If you see Forrest Gump, say hi for me. July 1. Day 10. Part 1.

Dear trail Friends

Good morning. I am standing in front of the Pacific City bus shelter waiting for the 5:39am bus to Neskowin, as I begin writing this. 

I walked further yesterday than usual (I would estimate 26 miles) and once I had put my tent up at my campsite and eaten my dinner, all I wanted to do was put in my earplugs (to protect myself from the July 4 festivities which had already begun as well as the traffic passing within a few yards of my campsite), put on my nightshades, curl up and fall into a deep and refreshing sleep. No blog writing energy at all. 

Yesterday's walk was a beauty but did notgo exactly  as planned. I may have mentioned that the guidebook had said that the Sand Lake outlet could only be forded in summer and in low tide. In her update she noted "very" low tide. Yesterday's tide at 1pm was a +1.2 tide. I began to worry as I walked about what "very" meant. If a zero tide is the average low, then very low might mean under zero. And the outlet might be a foot or more deeper than that when at a +1.2 tide. That foot - not to mention the uneven contours of Oregon beaches and the chance of stepping into a invisible dip that might well be another foot deeper, might make the difference between a dry backpack and one that was soaking wet. There is the option of holding and balancing my pack on my head - but then I wouldn't be able to use my poles for balance against the currents. Now as Chrissy can tell you, I am a gifted worrier. So I practiced my gift as I walked. 

The walk began as a hike up to the top of Cape Lookout - the Trailhead was just a little beyond the campground. Photo 1 shows an early pre-dawn glimpse of water through trees as I began the climb. 

 

The worry was of course combined with excitement about facing the unknown (I have little or no experience fording challenging creeks - I hiked the PCT in low snow years and though there were some for me very scary crossings on rocks I rarely had to walk through water, certainly not deep water. )

Photo 2 is a lovely wood suspension bridge, the third or fourth of its kind I have met on this trip. I was very surprised on the first to have it swing back and forth and up and down with my every step - I got a little seasick. By now I knew what to expect, placed one hand on a railing, and thoroughly enjoyed the ride. 

 

When I reached the top I realized that with only 8 miles total to the Sand Lake outlet, I would have a long wait for low tide. So I decided to take an extra hike out to the end (almost) of Cape Lookout. Photo 3 is a collage of some of the wonderful views. Since the cape is a narrow promontory stretching out into the ocean I had spectacular views both north and south - both where I had been and where I was going. 

 

After hours of hiking in rich green woods, it was thrilling to actually hike down again to the beach. In photo 4, I am almost there. I can see Cape Lookout, where I just hiked, to the north (right). 

 

Then I hear the VROOOMM of off highway vehicles and realize I have stepped into an OHV playground. To my surprise, I felt a vicarious joy in their playful excitement as they raced down the beach and up the dunes, making sudden sharp turns. I was especially moved that about half the vehicles I saw had a driver and a rider - who appeared to be father and son. So photo 5 is my homage to father-son joy in speed and loud motors and wild turns. 

 

To be continued in If you see Forrest Gump, say hi for me. July 1. part 2.