On July 28, we reached a milestone for me, familiar Oregon Coast landmarks! First we spotted Florence and the Oregon Dunes. Then we came close enough to shore between transects 59 and 60 to see the beautiful Heceta Head Lighthouse and Cape Perpetua.

I didn’t bring a real camera or telephoto lens with me on the ship. For some reason I tried this silly iPhone-binocular combo tonight, and amazingly enough, it sort of worked!

I looked forward to seeing some of my other favorite places from a new angle: Newport, Lincoln City, Pacific City, Manzanita, Astoria. I love the Pacific Northwest!

My friend Keith took a photo of Shimada as she passed by Newport on July 30.

We were looking at Newport, too!

On this clear day, we could see from Neskowin to the haystack rock at Pacific City.

Manzanita and Neahkahnie Beach.

A surreal, smoky sunset off SW Washington coast.
Related: More information about the 2017 wildfire season in the Pacific Northwest.

And finally…we returned to port in Newport on August 7!