Yachats Oregon Writer Rick Schultze

Sometimes that isn’t the best scenario except on the golf course score card or in some games of cards, but being low in this case could be a catalyst for something good to happen. This past week featured a tremendously low tide; a tide so low that we on the Central Oregon Coast were featured in all the newspapers around the state, all the radio and TV news shows, and even on several national news shows. They were full of images of the beaches with rocks spectacularly protruding, people digging for clams, looking for shells and agates, and sights of other things not normally seen during regular tide patterns. What this translates to immediately is somewhat hard to tell but when there is that much coverage of Seal Rock, Waldport, Yachats, Bob Creek and Florence you’re bound to get a plethora of folks who even if they couldn’t make it to catch the super minus low tides, will have an growing appetite to check out all the places they saw or read about. This comes at a critical time in the economies of these communities. It’s summer and people are choosing where they want to go and thanks to the wonderful world of mass media we Central Coast residents just got a terrific blast of publicity. While the various Chamber of Commerce’s and the Oregon Tourism Bureau do great jobs in promoting these spots it’s often the hard news outlets that grab peoples attention with the great live shots highlighting the beautiful spots the coast becomes all that much more attractive.

We heard the buzz phrase “Staycation” bantered about a lot last year and it’s still going strong today. It made sense then and it does now. Plus after a year of hearing the term people recognize it and can relate possibly from doing it themselves. Nothing like saving some money and staying near or home on vacation!

We’ve had some good coastal parties so far this spring and summer like the Rhododendron Festival in Florence and Beachcombers Days in Waldport, but this low tide coverage just may be what the doctor ordered to get the curious folks to come and get a taste of what a neat place the Central Coast is. You and I know that once they come and sample life with all of its coastal pleasures they will return. What did they say? “Build it and they will come”. Well, it’s already built and if they didn’t know it before they were gently reminded big time last week.

Here’s to a great summer on the Central Oregon Coast. Have fun!

To reach Rick Schultze email: yarick@pioneer.net