The first time Dad took me to the Oregon Coast, I was eight years old. He bought me a soft top longboard, loaded it up our '85 Suburban and headed West.
It became an annual trip for us... beach fires, clam chowder, kayak surfing, and longboarding from Short Sands beach all the way south to Morro Bay, California. These early trips instilled in me a deep love for road trips and the ocean, both of which would later become prominent themes of my life.
Earlier this summer over a beer in the "Burnt Fork Hot springs"... Dad’s hot tub, Dad made a comment which would spark another journey to the coast.
“Man, I’d love to surf just one more ocean wave before I die.”
While I certainly hope Dad has many more enjoyable years left on this Earth, we still didn’t waste any time in solidifying plans to take another trip to the Oregon Coast. With our good buddy Jeff Shapiro recently moving to Newport Oregon, our destination was an obvious choice.
Dad drove the first leg of the journey solo from Montana to White Salmon, Washington where I live. I showed Dad the local flying site and we bought fresh Salmon from the Tribe, which we ate every night he was here before leaving for the coast.
The short drive from White Salmon to the Oregon Coast was a trip down memory lane. The Beach Boys on the radio and of course our first stop straight to Mo’s for a bowl of long awaited clam chowder.
With our bellies full we went down to dip our toes in the ocean and check out the waves. A large swell had just arrived and we watched with anticipation as set after set rose high into the air, closed out and landed with a powerful whump. It was not the friendly waves we were hoping for but.... at least we were there with the smell of the sea and cool ocean air all around us. We cracked a beer and watched the clouds float over the vast Pacific Ocean.
We had finally made it back to one of our happy places.
We then drove a couple minutes back up the road to Jeff and Kara’s new house to warm greetings, a glass of whiskey, hot meal and a cozy bed. Shapiro hospitality is second to none and we left the next morning with happy hearts, rested and ready to find dad a wave.
The swell was still rolling in strong, heavy waves pounding the coast. We checked out the surf in a couple places with Jeff before getting great advice from a local surfer to head up the coast to Otter Rock. Protected by a headland, the waves at Otter Rock are much friendlier and as it turned out, exactly what we were looking for.
We suited up, walked down the long flight of stairs onto a perfect beach next to the cliffs. A light, onshore breeze welcomed us with the salty smell of the ocean. Dad and I paddled out to catch not just one wave but dozens of them, the inside reforms the perfect size for Dad to get more than his fill of beautiful waves.
On our way out of town, we stopped for one more seafood meal before heading back to White Salmon.
Our trip was short and sweet, but a memory we’ll cherish forever. It had been 27 years since our first trip together to the Oregon Coast.....
..... this trip, just as special as the first.
Tyler Bradt
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