One thing common about most of our stops along the coast on our tour of the Pacific Coast from Big Sur to Olympic National Park has been sea stacks, rocks and islands that were once part of headlands but are now part of the ocean. The most famous is Face Rock in Bandon, Oregon.In case you don’t see the face, Peggy provides a clue. Face Rock comes with a Native American story about its origins. A native princess went swimming in the ocean carrying a basket with a cat and kittens. She was grabbed by a ferocious sea monster who tried to force her to look at him so she would be his slave forever. She resisted by looking up at the sky, where she remains today. Her cat and kittens can be seen off to the right.I like the creation story. Geologists have another. Sea stacks are created by the constant pounding of the waves against rock, at first creating a cave. Over time, usually millions of years, the cave enlarges until it becomes an arch.Such as this arch, which is still connected to the mainland in Mendocino. (I used this photo a few weeks ago on our Mendocino Headlands Post.) Eventually the arch will fall down and leave behind a new sea stack. We found it interesting that we could see a speck of light in the middle of the arch. Possibly a new sea stack will be created sooner rather than later.Peggy and I walked through a sea cave on the Bandon coast that will eventually create a new sea stack. This is a photo of Peggy.She took this photo from the other side of the cave looking out toward the ocean, which brings me to another point. Face Rock was not the only impressive sea stack off of the coast of Bandon. There were bunches.A closer view. The Fickle Finger of Fate, perhaps. (Those of you who are older may remember Rowan and Martin’s Fickle Finger of Fate Award that they gave out on their weekly TV show. For example, the US Congress got one.)Peggy and I promptly named this Sea Lion after the sea lions we saw posing along the Noyo River in Fort Bragg.You can see why.Another impressive sea stack. I’m thinking Man in the Moon at half phase.Group photo…We came back to the Face Rock Overlook to check out the sea stacks as the sun set. This is the Cat and the Kittens. In case you can’t see them, neither can I. Several photographers were down on the beach hoping to catch a good sunset.This was the view looking south from the Face Rock Overview.A close-up.The sunset was also good for catching waves splash over rocks.Face Rock, backlit by the setting sun. In line with our ability to see creatures of all sorts in natural settings, Peggy found a pair of eyes staring back at her when she took a final sunset photo. That’s it for today. Next up we will feature our day of exploring tide pools in Bandon.Sea Stars were everywhere when we checked out the tide pools at Devil’s Kitchen in Bandon, Oregon.
21 thoughts on “Out-Standing Rocks in the Ocean: The Sea Stacks of Bandon, Oregon… The Pacific Coast Series 15”
I can’t see the ‘cat and kittens’ either, but that would be my favorite photo of the set — if only that clutch of photographers weren’t there! It really is a beautiful scene: especially the flow of the water between the sand and the sea.
This was an incredible overview of Bandon’s Standing Rocks, thank you Curt and Peggy. The photos and explanations were wonderful with the different times of days, different angles, and explanations. I really appreciated the one of Peggy’s face demonstrating the rock face. Not only was it an effective demonstration, but you two look like you’re having a whole lot of fun. Great post.
Wonderful as always, Curt. I wonder how many times you said to Peggy, “lift your chin a bit” or “down a bit” to get that perfect pose for the sculptor who created that rock. 😁
I especially liked the fickle finger of fate! And Peggy measuring up to the rock formation. Wonderful pictures and great weather! We had a little wind storm here this last week but today…up in the 70’s until…Monday…little rain. Love it all. My granddaughter graduated last weekend and is attending Gonzaga in the fall to be a nurse! Exciting times!
Lot of rain and wind here! But it’s gone now. Back to beautiful blue skies today. Rowan and Martin were must see TV. And I thought Peggy did a fine job. Grin. Congratulations on your granddaughter. Off to Spokane and a great college.
It’s possible although Peggy my have some issues about how old she would have to be. Grin. It has always stuck in my mind! It swam to the surface when I saw the sea stack!
Great post, Curt. I loved the Sea Lion rock; it looks so much like those posing sea lions. Like everyone else said, I am charmed by Peggy’s demonstration – which was helpful for me to find the face. My eye was caught by the giant glass ball the photographer was holding. I have one of those in my back yard right now – blue glass, same size, and wrapped in a rope mesh, as hers is. You just can’t beat sunset on the water, can you?
