Port Orford, OR

This isolated lighthouse holds at least four Oregon records: it is the oldest continuously operating light, the most westerly, it has the highest focal plane above the sea, (256 feet), and Oregon's first woman keeper, Mabel E. Bretherton signed on in March 1903.

Cape Blanco's lens measures 4'8" in diameter and 6'8" in height. It is larger than a second order (4'7" by 6'1") lens, but smaller than a first order (6'1" by 7'10") lens. We do not know what happened to the original lens after it was shipped to the Tongue Point (Astoria) depot by way of the steamer "Manzanita."

A 1,000-watt incandescent bulb replaces Cape Blanco's soot producing oil lamps of old. Gone are the keepers who spent hours polishing the magnificent lens and winding the clockworks. Today, it rotates with the help of a 120-volt, 75-rpm electric motor, specially manufactured for lighthouse duty. The electrified light flashes it's 320,000 candlepower beam, 1.8 seconds bright (flash) every 18.2 seconds.

This is a photo of the North Beach

This is the mouth of the Sixes River north of Cape Blanco. The Elk is a world class river for salmon and steelhead trout fishing.

This is the south beach. If you look closely you can see the abundance of driftwood on the beach.

The port of Port Orford is the only natural, open, deep water port for 600 miles and only one of six "dolly" ports in the world. Working fishing boats are lifted into and out of the water every day. The boats are stored on the dock each on its own dolly.

This is photo was taken from Harbor Dr. looking southwest

These are some of the older 'wooden hull' commercial fishing boats in service today.

This is one of the 2 hoists that lift the boats in an out of the water.

Looking West from the Dock

When you are down on the dock don't miss the opportunity to dine on fresh fish at Griff's. If you are in town during crabbing season you can catch dungeness crab right off the dock.

Arizona Beach State Recreation Site is the newest state park in our area. Arizona Beach is a two-third mile stretch of sand bookended by two rocky headlands. The headlands shelter the beach from prevailing winds, creating temperatures warm enough to make it feel like Arizona.

Mussel and Myrtle creeks flow through the park east of U.S. 101. The wetlands attract elk and a variety of waterfowl.

Agate Beach is a local secret. The beach is off the beaten path yet easy to access. It is remote away from development of any kind and a beautiful contrast of pine forests, sand, waves, and sea stacks. It is great for picnics, walks, and beachcombing for driftwood, or agates. Agates were formed thousands of years before the Ice Age. With names like moss, cloud, jasper, carnelian, moonstone, rainbow, and ribbon, they are more fun to hunt than Easter eggs.

Here are some agates my wife and I found on agate beach.

Here is a here is a heart shaped agate that we found.

This is Hubbard Creek Beach looking west in 1 photo and north in the second photo toward the commercial fishing port in Port Orford. It is 9:15 am in the afternoon on 11 December 2008. The temperature is 52 degrees and the sun is warm.

This photo speaks to our life style here in Port Orford where the Pine forest on the coastal hills extends down to the beach.

There are no surfers right now they are waiting for the larger waves that preceed an incoming storm approaching from the northwest. This is the favorite spot for ocal surfers. The alternative beach for surfing is Battle Rock Beach.

Looking North

Looking Northwest