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Years ago a friend who periodically visited us from Florida always wanted to see the Oregon coast. My husband asked her why she needed more ocean when she lived near one. She told him the eastern shore is plain and stretches for miles. Nothing, she said, compared to the one along our coastline. We couldn’t agree more.
So this past weekend my husband, daughter and I traveled to the coast once again. From where we live the ocean is a mere hour away. We decided to take advantage of the sunny weather and drive highway 101 north to Newport, fifty miles further. We never tire of the view.
Our sunny weather didn’t last. Upon arrival the clouds moved in with rain forecast. We could view the ocean from our hotel room window, hear the surf pounding directly below us and watch the sea birds glide on the breeze past our warm indoor post. No need to brave the elements for a better view, we already had one.
The next day it poured. We chose to see the Oregon Coast Aquarium because much of it is under cover. I never cease to be amazed at the unending variety of species that the ocean keeps beneath its surface. I doubt mankind will ever discover all that lives under the sea. Tank after tank of rare fish, sharks and bottom feeders entertained us for hours. When the weather cleared we ventured out to watch the otters, sea birds and seals mug for the camera. A delightful day in spite of the rain clouds.
The Bible talks of the vastness of the ocean when God created it on the fifth day. Genesis 1:20-21: “Then God said, ‘Let the waters abound with an abundance of living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth across the face of the firmament of the heavens.
So God created great sea creatures and every living thing that moves, with which the waters abounded, according to their kind, and every winged bird according to its kind. And God saw that it was good.’”
After spending a day at the aquarium, I can only imagine the mind that could have created such a vast array of life in a single day.
The pictures are beautiful. My husband and I enjoyed a few days last winter at La Push on the Washington coast.