The coast is less than 100 miles from Portland but seems like another world, so I don't go often enough. Last week went to Nehalem Bay State Park, my first time there, a beautiful, quiet place with twisted driftwood, blooming yellow Scotch broom, a deer hidden behind trees. There was a stiff wind that blew my easel over three times before I even got set up, so I painted holding on with my left hand! I finished one 9" x 12" plein air there without dropping it in the sand, later painted another 10" x 10" view in my studio.
