Harris Beach State Park in Brookings, Oregon, could be where you pull your own head up off a pillow if you were staying overnight in a yurt; it works for us.

You might figure it out on your own, but I’ll help you understand something about this photo. We are in love with Dutch Bros. coffee, and while we might want you to believe that it’s due exclusively to the quality of the drink, it may also be a reflection that it is inextricably linked to our love affair with the Oregon coast and our embuing what we can to that deep appreciation.

We all know that seagulls are always on the hunt for food, but did you know that some are brave enough to eat from your hand? The question you need to ask yourself is, are you brave enough to have wildly flapping bird wings in your face?

Okay, time to finish our coffee, bird feeding, and stroll on the beach to go check out of our yurt.

The Winchuck yurt at Harris Beach State Park as we knew it, but now, we find ourselves leaving yet another dreamy experience from the book of happy places.

Just north of Brookings, we take aim for Cape Ferrelo and that’s just where we are. It’ll be about 125 miles later today before we get to our yurt at the Umpqua Lighthouse.

I’m guessing that as Caroline is carrying our new umbrella, courtesy of our great aunt and uncle Tata and Woody, the threat of rain must have still been present, though as is usual, I frame the photo to best exemplify the day and our attitude towards it. Cape Ferrelo Viewpoint is part of the Samuel H. Boardman State Scenic Corridor.

But look the other way, and things might look very different, which is likely the inspiration to be prepared with that massive umbrella.

Many of our travels are orientation visits to take in as much as possible in a relatively short span of time. If we find we like the place more than others, we will make plans for a return visit. After the second or third trip, we became familiar enough with this new location to want to know more and more, and so it is with the Oregon Coast.

A few miles north, we find ourselves on Whaleshead Beach.

Barely a mile north again, we have finally become aware of the 360-mile long (583km) Oregon Coast Trail. Our next visit to Oregon will definitely focus on hiking at least a 10-mile stretch over the course of a day and, if time allows, a bit more. This segment of the trail is at the Indian Sands Viewpoint.

We are the Port Orford dock, and while this photo may not be very dockish, crab pots are not something we’ll ever see in Phoenix, Arizona, well, unless California actually does fall into the ocean someday.

Time for a bite to eat in Winchester Bay at this floating restaurant. What a sweet, floating, cozy little place, perfect for us, and it’s just around the corner from our yurt at the Umpqua Lighthouse State Park.