Oregon minibreak, largely in photos

It's the end of a week off from work, and I'm likely coming down with a cold (hello autumn!) so I'm mostly posting photos here.

A week ago we set off for a few days on the Oregon coast. We traveled by way of Astoria so we could visit the Blue Scorcher Bakery & Cafe which has become one of my favorite destinations. (Truly, I have said to Scott, "It's only a little more than three hours away; let's get a car and go to the Blue Scorcher! Maybe they'll have raisin bread." Thus far, he has resisted, though he loves the breakfast of wonder. It's just a matter of time.) This trip, Astoria upped its efforts to entice us to move there:

Jasper of Mary's Milk Monsters at the Astoria Farmers Market

Not only were there several soap vendors at the Astoria Farmers Market, one of them had a goat with her! Mary started raising goats about eight years ago, as part of a 4H project. Now she has a herd of about a dozen goats and her own little soap company. And, as we returned to the car, there was this:

Just a few deer out for their Sunday constitutional in Astoria

Eventually, we reached Newport where the wildlife was more sea- and beach-based:

One of about two dozen sea lions living La Vida Lion on Newport's Bay side

Never have I seen so much whale activity in the wild! Gray whales galore (providing little in the way of photos but much in-person excitement).

It was a good time for pelican sightings.

As well as my beloved peeps

And this somewhat pugnacious whimbrel

We stayed in the Melville room at the Sylvia Beach Hotel. Shelley, the resident cat, agreed to keep us company one evening:

Perhaps she found our company less than riveting

I never even try to resist signage:

Tempting, but we stuck to the 101 route and thus ended up back in Seattle.

Self-captioning

Our route involves some ferry travel, and the WSDOT doesn't assume parents are too bright.

The weather was pretty uniformly gorgeous and Poseidon was, as always, a charming host.

Reflecty sands

Does this ocean make me look taller?

Mandatory sunset shot

Public art, Newport Edition

Of course, Washington State is pretty nice too.