The spiritual nature of the ocean

Anyone who has spent time by the ocean can appreciate how spiritual the experience can be from time to time.  There is something about the constant rolling of the waves, the same but ever changing dance of the sea, the flight of the seagulls, the ancient rocks and sand that can lift you into another way of thinking.

Today was just such a day.

I was walking my wonderful black lab along the beach and as people walked by, the ones who greeted her with a word were rewarded with a "kiss" on the hand, her greeting of choice.   I smiled at how sweet she is and we walked on, and in the distance I saw a lone woman.  I had seen her several times on our walk.  Suddenly she was beside us, and she quietly said "Your dog says she is a very special dog". 

Well I was not sure what that meant, but I agreed that Sadie is very special.  But the woman repeated it again, and a bit confused I just shrugged it off with "she should say that, I tell her she is special every day" and laughed.  But the woman remained serious and tried one more time, she said "I said hello to your dog and she told me she was a very special dog". 

The woman had said nothing outloud to Sadie, and when I realized that she meant this conversation had taken place other than outloud, I turned around to find the woman but she had walked on and soon disappeared around the bend.  When I got half way down the beach I realized that something special had just happened and I realized I had not asked her what else my dog had said!  All of a sudden I had the feeling that this was a real thing, and I had blown it by not realizing the woman was serious.

Sadie and I walked on down the beach, and a couple with a dog walked by.  Sadie and the dog first sniffed and greeted each other in a friendly enough manner, but then the dog became a bit miffed and we had to drag the two apart.  This has happened many times with Sadie, and I had to break out into a laugh.  I pictured Sadie saying to the dog "hello, I am a very special dog..." and the dog getting a bit miffed at that proclamation.  I had to laugh.

A few minutes later I noticed a woman playing her violin at sunset, with a couple in their sunset years sitting on a bench enjoying the beauty of that moment. 

Wouldn't you have loved to see their face...

This happened years ago, but I still remember it fondly.
We had a number of beach houses, all located along a strip of the beach.  I needed to have a "deep clean" done on one of the houses, this is a very deep cleaning that is done (like the spring cleaning we do at home) once or twice per year.  In this cleaning the housekeeping staff will move furniture to clean under and over, they will use small ladders to reach the higher places, they will remove the contents from the drawers and cabinets to clean under and around.  Just a day long cleaning that catches up after a busy season of use.

I sent a team to do this deepclean on one of the oceanfront homes, set them up with supplies, ladder, instructions on where the owner of the house had left the key, directions to the house,  address, and phone number for them to call me with any questions or problems.

I got so busy that day that I did not give it too much more thought.  So about 6 and a half hours later the team showed back up at the office and announced that they had completed their job.   They also told me that the house was terribly dirty, it did not look like it had been cleaned much in years, and that they had to do quite a bit of extra work.   I was a little bit worried that it had taken the team only 6.5 hours, so when I was clear I drove out to the house to take inspect. 

Much to my dismay, the house did not appear any different than before they started!  Instead of jumping to conclusions, I drove back to the office and called the team in.  We went round and round a bit before I finally got it!   Yep, they had driven out to the house, had found the key just where I said it would be, and they worked for 6.5 hours on that house, scrubbing under-over-all around.  Only problem is, it was the wrong house!   They had missed the address by one number and the key was hidden exactly where I said the owner had left it!  They were just a couple of houses off!

Many times over the years I have wished I had a video of the owners of THAT beachhouse (they used it themselves and did not rent it, hence it was never really cleaned) arriving to their rather unkept home, and finding it sparkling clean!     I would have loved to have seen their faces!

Ramblings

Take a look at the Ramblings tab for some funny (and some not so funny) insight in a day in the life of a vacation rental worker. 
See below to read about the whale migrations, the hummingbird migrations, and a little bit of adoration of the wonderful funny Pelican.   All things we enjoy while living by the sea.
Come join us at http://wildcoastvacations.com/ and spend some time by the sea, you will enjoy it!

Ramblings

I LOVE THIS!

We have some great guests. 

This box came in the mail today, it cost $9.00 to send here priority mail.  Inside we found a beautiful large green rock!  Here is the note enclosed on a card:

" To whom it may concern:
On a recent trip north, I stayed in one of your cabins.  On a day trip to the Rogue River, this stone was found "with a very large voice".  I have carried it with me for many months, but it is time to return it.  Unfortunately no soon place to return.
I am hoping someone there has the heart to return the stone to the river.
Sincerely,
Cabin guest

Isn't that something?   I just had to smile at this box that arrived in the mail today.  You neveer know what you will come across, and this one is new even to me.
With a smile,
Wild Coast Vacations
on the sunny southern Oregon coast
Vacation homes by the sea
http://WildCoastVacations.com

Whale migration 2012:  Female whales and calf are coming by our southern Oregon coast (Gold Beach area) now, with several sighted daily in the Nesika Beach area where they swim very close to shore.  Come this week to see this annual event.   Unlike other migrations, these whales swim close enough to the shore in some areas to see great detail.  Ask about our cottages (coastal cottages on the website) where you have a front row seat.   http://WildCoastVacations.com
Wild Coast Vacations, on the sunny southern Oregon coast, see the migration of the whales in mid May and the migration of the arriving pelicans too.

THE WHALES ARE MIGRATING!
We have seen the first mother and calf whales migrating north along the Oregon coast, so close that you can see every detail.  Best homes for viewing this very special spring migration?  Shore Bird, Sand Cliff, Hidden Treasure, Pelican Cottage.   See these at http://WildCoastVacations.com, come this week or next for best chance to see this very special sight.  See the whale and pelican migration stories below!

Pelican, the dancer of the sea Part 2

From the shore of Gold Beach Oregon, here on the sunny southern Oregon coast:

The Pelican

The creature that seems to be put together with spare parts.

He looks so awkward.

Yet it is migration season again, and I would like you to sit by the sea and watch as these elegant creatures fly north in the spring.  (And once they arrive back, you can see them morning and evening traveling along our shore to and from their day/ night areas).  You will see the most well choreographed ballet in the world.  From an ungraceful bird comes a graceful and wonderful ballet, yet it is easy to miss!  So sit a while and watch this very special event.

They generally fly in groups of 2 to 12 or more.  Flying single file, they fly as one, gliding just inches above the wet of the ocean, rising so gently as the wave builds under them.  Still inches from the water, this Pelican ribbon matches the shape of the wave exactly, the timing, the fluid motion, the music of their dance is perfect.

As one, the individuals fly with wings nearly touching, the first raises his flight as the wave builds, and in perfect response, as if a rope that has been flipped, each Pelican follows the first until they are gliding just at the tip of the wave, and then gently back to the level of the sea as the wave crests and breaks, and never seems to splash even a drop of salt water onto the flying shadow above.

Gently, smoothly they weave over the top of the water, little flapping, mostly gliding, they hug the water and move with the very motion of the always moving chant of the ocean face.  Not as one bird might do, not as the seagulls who fly there too.  No, the ribbon of Pelican motion instead reacts as one to the churn and and the music of the sea.  

Never a more wonderful dance will you witness, than that of the Pelican and the sea.  It is hard to  believe this ballerina of feather is such an effortless dancer.

Take some time to see this show, it is free!

SEE PART ONE OF THE PELICAN BELOW

Wild Coast Vacations
Gold Beach Oregon