West Coast Trail Adventure! 2 of 6
Adventure Ollie
Day TWO Thursday July 6th
I hate my boots
Of course I couldn't sleep. Woke up from 3:00-4:00am then just before 5:00am again which became the early start to my day
I left the Airbnb at 5:20am then walked to McDonald's 5:30, breakfast sandwich with an added hashbrown for my calorie reserve for the day. I arrive at bus stop at 5:45 only one hour early, can you say excited? First there of course, so I walked around for a bit, then chatted with all the backpackers who started to arrive. Two from Switzerland, one from Chicago, two from Alberta, and one from Richmond. Picked up a dad who I name bill Murray and his four adults kids 19 minutes down the road. The bus ride was about 2.5 hours on a paved but slow windy road with several one lane bridges. Arrived in Gordon river for orientation at 10:00am which lasted 1.25 hours. A Mellow parks dude gave the presentation which included trail info, wildlife cautions, tide table reading, and of course all the gory updates of what happened to all the poor souls who injured themselves on the trail and had to get evacuated out. About 1 in 100 have to get an emergency exit. Which actually had a bright side since reminded you to slow down and take your time on the trail. Twelve of us caught one of two ferries at 11:30, the ride lasted 5 minutes. My 11:45 am trail starts by scaring me intensely. A Super high vertical ladder you have to climb to access trail. They say it's your trail initiation. Adventure! Lots and lots of roots and water trickling everywhere even though is hasn't rained in weeks. I Was watching my step constantly for safe places to place my feet. Multiple ladders both up and down, lots of bridges, lots of boardwalks ranging from brand new to rotting and falling apart and no real substance left of them. Lots of muddy areas but able to walk around them all with careful planning. Trail runners would have been no problem up to this point.
Cable car!!! Weeeeee then I'm At my first campsite. Camper creek. 13km completed in 5.5 hours. Mac and cheese for dinner, small bag of cheezies which I ate first as soon as I opened my food bag. Later a Ritter dark chocolate bar with hazelnuts while I sat on a large drift log taking in the Oceanside scenery
End of day points
-Compost toilets smell like a horse barn.
-Sore back. Awful Airbnb bed last night. Fold out couch.
-Cool campfire sesh tonight with hippy dudes
Of course I couldn't sleep. Woke up from 3:00-4:00am then just before 5:00am again which became the early start to my day
I left the Airbnb at 5:20am then walked to McDonald's 5:30, breakfast sandwich with an added hashbrown for my calorie reserve for the day. I arrive at bus stop at 5:45 only one hour early, can you say excited? First there of course, so I walked around for a bit, then chatted with all the backpackers who started to arrive. Two from Switzerland, one from Chicago, two from Alberta, and one from Richmond. Picked up a dad who I name bill Murray and his four adults kids 19 minutes down the road. The bus ride was about 2.5 hours on a paved but slow windy road with several one lane bridges. Arrived in Gordon river for orientation at 10:00am which lasted 1.25 hours. A Mellow parks dude gave the presentation which included trail info, wildlife cautions, tide table reading, and of course all the gory updates of what happened to all the poor souls who injured themselves on the trail and had to get evacuated out. About 1 in 100 have to get an emergency exit. Which actually had a bright side since reminded you to slow down and take your time on the trail. Twelve of us caught one of two ferries at 11:30, the ride lasted 5 minutes. My 11:45 am trail starts by scaring me intensely. A Super high vertical ladder you have to climb to access trail. They say it's your trail initiation. Adventure! Lots and lots of roots and water trickling everywhere even though is hasn't rained in weeks. I Was watching my step constantly for safe places to place my feet. Multiple ladders both up and down, lots of bridges, lots of boardwalks ranging from brand new to rotting and falling apart and no real substance left of them. Lots of muddy areas but able to walk around them all with careful planning. Trail runners would have been no problem up to this point.Cable car!!! Weeeeee then I'm At my first campsite. Camper creek. 13km completed in 5.5 hours. Mac and cheese for dinner, small bag of cheezies which I ate first as soon as I opened my food bag. Later a Ritter dark chocolate bar with hazelnuts while I sat on a large drift log taking in the Oceanside scenery
End of day points
-Compost toilets smell like a horse barn.
-Sore back. Awful Airbnb bed last night. Fold out couch.
-Cool campfire sesh tonight with hippy dudes
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