[Finny]

Perhaps your ocean experience has only been in Florida, where it's quite a lot different than on a rocky West Coast shore. For one thing, the water is a HELL of a lot colder and unpredictably turbulent.

For another, a "wave" even only three feet isn't a thing that washes gently ashore, but on a rocky shoreline, crops up under surges and rocks and undercurrents, looks fairly benight, and all the sudden becomes like the swipe of a tiger's paw, and remember ... it's damned cold.

Also, unlike in Florida, in Oregon you're likely wearing lots of heavy clothing that will weight up with water and sink you like a stone, and pulling it off while running (or trying to safely jump off rocks) may not be an option.

Just some things to think of ... I loved Florida's shoreline, by the way, but found the whole Atlantic coast and coastal seas a whole helluva lot different than my beloved California coast, which I know fairly well from San Diego to Fort Bragg.

[sten]

well, i grew up in New England so i know cold and have seen the 4-10 foot waves (10 if there were storms offshore), but was never around rocky shorelines... and had only been on the Maine coastline a couple of times in the winter (fully dressed). the waves would pound, but i have never seen anything that would move someone 30 feet in a blink (time it takes to turn around)

just seems ... fishy (sorry for the pun)

[merry10]

You’re making me miss CA. I grew up in Oxnard.

[gundog]

I loved Florida's shoreline...

I remember my first experience in the surf in Florida..."waves" lapping at my ankles. I remember thinking "You call this an ocean?"