Southern Washington Coast

Needing to get out beyond the 'hood, we found a good weather window and did a one-nighter at the southern Washington coast. We spent an afternoon exploring Cape Disappointment at the mouth of the Columbia River. The next morning we checked out some of Leadbetter Point State Park at the northern tip of the Long Beach Peninsula, and a short beach walk at the town of Long Beach. We then headed north and spent a few hours walking along the beach at Westhaven State Park, near Westport, and enjoyed a nice sunset before heading home. We enjoyed checking out the sandpiper-type birds (Dunlins? Sanderlings? Semipalmated Plovers?) as they darted in an out from the surf line searching for whatever it is they search for. And their unified twisting, turning flight patterns ... kinda like a single organism. Surprises included harbor porpoises along the north jetty at Cape Disappointment, one-legged dunlins/sanderlings/plovers hopping among their scampering two-legged brethren, a very well-fed coyote in Leadbetter Point State Park, cars on the beach, and winter surfers at the jetty in Westport. Overall, a nice change of pace, some good fresh air, and sunshine.