Blessing Of The Fleet – Newport, OR

Blessing The Fleet: https://www.beachconnection.net/news/newp_blessing_fleet042523.php

We drove to Newport, Oregon’s Yaquina Bay Harbor around 9:30am and got the last parking spot in front of the fishing boats. We walked down to the float platforms where the boats tie on. We saw a lot of families excitedly walking to their boats for the ceremony.

The boats are all sizes. We saw lots of fishing nets. There were seals in the water. When we were down here during the week we saw a fisherman throw something in the water and the seals, and gulls, went crazy for it. So, they know where to hang out at! 🙂

We finished walking the floating platforms right before the start at 11:00am. We went up on the boardwalk and saw the coast guard helicopter fly over that was to start and lead the parade.

We couldn’t see the path of the parade very well because of other fishing boats still parked at their spaces. At the same time, Kevin looked up online to see if anything was broadcast during the procession. Yes, so we went to the truck. He found the radio station and two guys were telling stories about the boats and people.

We drove up to higher ground, next to the bridge, so we could have an overall view. On higher ground we could see the line of boats. The event had other things going on during the day including a free BBQ for the community and a memorial service later. We didn’t do any more with it. It felt special to watch the blessing and wish them all safety and full boats.

Kevin and I used to watch the TV series “Deadliest Catch” and really enjoyed it. In the afternoon we saw this crab boat unloading. What a thrill!

Heceta Head Lighthouse. We paid our $5.00 for parking and then walked the 0.5 mile to the lighthouse. On the way we saw a bride and groom with a photographer. Bless the bride – the wind was so strong that at times it was a bit hard to walk in. I guess she had good hair spray! From the marker we read “Between 1850-1870, the US Lighthouse Service built a string of Lightstations that dotted the Oregon Coast. However, this section along the Oregon Coast remained ‘dark’. … In 1894, the five-wick oil lamp at the new Heceta Head Light was lit, helping to illuminate that darkness.” The Fresnel lens was made in England, not France, and is the largest English lens of its type in the US. Heceta’s light is the brightest light on the Oregon Coast.

Two volunteers were extra kind: one showed us a tiny museum inside one of two kerosene storage buildings. The other one offered and took our picture. He knew right where we should stand. He also showed us the inside base of the lighthouse. I thought the bricks made such a great…and dizzying…picture! HA

It was very windy and cold but so glad to see the lighthouse.

This picture made my heart jump with joy. Don’t you think Mr & Mrs Clifford Hermon look like the happiest couple?! So jolly. I think he could be a bit of a tease. 🙂