Walking Face Rock Beach | Bandon, Oregon

Walking among the giants of Bandon Beach, you realize you are never truly walking alone. A day late, but here nonetheless. Today’s slow-paced, silent video captures my experience wandering through the sea stacks of Bandon, at Face Rock. There is just nothing like southern Oregon coast on a crisp spring afternoon, my friends. The weather was alive with transition; heavy coastal clouds seemed to be playing a game of peekaboo with the sun, giving an almost eerie light to the landscape. A perfect filming day. People have gathered, traded, and thrived at this very confluence of river and ocean for thousands of years. Long before it was named Bandon by Irish immigrants, these shores were home to the Nasomah band of the Coquille Indian Tribe, who built their lives in harmony with the shifting tides. According to Coquille tribal lore, Chief Siskiyou from the distant mountains traveled to the coast for a massive celebratory potlatch hosted by the coastal chiefs. He brought along his beautiful daughter, Princess Ewauna, who had never seen the ocean before. Local elders strictly warned Ewauna not to go near the water alone, as Seatka, the evil ocean spirit, prowled the waves and possessed a dangerous, mesmerizing power in his eyes. Unfraid and enchanted by the sea, Ewauna slipped away for a midnight swim. She brought along her dog, Komax, and a basket carrying her cat and kittens. The Face Rock: As Ewauna swam, Seatka emerged from the deep and grabbed her, trying to force her to look directly into his eyes. To resist his dark power, Ewauna bravely kicked away and flipped onto her back, keeping her face defiantly upturned toward the moon and stars. She was frozen in stone in this exact posture, where she remains smiling up at the clouds today. Visitors still claim they can hear her voice whispering on the coastal wind. Her faithful dog, Komax, swam out to rescue her and bit Seatka's hand. Thrown off by the monster, the dog was cast onto the shore. He was turned to stone as Howling Dog Rock, forever baying toward the sea in mourning for his mistress. The Cat and Kittens: Seatka seized Ewauna’s basket and hurled it far into the ocean. The mother cat and her kittens were instantly petrified, and their jagged stone shapes can be seen sticking out of the water just to the north and west of Face Rock. Seatka's Rock: It is said that Seatka himself is also frozen nearby—a low, dark rock sitting just behind the princess, eternally waiting for her to look down, which she never does. So the above features a few excerpts I found online to help you visualize the storied past of this incredible location. It was a special afternoon as Dave and Sadie made the trek down the long staircase to the beach. It was a blessing to be able to explore the caves, flora, tide pools and misty coastline while pondering the history and soaking in that natural raw Pacific Northwest energy of the sea. Honestly, I don’t think I will visit in summer, as I am completely and utterly sold on the springtime experience. My apologies for the late post, but end of year lunch lady duties have consumed my entire being as of late, along with life things. Making these videos saves my sanity and I refuse to focus on taking away the efforts due in making them. Anyways.. I hope you enjoyed this little walk on the beach in Bandon Oregon. Thanks to each and every one of you for watching, reading, commenting and liking the weekly uploads. The next ones in the Oregon series are really special so please leep checking in! For now, enjoy the pace of the ocean and I’ll catch ya next time!💚🌊 #oregoncoast #bandonoregon #facerock