in the "punch bowl" was boiling.

On Saturday, we headed to Newport and went to the Yaquina Head Lighthouse.  We climbed the 111 steps to the top of the lighthouse.  When the lighthouse was first built, oil was burned to keep the light going.  The oil had to be carried from the bottom level up the stairs - usually 2 to 3 gallons a night depending on the length of the night (less in the summer, more in the winter).  The lighthouse operators could only use one hand to carry the oil, as they needed the other to hold on to the railing.  I'm sure the oil got heavy!  The lighthouse is still in operation today... only now the light is powered with electricity!

Checking out the view of the ocean outside the lighthouse...