Happy Birthday, Caitlin

Happy Birthday, Caitlin.

I couldn't remember if your birthday was Jan 22nd or Feb 7th, so I picked today! LOL

When I think back on all the memories I have of you, one of my favorite is the Vacation of 1996, when we joined all my family on a huge family reunion visit to Tolovana, near Cannon Beach, Oregon. I particularly remember our walks down the sand back and forth and how pleasant it was. For your birthday, I give you Haystack Rock.



This is a view of Haystack Rock looking from the north, from Ecola State Park, a place we didn't explore.




This is the view from the Tolovana resort. You and I have seen this exact image in real life as we walked up the sand.


Something we didn't know is that this formation, of Haystack Rock and the two smaller ones to the left are collectively known as the Needles.

Haystock Rock came from volcano lava about 17 million years ago. It used to be connected to the mainland, but erosion has left it standing alone. It is 235 feet high and is the thrid highest of such "stacks" in the world.

Several of our favorite things about Haystack Rock are:



These are common cormorants. They're the black birds we saw flying around. The dive into the ocean and catch fish from underwater.


This was our second-most favorite thing, the tufted puffin. They live throughout the North Pacific Ocean and are particularly happy at Haystack Rock. Climbing higher on the rock than the high tide mark is illegal so that bird nests aren't disturbed.


These were our favorite thing: the sea "enemies." Remember how we would touch them gently and they would close, and how many of them were all crammed together and we'd touch them all and they'd close, then open later?

That time was a very fond time for me with many happy memories as we explored Haystack Rock, and the aquarium in Seaside and the big light house in Astoria.

I love you, DAD