Want To Give It a Try? June 30. Day 9. Part 1

Dear Trail Friends,

This morning Susan, my Tillamook Trail Angel friend, drove to Bayocean Spit - actually she drove me halfway down (up?) the spit, so I got to have a taste of what the hike might have been like had I hitched a boat ride across to the spot with crabbers. 

I had been struggling with all kinds of exotic pronunciations for Bayocean ( like bay-ossian) but when Susan began to tell a little of the history of it, I learned it was actually Bay Ocean. Photo 1 gives a summary of that history which Susan's father (born in 1923)  had lived through and remembered. 

 

The power of the ocean is pretty humbling isn't it?

Photo 2 was taken on the spit, when Susan and I were about to say goodbye. But then I talked her into walking with me for awhile. When we did part, she put her hand gently on my shoulder and gave a blessing. I don't remember all the words, just what a natural and poetic voice and one on such friendly terms with the creator. "god please let River feel your kindness and mercy. Let her feel them in the movement of the grasses, the waves, the wind, the songs of the birds." Lee had said a blessing before dinner too. I was deeply impressed that they spoke to God in such authentic voices, with such respect and trust. There is something very special about Seventh Day Adventists as a spiritual tradition and community. I have felt that with Judy and Roger W. and I felt it at Big Lake Camp which was so warmly welcoming to PCT hikers. I feel it again with Lee and Susan. It is thrilling to find a religious lineage one can respect this deeply, and learn from. It seems to really help people become the best they can be. 

 

I had intended to hike up a trail to the top of Cape Meares but as I was hiking toward the Trailhead I met a runner who told me she and her husband had hiked it many times but that since the rock slide two years ago they found it one long rock scramble and nearly impassable. She warned me against attempting it saying I would also be wading in one place through knee deep mud. 

Photo 3 is the beach I was walking on before beginning the road walk. I do love these foggy Oregon mornings. 

 

I was disappointed but I also felt lucky she came along to offer guidance just when I needed it. So I walked on the park road (closed to vehicles because of something that tore up the asphalt in several places - maybe the same rock slide) and it was a pretty pleasant walk. Photo 4 is the road in a stretch where it wasn't torn up (but still no vehicles). 

It was mostly uphill so this stretch is misleading - it felt a lot like the road up to Mt Constitution only greener, more rain forest quality. 

 

At the top I strolled out to the lighthouse and looked at the views - photo 5 collages those views. I also by accident took a spur trail to visit an 800 year old spruce. It would have been "born" in the Middle Ages - isn't that something to have lived that long. 

 

To be continued in Want To Give It a Try? June 30. Part 2.