First non bacon breakfast 😝

Rachael went for a morning beach walk and it started pouring rain.

In the morning, we got our taxes done!

We decided to head to the Oregon Coast Aquarium. It’s about a 40minute drive further south, in Newport.

The aquarium is made to look very natural. Even with two indoor exhibits closed, it was a nice visit. There’s an outdoor aviary you can go inside filled with puffins and other shore / ocean birds. We got a mini private lecture about Olive, one of the two turkey vultures (not an aviary you can enter). There’s a big walkthrough tube exhibit that was the only indoor exhibit open. Lots of great local species. The deep water one had giant schools of sardines and anchovies that flashed together in a mass.

We needed to get bread, so I aimed us at Ultralight Cafe. Made a decent cortado and we got a baguette loaf.

We also walked down to Nye Beach. It was nice and sunny at this point.

We went into the For Artsake Gallery which is an artist co-op run gallery. Bought a mug and talked to the artist Katie Lareau there, who might visit Rachael’s studio when she comes to visit Vancouver.

Drove a little further and went to the Yaquina Head Outstanding Natural Area. We bought a 5 day pass for $10 instead of $7 for the day, so we’ll see which other areas we can get to. Parked at “the most beautiful parking lot ever” according to Rachael at the Yaquina Head Interpretive Center. Walked to the light house. Walked down the steep stairs to Cobble Beach. It has tide pools but they were covered by high tide.

Back on the road we wanted to check out the Devils Punchbowl. There ended up being an accident ahead of us, so we waited in the car for 15min or so.

Looked down on the punch bowl rock formation, and then went down to the beach there on the other side which is actively filled with surfers.

Stopped at Chester’s Market Lincoln Beach for eggs and other supplies.

For dinner, I made pork loin. Slathered it in ginger soy sauce and chili crunch from Snappy Dragon leftovers and seared in a pan with onions for 3 minutes each side. Then put it in a pan with fresh basil leaves and wrapped it in aluminum foil and put it in the oven for 25minutes.

Sautéed bok choy with some carrots and ate the last of the Snappy Dragon noodles.