In chapter five, my main characters—Suzanne and Charlie—spend a long day at the coast; From around 10:00 a.m. until after sunset. Besides showing Suzanne some highlights of the area, they also go looking for a piece of driftwood small enough she can take it home in her suitcase. Originally, I planned on them driving nearly to Florence to Muriel O. Ponsler Memorial Park. Several years ago, my husband and I stopped at this beach and found an intriguing log jam of driftwood at the mouth of China Creek.
The log jam of driftwood, China Creek, Muriel O Ponsler State Park. 2007
But seven years later, the log jam is less than half what it was. That left me looking at nearly every beach, park and wayside from Florence to Depoe Bay. I found what I was looking for at Beverly Beach. I also found an interesting piece of driftwood, small enough Suzanne could easily put it in her suitcase for the flight home. Having it in my hand made it easy to describe in the book.
Here are some of the photos I took last week.
Oregon has many beautiful sandy beaches. It also has many rugged, rocky beaches—like this one.
This beach is actually named “Stonefield.” The fog bank rolling in dissipated further north later in the day.
To reach Beverly Beach after you park, you must walk under the overpass, along side Spencer Creek. The mouth of Spencer Creek looks like an intricate puzzle the way the logs are jammed together. Then as the path gives way to the beach, you see logs strewn about on either side of the creek. This impressive driftwood is in various stages of decay.
Beverly Beach, facing Spencer Creek and Highway 101. Look at all those logs!
