Seaside, Oregon on Memorial Day. If a little rain and wind bothers you, you'll never get anything done in Oregon. You rarely will ever see an umbrella here -- people just don't seem to let the weather stop them from playing at the beach. Of course, it's not like surfers would ever care about getting a little wet.

Below are a few low-rez iPhone snaps from the evening run at sunset (about 8:45 PM).

ABOVE: The Seaside beach is long and wide. Looking north. You can see the tips of southern Washington state on the far left in the distance.

ABOVE: Teens play a game of Ultimate Frisbee as others warm by the fire near the Cove, the southern most part of the beach. Cannon Beach is on the other side of that hill (Tillamook Head).

ABOVE: This is where I grew up and played as a kid. That 6-story condo in the center is where my childhood home used to be. Now there are condos, but years ago those where all houses. That was a pretty cool place to grow up. Is it any wonder why I am so attracted to the sea and the beach. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seaside,_Oregon

A few snaps from one of my favorite places in the world on a dreary day. (Video from last summer from the same spot on a better day.)

A pic today of Tillamook Rock Lighthouse -- nicked named "Terrible Tillie" -- about a mile off shore between Cannon Beach and Seaside. The second pic is a photo from Wiki that was taken in 1891. (source: http://snipurl.com/wv3yw). The place has a very interesting history, a bit of which is highlighted here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tillamook_Rock_Light

A cloudy spring day without many people on the beach. All that will change from tomorrow as summer will begin for real and the weather is reported to improve. Info on this rock: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haystack_Rock

I made the sudden trip from Japan here to the Oregon Coast a few days ago to be with my mother who is now very seriously ill. Other family members have also gathered here from far away. The prognosis is not an optimistic one I am afraid. Things are a bit difficult right now so I do want to apologize to people who have sent emails or inquiries recently and have not received a reply. Normal routines are on hold for a little bit while I attend to things here in the States. I am sorry about that. In any event, in spite of the sad circumstances for my being present in this part of the world, it truly is a naturally beautiful place. Below are just a few pics from an evening walk on the beach that ended after sunset today. I've always been drawn to the seaside whether it's in Oregon, California, Hawaii, or Japan. There is something inspiring about the sea.

A couple of pics from the afternoon. That's Tillamook Head and the Tillamook Head Lighthouse in the distance. And a lifeguard tower waiting for the official start of summer this weekend.

Sunset approaches on the dunes of Seaside between the prom and the beach. Another beautiful sunset. We do not fear the sunset, yet we fear saying goodbye.

"Looking at a sunset, just for a second you forget your separateness: you are the sunset. That is the moment when you feel the beauty of it. But the moment you say that it is a beautiful sunset, you are no longer feeling it; you have come back to your separate, enclosed entity of the ego. Now the mind is speaking. And this is one of the mysteries, that the mind can speak, and knows nothing; and the heart knows everything, and cannot speak. Perhaps to know too much makes it difficult to speak; the mind knows so little, it is possible for it to speak."
                                                                                                          –– Osho

The sun came out at the end of the day just in time for a gorgeous sunset. This is the cove at the south end of the beach in Seaside, Oregon. A great place to take a moment for reflection.

Surfers take to the waves on a cool, rainy day. They remain undeterred by the weather. (Actually, I have seen these guys surf here in Seaside, Oregon when snow is falling in winter).

Even on a cloudy, cool day Haystack Rock in Cannon Beach, Oregon (USA) is a sight to behold.

Seagull stands on one leg (I am assuming to keep the other one warm...when will summer come to the Oregon Coast?...).

Next flight bound for less-sunny Portland...

Sent from my iPhone

Rain here too... :-)

Sent from my iPhone