cape kiwanda | PDXKnitterati

We were planning a trip to Japan for this month, but our plans fell through. You can read about that on DH’s blog here, if you’re curious. I had blocked out the back half of May for this trip, so we went to Plan B. Oregon Coast!

two glasses of wine, another Haystack Rock in the background

We stayed at a friend’s house near Pacific City. You can see Chief Kiawanda Rock from there. I know this rock as Haystack Rock, but there are three Haystack Rocks on the Oregon Coast. The most famous is in Cannon Beach up north from here. So calling this Chief Kiawanda Rock, at the end of Cape Kiwanda, makes sense!

Haystack Rock, aka Chief Kiawanda Rock, Pacific City Oregon

I like the little sea arch kickstand on the north side.

I love beach walking; there are so many interesting things to see.

Look at all the colors in this sea foam.

This jellyfish is waiting for its ride home.

Velella velella, dried up, Cape Kiwanda and Haystack Rock in the distance

This Velella Velella (by the wind sailor) is too dried up to make it back to sea.

A couple steps can totally change your perspective.

Just like real life.

This area is known as the Three Capes Loop: Cape Kiwanda, Cape Lookout, and Cape Meares. We went to Cape Lookout on Wednesday and explored the South Trail (shorter, but lots of tree roots and challenging footing) and the Cape Trail (goes out to the end of the cape, longer but mostly easier footing). We didn’t have hiking poles with us, so we just did some of each. Lots of interesting flora! (This is the wet side of the Cascades and Coast Range, unlike last week’s dry side wildflower walk.)

salmonberry blossoms — Salmonberry blossoms

We saw lots of trilliums that were past bloom, but there was one with just a bit left.

Trilliums are white when they bloom, purple after pollination, and this one was translucent, ready to disappear.

The views from the cape are spectacular.

looking south from Cape Lookout to Cape Kiwanda — looking south to Cape Kiwanda

view north from Cape Lookout to Cape Meares — looking north to Cape Meares

On Thursday we went to Cape Meares to visit the lighthouse, a perfect rainy day activity. This lighthouse was in service from 1890 to 1963. It’s the shortest lighthouse on the Oregon Coast (on a tall cliff). We had a great tour of the light with a park volunteer; he loves lighthouses and it shows! He and his wife are living in an RV, traveling and volunteering when they’re not home in Boise.

And we even had one nice sunset.

We’re home again, and I’m knitting and designing and writing and…everything! It was nice to get away.

Knitting featuring assigned pooling stars

Oh! I did some knitting on this, but I’m not sure I love it. I think it needs more tonal and color contrast between the two yarns. What do you think? The pattern is all written and tech edited; I just need to knit a sample.

Knitted Wit has a new super bulky yarn, and she asked me to design something fun with it. She gave me some blue yarn, but I saw the color she was knitting, and I coveted it right off her needles!

This is the Big Leaf Scarf. It’s a series of leaves, knit end to end. I knit mine on size US 17 needles. Big leaves, big fun! This color is called Sea Glass. The yarn is Knitted Wit Cotton Candy, 100% merino wool, 250g/140 yards/skein.

It only took two days to make this scarf. I think it would be great for quick and easy holiday gifting.

The pattern is available for $6 USD through Ravelry. Use the coupon code BIGFUN for $2 off through September 24.

What else is going on? I had a great weekend with friends at the coast, helping celebrate a birthday. On Friday we kayaked down the Nestucca River to the ocean (but not too close; no ocean kayaking for us!) and back.

The weather was gorgeous all weekend. (This is the other Haystack Rock, at Cape Kiwanda, Pacific City.)

I even did some knitting on my Snowy Woods KAL!

We just had the second weekly prize drawing for the KAL. Here’s this week’s prize: A notebook with part of “Stopping By Woods on a Snowy Evening” printed on the cover.