Newport Outing at the Aquarium

We stayed at the Port of Newport RV park with a great view of the Yaquina Bay Bridge.

"The Yaquina Bay Bridge is an arch bridge that spans Yaquina Bay south of Newport, Oregon. It is one of the most recognizable of the U.S. Route 101 bridges designed by Conde McCullough.

The bridge opened on September 6, 1936, at a cost of $1,301,016. A total of 220 people worked to pour 30,000 cubic yards of concrete and fabricate 3,100 tons of steel.

The main span is flanked by identical 350 ft steel arches. The rest of the structure is constructed of reinforced concrete. One concrete deck girder forms the northern approach, and a series of 5 arches makes up the southern part of the bridge."

Within walking distance of the RV park was the Oregon Coast Aquarium.


They had a new special show called ODDWATER.

In the lobby there were some art pieces like this green glass ...


... and this great collage by Diane O'Leary. It's part of a series called The Living Waters of Tillamook Bay. I found Diane's Web site at http://livingwaterscollages.org/
Please support her work by visiting her web site and, if possible get to Newport to see her work on exhibit at the Aquarium. Below is her website's information on this collage.

Fourhorn Sea Poacher, Hypsagonus quadricornis
This gorgeous little fish, which measures only two to three inches long as an adult, is one of the most interesting in Tillamook Bay. It is found in tide pools, shallow waters and at depths down to 420 feet. You may have a hard time spotting it because of the unique relationship it has with the hydroid, Perigonimus pugetensis. This hydroid attaches to the fish in large numbers, giving the little sea poacher the look of a floating mass of weeds and streamers. This serves the poacher well—it provides excellent protection from predators.

Of course we went straight for the Sea Otters. This little guy hammed it up for a few pictures.


I could have sworn he was smiling in this shot.


Is this white hairy balloon really alive?


The octopus was bust climbing the wall.

After leaving the grotto area we headed inside to the tunnels.


The tunnels were like walking underwater and Sharyn loved the walk.


This view between the tunnels reminded me of 2001 Space Odyssey I was worried I might hear H.A.L. at any time.


Shrimp and Starfish the original odd couple.


I liked this anemone pool where they pumped water in every few minutes at high speed like a wave. When they did the anemone waved back and forth.


Looking up in one of the tunnels I liked this shot of the colorful sea weed.


The Oddwater Exhibit used glass art in the aquariums. It was amazing and oddly enough didn't look terribly out of place with the colorful fish.


Some of the Art work actually seemed very natural.


Some was eerily surreal but very beautiful.


I really liked these flat colorful plates with the fish in this exhibit tank.


Some of the great fish made me wonder again if art mimicked life or live mimicked art...


... but does that really matter.


Finally I got this cute little Seahorse just hanging around.

No Scrabble

Quote of the Day - "I don't want life to imitate art. I want life to be art." Ernst Fischer was a German Chemist and Educator, 1918-1972)