Newcastle Island's (Saysuchun's) Amazing Tidal Flats (+9 insets!)

(+9 insets!) (please scroll down to "Today's Pictures" for inset information)

Trip Talk: Off We Go On Our Island Adventure!

After chatting with the friendly fellow at the visitor's kiosk, we hopped on our bikes and took off down a trail which led to the island's popular coastal path, passing lovely forest on one side and wide open ocean views on the other. Bikes weren't allowed on the coastal trail because it can be rough in places, though we were told it wasn't enforced if we really wanted to ride. Steve and I liked the idea of hiking for some of our visit though. Looking at the map, we could see that the coastal trail met with another which led through the forest back to our bikes; at which point we could ride up and into the center of the island for a complete tour! A perfect plan!

Arriving at the trailhead for our coastal trail hike, we locked our bikes up and then turned to look out towards the ocean. It wasn't so much looking as it was gawking at the sight before us. A vast tidal flat lay before us, laden with mollusk-covered boulders, rocks and seaweed. Piles of driftwood in all sizes--from small chunks to 30-foot logs--rimmed the edge of the flats in a huge jumble. Countless shells were everywhere with larger mounds settled at the base of the driftwood. We don't remember seeing anything like this before and we were suitably impressed. Taking careful footsteps through the shells, we made our way out onto the huge rock plates that formed the base of the tidal flat. Our feet sunk deeply into the slippery layer of shell-based mixture and it occurred to me that I could spend hours here just examining handfuls of shells, driftwood, seaweed and pebbles.

It was nice to get out to the solid rock base where the walking was much easier. We were then stunned to see the boulders strewn everywhere, each covered by thousands of mollusks of various sizes--tiny snail-shaped periwinkles, tall, turban-shaped whelks, cone-shaped limpets, long, pointed augers and volcano-shaped barnacles a-plenty. Most were very small but there were lots of large mussels clinging together in masse too. Tiny crabs skittered about in little pools. Different varieties of seaweed lay about here and there, washed in from where they grew just off-shore. Overhead the gulls flew, calling back and forth to one another. There was a nice breeze out but not a strong wind and Steve and I had a great time wandering along, heads down and moving towards the ocean beyond.

Looking up from time to time, we couldn't help noticing an enormous container ship sitting far out on the water. Staring at the immense boat reminded me that Vancouver Island and the many smaller islands dotting the area are very important for transportation of cargo and to a lesser degree, fuel too. There's a good reason why. Due to the proximity to the mainland of Canada and Washington--as well as the closest port to Japan—Vancouver Island is the perfect area for ships along their world-wide routes. Appreciating the sight, I was able to get some good zoomed-in shots with my Sony and looked forward to identifying the ship when I got home.

The G2 Ocean Grouse Arrow
This is a shipping vessel that travels the world with its vast capacity for cargo. Researching information for this post, I learned that the Grouse Arrow is currently located off the Kuril Islands archipelago north of Japan and south of Russia. After we saw it in August, it travelled to China where it stopped at four ports of call including Shanghai! It's now on its way to Port Mellon, an area north of Vancouver Island known for being one of the world's biggest producers of wood pulping and paper. Isn't that fascinating?! I just love being able to discover information about these globe-trotting vessels!

The Mystery of the Hole-Covered Rocks
As Steve and I wandered around the tidal flats, we noticed holes bored into many of the rocks and boulders but I couldn't remember how they were formed. As it turns out, the holes in these deeply-etched stones are bored by a mollusk called a Piddock or "Angel Wing" (named for the similarity when a shell is opened up completely). I remember seeing zillions of oblong shells laying everywhere, but at the time I thought they were some sort of mussel. No, they were the shells from Piddocks. These industrious bivalves grind holes into rocks by latching on with their muscular foot and slowly turning the ends of their modified shells around and around to; in time they eventually create burrows which contain their entire length. AMAZING! Interestingly, the extremely strong shells, when exposed to air and heat, become so brittle that finding complete shells is uncommon. That's the truth—I spent some time looking for complete shells and it was quite a challenge, given the piles of fragments heaped up where the tides receded. Now that I know why it makes sense that I couldn't find them easily.

Today's Pictures
My main picture today features one of the lovely mollusk-covered rocks with the tidal flat stretching out to the ocean beyond. In the far distance you can see the cargo container, the G2 Ocean Grouse Arrow.

Insets include a pair of panoramas which show the amazing tidal flats and a marvelous row of mollusk-covered boulders. I've also included a close-up of the G2 Ocean Grouse Arrow along with pictures of one of the life-encrusted pools, an itty-bitty crab next to an open mussel shell with a tiny auger shell above it, a fun rock artwork and finally, a series of three pictures showing the rocks and boulders riddled with deep holes ground out by Piddock mollusks!

Pam, I know you love the sea. This was a place you would adore. A healthy tidal area overflowing with life to appreciate was so wonderful to explore and enjoy. The views from near and far, the smell of the salt-water air, ocean birds flying overhead, it was very magical in this healing place. I thought of you often as we ambled out to the sea's edge. I hope you like this show...it's just one of many! *BIG HUGS* from southern Oregon.

Explored on 1/30/20; highest placement #2.