Another weekend and yet another mode of transportation. This time it was by foot. Now back on October 24, 2005 I did a blog on “Walk in the Icky Woods” so I can’t do that again. This walk was with granddaughter, Georgia so that is different. Now Georgia is almost two (three more days) so she did very little walking. Fortunately we had our daughter, Renee along although it pains me to admit it, she did most of the packing and I only gave her occasional breaks.
We are camped at Cape Disappointment State Park. They have several trails to walk. We chose one called Coastal Forest Loop. It was well marked and the long loop was marked as 1.5 miles, and rated at moderate to steep. We did a somewhat similar walk last November in Ecola State Park near Cannon Beach. We walked twice as far and the trail was much steeper. However Georgia was about five pounds lighter and daddy was along to share the load.
This trail first climbed about 130 feet and hugged the cliffs over the river. We watched several fishing boats and the Coast Guard close inshore in the channel between Ilwaco and the Columbia River bar. We then descended to nearly sea level again before climbing gradually to 180 feet on the highway side of the loop.
At times the trail almost burrows through the thick luscious timber and the dense undergrowth. At one point we passed by a garter snake sunning himself in a splotch of sunshine about elbow height just at the edge of the trail. Check out his portrait below. Further on down the trail we found a wonderful hollow tree. Renee and Georgia were posing for photos. When the flash went off we woke up a sleeping bat. Next we almost stepped on a huge slugÂ…, Ooh icky!
Now this blog will get to you a day or two late, because we are incommunicado out here on the beach. The weather is simply beautiful. The mornings have been sunny and warm. Mid afternoon brings on a strong NW sea breeze, and we immediately start grabbing for more layers of clothing. We spent part of the afternoon on Waikiki Beach – no kidding, it says so on the map! The wind was whipping the sand around our ankles and blowing the tops off of the breakers rolling up onto the beach. Four teens were frolicking in the surf and Georgia made a bee-line for the water. We intercepted her and diverted her attention to the dry sand dunes. There is no way I would have even waded into that cold water and biting wind.
So from near the white sands of Waikiki Beach we wish you all Aloha.
Gary Judy Renee and Georgia.
