I think it was just this past year I had ever heard of King Tides. I knew larger more powerful waves that would come to the Oregon Coast, but never knew they had a name. Through Instagram and Pinterest I had seen these massive waves hitting the coastline at Shore Acres Park in Southern Oregon and it was incredible. I knew someday I wanted to be there to photograph it. I thought I had to time my trip down there and hope all conditions would be right. But the news talk about the waves and when they would hit. Couldn’t believe it would be on a weekend and we had nothing going on.
I think I found out about mid-week and so I had to figure this out quickly. I knew it would be a down and back trip for me, not an overnight trip. That meant an early rise for the 4+ hour drive to Shore Acres Park. But for me, this is fun and exciting. My adrenaline will keep me going in those early morning hours and make the trip fly by.
For me, the planning of this trip was as exciting as getting there and popping shots. There wasn’t much planning involved at all. Just get the camera gear charged and ready and then pick a time to leave in the morning.
The Road Trip:
I left about 5 am in less than ideal conditions. It was pouring rain when I jumped into my truck and headed south. After my Starbucks run and jumping on the highway it stopped and wasn’t too bad. The morning darkness seemed to last forever and before it got light, the skies opened up on me. I did not have a fast enough wiper speed to see clearly on I-5 South. This is the time of the morning the truckers are out on the highway and specifically the triple trailers. A couple of times it was the guardrail, my truck and a triple trailer going down the highway at 70mph. The hydroplaning and the jet wash from all the tires on a triple trailer and the tractor made for some white-knuckled driving. Not sure I have been that stressed driving for awhile.
I got to the small town of Drain, OR to fill up with some gogo juice and to relieve myself. The clouds started to part and gave me a little break in the bad weather. But now and then on the remainder of the trip, the skies would open up on me. I would check the coastal weather and it showed I would be happy once I arrived. The weather would break at Shore Acres around the time I was planning to be there and during the length of my stay.
As I got closer to Shore Acres Park, I noticed I was not alone. For some reason, I thought I would be one of the few out there braving the waves and elements. I was very wrong for sure. There was a line at the gate to get a parking ticket, but fortunately, there were plenty of parking spots. A lot of the people that I passed were wearing rain ponchos or very rainproof coats. I had a Columbia Sportswear waterproof puffy coat that was built for this but somehow looked like it may not hold up. As I got closer to the best viewpoint, there was a swarm of photographers. You could tell they got there early and were not going to move until the show was over. I get it, but there is only so much you can photograph from one spot.
I did find a small space I could work in and start taking shots. It was not yet high tide and so I had some time to watch the flow of everything. I soon found out why everyone looked like they were prepared for a typhoon. The spray from the waves of the north was not too bad, but the shower from the west was where you really needed protection. At one point it felt like a couple of short bursts of a garden hose. I was quick to turn and protect my camera!
What was interesting to watch is how many people were either leaving their gear unprotected and or protected but wiping their glass down with the same towel. What I was finding is once the towel got moisture on it, it would just smear the saltwater over the glass. A couple of times I walked back to my truck to find something clean to wipe my glass down with and remove the white film. Wasn’t long and I ran out of options.
At one point I decided the only way I was going to get a good shot was to ask if I could squeeze in around someone. As it turned out the guy I asked, needed a bathroom break and all I had to do was watch his gear. I agreed to the terms and I knocked out a handful of shots. High tide hadn’t hit yet, but by that time, I was running out of ways to keep my camera dry and glass clean. Time to let someone else have a view.
I decided to take the longer scenic route back home; down the coastline. I figured when would I be this far south again and the travel time difference was 30 minutes. It was the right choice. The rain was behind me (for now) and it was a beautiful drive up the coast.
I stopped at Thor’s Well to see what was going on there. To my shock, there were people pushing the limits of just how close to the edge you can get. I saw a mother and her two kids right up to the edge near the horn and then this guy. Later that day at another location, a father and his two kids were swept out to sea. This isn’t the time of year to test your superman theory.
I was being chased by some dark clouds as I headed back home, so I didn’t stop after Thor’s Well. I figured I got some great images in the can and it was time to go hang with the family.
It was a fun adventure and shows what you can do with a little planning and a little over half your day. I probably did more all day than most people did. I look forward to the next photography adventure and what stories it will bring.