I heard about Thor’s Well, also known as the Devils Churn, from a good friend and decided to go see it for myself. Saturday the 16th of October 2021 was supposed to be sunny, and the tide table said that high tide was at 10:22 AM. Perfect! I could have a cup of coffee in front of the fire, read a little, and then head out. Our place in Florence, Oregon is only a half an hour south!
The road was clear, and the ocean was beautiful. I had to stop myself from stopping at all the great viewpoints along the way if I wanted to be there an hour before high tide.
It’s funny, because I have driven by the Devils Churn, and probably stopped, but I had no idea how different it was at high tide. It wasn’t crowded at all, and the crashing water was incredible. Blowholes were everywhere, but the main one was the loudest and most impressive. The wave that brought the globs of foam in was huge!
Everyone watching was impressed, and polite. The biggest hit was getting a photo in front of the main blow, so I waited before I went down the steps. Laughter and wonder were the biggest emotions. It reminded me of being in Albuquerque for the balloon festival a few years ago. It was so fun, watching people and nature. Even if we hadn't been cooped up for a year, we still would have been impressed and excited. There wasn’t a mask in sight, and there was an air of pre-Covid… Just pure fun!
A group of kids who wanted to get closer to a blowhole north of us. They were kidding around, very polite, and having so much fun. It wasn’t dangerous. We weren’t out where Thor’s Well was, or anywhere near where a sneaker wave could get us. When the kids got splashed a little, they squealed. When they got soaking wet, it was hilarious. They all screamed! I can’t tell you how great it is to see kids being kids again.
I felt like I was on a high. Everywhere I looked there was more to see. The waves were gigantic, and the waterfalls created as the water subsided were something to see. My heart was happy, and the thrill of it just filled my senses. I was ecstatic! It is incredible to see nature being enjoyed by so many. I think we were all relaxed and happy and glad to be alive. I headed back up the hill to my car, but turned around when I heard some people talking. "Look at those idiots!" one exclaimed.
Two photographers were on the edge of the well with their tripods. Other photographers were a lot more serious than I am. It looked like they were trying to commit suicide. I think they thought they were invincible, having survived Covid. I honestly don’t know what makes people do stupid things. I had my tripod, and I am a semi-serious photographer. But not that serious.
Just then a huge wave hit. One man lost his balance and almost fell in. The crowd around me gasped in horror. By some miracle he didn't fall in. He fell backward, but kept his camera dry and exited the area before the next wave. The man next to him was shaken, too. They both had a very close call.
It reminded me of a terrifying experience I had just before Covid hit. My girlfriend Brenda and I were coming home from a photoshoot in the Columbia Gorge, and decided to take the old highway home from the Mosier Tunnels. We came upon a horrific sight that neither of us will ever forget.
A young man was lying in the road, still alive. He had fallen from the road above, while taking a selfie. He had had the foresight to hand his girlfriend the keys before he went out on the ledge. She was screaming beside him, “Where’s the ambulance? Where the fuck is the ambulance?” as he twitched and moaned.
We had the traffic stopped, and decided there was nothing we could do but get in the way. A few people had arrived before us, and they had cleared the road from the rocks that had fallen with him. We could see and hear the ambulance far below us. So we left the area, since we hadn't seen him fall and couldn't be of help. Sadly, there was no saving the man, and we learned that he died a short time later. I don’t even know if he made it to the hospital.
Watching two photographers almost die was a sober end to a glorious day. The Oregon Coast is very unforgiving and you can never forget about safety. Never turn your back on the waves, and never get too close to a dropoff. Cold sneaker waves and sunken logs make it even more dangerous.
Driving away in my car I couldn't shake the feeling of fear. Why are people so careless? Who would they have taken with them when people tried to save them? How is the cliff-diver's girlfriend ever going to get over that day?
By all means, go to Devils Churn. Just be careful. I want to go back and practice taking better photos there. The foreground so dark compared to the sunny ocean that my light meter can't adjust. Still, it wasn’t about the photos but the experience. You have to go at high tide to see this amazing roadside attraction near Yachats, Oregon! I have more photos of this day under the Oregon Coast gallery.
https://yachatsoregon.org/295/Thors-Well https://yachatsnews.com/27124-2/ The second link is about the latest death.