Give me mountains, give me deserts, give me rivers, give me forests and I am captivated—starry-eyed and serene.
Yet, the sea is so different. It pulls me in.
Its power is something I cannot fight, something I am willing to surrender to.
I am a happy slave to the sea. For I am so insignificant when I am around it, because it is greater than I will ever be.
Nothing feels better than being humbled and calmed this way. To know that all of my fears and worries are specks, like grains of sand easily swept away by the tide.
With my sandals casually held in one hand and a salty breeze brushing the other, my toes sunk into the wet sand as I walked along the beach with my love by my side. He is always like that tide, pulling me in, soothing me and making me a better person.
I was away from the sea for too long. I need it near me, to remind me of the unknown.
That it is okay to just be.
Last Sunday Mr. H and I hopped in the car and drove to Cannon Beach to recharge. I got more out of it than I expected, including a little sunburn and a lot of peace.
Here are some fun pix to round out the awesome day we had.
We drank local pale ales on the patio…
We ate clam chowder topped with shrimp in sourdough bread bowls…
There was an impromptu showgirl moment…
A cool Mr. H shot in front of Haystack Rock…
And, the big finale…
It’s so easy to get wrapped up in the routines we all create.
If you haven’t lately, go out and find something that pulls you in.
Britt Skrabanek 
Too right – for me it is the mountains that move me….🍀
I love the mountains like crazy too, MM. I’m lucky to have both in my life now.
Oh so lucky, 😃
The ocean is indeed humbling, and as such, it commands our respect. How wonderful that you live so near one. A day trip to the ocean isn’t an option for me. Go Ohio…
Agreed. And while I am so in love with all of nature, the ocean quiets me…which is a tough thing to do. I could always feel that I was nowhere near the ocean when I was living in Texas and Wisconsin. Even though I can’t see it now, I know it’s there.
I feel that way about walking in the woods.
But man, oh, man do I want that soup.
I’m fortunate to have a forest less than a mile from me now. I get at least one hike in a week. Seeing the trees intertwining and hearing the stream rushing by never fails to bring me into a meditative state.
The soup was beyond awesome!
Excellent! I’m loving all these little outings in/around your new hometown! I think mountains are generally more my thing, perhaps because I was never around the beach growing up. But I have come to appreciate the ocean more and more, especially when I was teaching English on a ship for three months. Those few moments a day when I would head out on deck and see water as far as the eye could see and breathe in that salty air, was instantly re-energizing.
There is SO much to do here! For a travel hungry gal like myself, it’s awesome to have the variety around.
I love the mountains—I would say equally—just in a different way. To get all Yogi for a moment, what I love about mountains would be the grounding effect. When I need something to stabilize me, mountains work every time. The fluidity of the ocean reminds me to let go more, and like you, that release is so re-energizing.
Looks idyllic Britt. Good beer, shrimps, seaside air. I remember the total thrill when I was young going to the seaside once a year. Now I have it 24/7 but I’ll never take it for granted.
Haha! I thought this post would get Mr. McCarthy’s nod of approval.
I was fortunate to have beaches somewhat around growing up—about a 45 minute drive. Of course in Southern California, there is an unfortunate amount of pollution to deal with. The beach we visited here on Sunday was the cleanest I’ve ever been to.
I’m a lucky gal. I will certainly never take any of this wonderful nature I have now for granted.
The Oregon Coast is BREATHTAKING!!!
Isn’t it though? Can’t wait to explore more of it!
Starting my day with your post – the sea and lovely smiles 🙂 THANK YOU…made me think of the view that calms me.
Awesome! Glad to bring the sea and smiles into your morning.
The sea certainly pulls me in, Britt. I lived by the ocean when I was growing up and it was so hard when I moved away to the city. I absolutely love it and now I only live a few minutes away from it again and get there whenever I can 😀
I didn’t realize how hard it was going to be for me when I moved away from California in my younger adult years. The visit to San Diego a couple of years did me in. Ever since, the West Coast move creeped into my life.
Even though it’s about a 90-minute drive for us here, I know the ocean is attainable, and that is calming in itself. : )
Awww…you pulled me into your beautiful day beside the sea.
Sweet! Thanks for coming along, Gallivanta!
Great photos! One of the things I liked the most about Oregon is its coast (and I’m a mountain lover!).
Thanks, sweet pea! Oregon continues to astound me every day. Even when we’re coming back from the grocery store, driving over one of Portland’s many bridges over the river, the city and all that surrounds it really gets me.
I’m lucky to have lived near the sea for most of my life. When I lived inland, I was never as happy – the sea always draws you back.
It’s funny because I had the ocean around all of my young life until I moved to some landlocked areas later. It really did a number on me. The sea definitely has a way of drawing us back. That’s a big reason I’m here. : )
Aaah , there’s nothing like the ocean. That free open spirit .. waves ..soothing, calming the nervous system..salt on your skin and sand between your toes.
Although I can’t live without my ‘roots and canopies’ .. I’m a wood fairy
Absolutely! Calming the nervous system is right.
I’m a wood fairy most of the time. I just moonlight as a mermaid. ; )