October 7, 2017 Day
121
This morning I woke up to my phone going off but I chose not
to answer it for I was just too tired and cozy in my bed to move. I was not able to fall asleep last night
until after midnight for my mind would not stop churning around things so I was
in no hurry to get on with today. When I
finally got a move on I walked to the showers to actually take a shower this
time and was kind of upset to find that the hot water barely got warm enough to
diminish the goosebumps on my skin. At
my camper, I made a bagel and coffee and once again began my ritual of packing
everything up and prepping for the road.
With my coffee and bagel in hand I took care of some business on my
computer and then hopped in my vehicle.
I called my mom up to let her know I was leaving the RV park
and to talk about my amazing day yesterday.
At around 09:30 I was pulling out of the Vineyard RV park and heading
the 2.5 hours to Alamere Falls on the coast.
The drive was enjoyable and due to not taking the interstate I was on
very winding roads and passed thru small coastal towns. There were hundreds of bicyclists throughout
the drive and at first I thought it was just a few enjoying the weather but
soon I realized there were just too many for it to be a coincidence and I found
out there was some event going on.
Around 11:00, I pulled onto a very narrow and poorly maintained road to
which my camper protested every step of the way. It especially did not like when the road
turned into a gravel road with potholes. As I pressed on I worried that I would
get to the end and not be able to turn my camper around but soon my worries
disappeared when I was able to park and saw that there was ample space to turn
around.
I put on my hiking shoes and strapped on my pack and headed
off in the direction of all the people for there were no signs marking the
trail. Once I was on the trail for a
little ways there was a plaque with a poor map of the trails but I took a
picture of it anyways. The hike was
absolutely beautiful with amazing ocean views and then it meandered away from
the ocean inland. It was not a difficult
hike at all and would slowly go up and down rolling hills. The temperature was also perfect with a slight breeze that prevented any sweat from
lingering too long. I spent the majority
of the hike daydreaming which I find I am doing more and more these days. When I hit a fork in the trail I looked at
my map and to me it just did not match up and I believed I had missed the turn
I was supposed to take for everyone says that most people miss it. I would think if this is a common thing that
someone would make a sign then but oh well.
I turned around and started retracing my steps when I came across
another woman and asked her if she was heading to the falls. I mentioned to her that I think we missed our
turn and after some deliberation we both agreed and continued back the way we
came together. We would then spend the
rest of the hike together talking the entire time. I do wonder whether these people I come
across and hike with actually want to hike with me or are just too nice to say
otherwise.
The final stretch to the beach, where the falls ran into the
ocean, was a steep descent where one had to use both hands and carefully climb
down. When I set foot on the beach the
tide was almost to the rocks and though it was a beautiful sight to behold and
one I have never seen I was a little disappointed I will have to admit. I think everyone had talked it up so much
that I was expecting this grand waterfall cascading onto the beach and into the
ocean. No matter what, I think it was
worth the hike and after snapping a few pictures, dropping my cliff bar in the
sand but still eating it (a tad more crunchy now) we proceeded back up the
cliff face.
Before we parted ways I gave her my Instagram information so
that we could keep in touch. Once she
left I ate a hard-boiled egg and changed out of my hiking boots into my flip
flops. Before I left the San Francisco
area I wanted to see the Golden Gate bridge at least once even if I couldn’t
find a spot to park and walk on it. So I
drove an hour back south to the bridge and as I anticipated there was no parking
for my camper and I; however, I did not anticipate it being so packed that the
traffic was backed up all the way to the roundabout at the top of the scenic
drive! It didn’t bother me though for it
allowed me to take pictures from my vehicle when I was stuck in traffic and for
me that was enough.
Leaving the area I called my mom up and also messaged a
friend of mine while I drove on the interstate until I could take an exit that
would lead me back to highway 1. The
drive was quiet, winding and steep the entire way which I liked for it added
something new and exciting to the drive.
I will admit that California has some of the steepest and craziest roads
I have yet to encounter. I continued
driving until I acquired cell phone service and then I pulled over at a turnout
on highway 1 to spend the night. The
reason I drove until I had service was so that I would be able to call my mom
and not worry her. I ate the last half
of my delicious sandwich and went to bed.
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