Three Arch Rocks

A nice day today, though long and full. A morning walk on the beach at Cannon Beach, then another walk in the forest and along the beach at Oswald West State Park and, finally, sunset at Three Arch Rocks at Oceanside. We're all a bit tired. Tomorrow is an easier day with a later morning start, some instruction in camera operation, and a leisurely drive to our next stop, Depoe Bay, where we'll be the next two days.

This morning as we were leaving our Cannon Beach walk a small boy carrying two bread sacks full of bread and hamburger buns (to feed the gulls, I imagine) told us there was an elk in the back of a house up the street. We went to investigate and it turned out to be a 5-point bull elk, a young one by my estimation (3 - 5 yrs old), laying in the grass behind a row of blackberry bushes next to the road, and on the other side of a fence separating it from some homes. One of the homeowners was mowing his lawn just on the other side of the fence. The elk was in obvious stress, with labored breathing and just not acting the way a wild elk should act in that situation. The mother of the boy, and some neighbors, were talking to us about the elk and I asked if anyone had called the local Oregon Game and Fish to come check out this elk since it was in distress and in a location that could pose an injury risk to local children or snoopy tourists. The call was made, but we were unable to stick around for the conclusion. The lady suspected the elk had been hit on Hwy 101, as it had been seen running from that direction. My guess is it was injured, perhaps internally (it stood up while we watched, but laid back down soon after), and would be put down by the state game and fish officer that came to investigate. We'll probably never know.

This sunset started with much promise, but some clouds on the horizon did it in by blocking the sun. Could have been spectacular. But, you get what you get. Not bad, anyway.