The long hikes across the beaches, climbing over the massive piles of driftwood and often through the wind and rain, brings rewards that make it all worthwhile. When I find that perfect piece of driftwood my passion for carving becomes renewed every time!
The winter of 2012 was one of the best years for driftwood in over 20 years on the Pacific Northwest coast (specifically here in Brookings, Oregon). My storage sheds are overflowing with outrageously beautiful and unusual looking driftwood. The previous winter I picked up around two dozen pieces of driftwood altogether! Never knowing when the ocean will cough up its bounty can make life challenging when your livelihood depends on it. Much of the driftwood on the beaches this winter (2013) is the same wood from last year, just rearranged by the surf and tides.
