Fourth of July: Bandon Beach, Oregon

Posted on Saturday, Apr 9, 2011

Sunday, July 4, 2010

The first time we spent the Fourth of July on Bandon Beach it was quite a spectacle. Thousands of people crowded the beach on either side of the mouth of the Coquille River. Driftwood was used to build windbreaks and bonfires. By the time it was dark, and despite signs that prohibited it, there were fires up and down the beach. Kids were shooting off their fireworks. It was a crazy fun atmosphere. The official fireworks show took place over the ocean which allowed us to lie in the cabover of our camper and enjoy it out of the gale force wind that was coming in off the ocean.

This visit, six years later, was different. The fireworks show had been moved inland. No longer were the fireworks set off from the beach. Now they were set off from near the Bandon marina in an effort, we were told, to attract more business to Old Town Bandon. I’m sure it made those businesses more money but the beach experience, though undoubtedly more legal, was not nearly as much fun.

Fires and fireworks or not, Bandon Beach is always photo worthy. This image was captured just as it was beginning to get dark enough to enjoy the evening’s pyrotechnics—in the opposite direction.

[Click on the image to view larger.]

©2011 Timothy Linn. All Rights Reserved.