It was fun lining up Peggy for the photo, Crystal. Having seen the sea lions in Fort Brag on the Noyo River, it was a natural for us! And yes, sunsets on the Pacific are special. The glass buoy was a treasure for sure. The tide must have just delivered it to her.
I think that’s where we get them from, right? At least that’s where I assume they originate when they wash up on Oregon’s beaches. I love the use of glass instead of plastic.
Right. A class above plastic, that’s for sure. And not nearly so harmful to the environment.
Great shots of the sea stacks, Curt. I have a hard time getting good photos of them that capture their size and beauty. Clearly you and Peggy don’t have that problem! They’re a beautiful element of the Pacific coast. 🙂
Wandering through Time and Place 
I can’t see the ‘cat and kittens’ either, but that would be my favorite photo of the set — if only that clutch of photographers weren’t there! It really is a beautiful scene: especially the flow of the water between the sand and the sea.
Laughing. We couldn’t deny them their moment in the sun, Linda. I agree on the photo. The tide lines had immediately caught my attention.
That speck of light is amazing! I looked several times.
We did too! 😀
This was an incredible overview of Bandon’s Standing Rocks, thank you Curt and Peggy. The photos and explanations were wonderful with the different times of days, different angles, and explanations. I really appreciated the one of Peggy’s face demonstrating the rock face. Not only was it an effective demonstration, but you two look like you’re having a whole lot of fun. Great post.
Thanks Jet. Appreciated. And we do have lots of fun. We both love wandering, nature, and laughing. Plus photography.
Wonderful as always, Curt. I wonder how many times you said to Peggy, “lift your chin a bit” or “down a bit” to get that perfect pose for the sculptor who created that rock. 😁
Laughing. Actually she made it on the first try, Ray. She’s good. 😁 And thanks.
I especially liked the fickle finger of fate! And Peggy measuring up to the rock formation. Wonderful pictures and great weather! We had a little wind storm here this last week but today…up in the 70’s until…Monday…little rain. Love it all. My granddaughter graduated last weekend and is attending Gonzaga in the fall to be a nurse! Exciting times!
Lot of rain and wind here! But it’s gone now. Back to beautiful blue skies today. Rowan and Martin were must see TV. And I thought Peggy did a fine job. Grin. Congratulations on your granddaughter. Off to Spokane and a great college.
haha, looks like the seals are trying to imitate the rocks in the ocean!
It passed through my mind as well, G!
It appears that Mother Nature used Peggy as the model for Face Rock. I remember the Fickle Finger of Fate Award.
It’s possible although Peggy my have some issues about how old she would have to be. Grin. It has always stuck in my mind! It swam to the surface when I saw the sea stack!
Great post, Curt. I loved the Sea Lion rock; it looks so much like those posing sea lions. Like everyone else said, I am charmed by Peggy’s demonstration – which was helpful for me to find the face. My eye was caught by the giant glass ball the photographer was holding. I have one of those in my back yard right now – blue glass, same size, and wrapped in a rope mesh, as hers is. You just can’t beat sunset on the water, can you?
It was fun lining up Peggy for the photo, Crystal. Having seen the sea lions in Fort Brag on the Noyo River, it was a natural for us! And yes, sunsets on the Pacific are special. The glass buoy was a treasure for sure. The tide must have just delivered it to her.
One more note. The Japanese have been using the hand-blown glass buoys in fishing since the early 1900s. I suspect you knew this, but if not… Grin.
I think that’s where we get them from, right? At least that’s where I assume they originate when they wash up on Oregon’s beaches. I love the use of glass instead of plastic.
Right. A class above plastic, that’s for sure. And not nearly so harmful to the environment.
Great shots of the sea stacks, Curt. I have a hard time getting good photos of them that capture their size and beauty. Clearly you and Peggy don’t have that problem! They’re a beautiful element of the Pacific coast. 🙂
We take lots of photos, D. Only the good ones make the cut. Grin. Thanks.