First night of sleep in my tent for quite awhile. I think my last time in “The One” was September 2023 on the AT. I’m not counting Snow-camping being I slept in my friend’s tent. But there is something magical about staking out your favorite one and sleeping inside its clean mesh lines. Yes, I agree. I’m a bit off kilter but you people who backpack can agree. It is extra special!

Based on the incredible miles we hiked today, our decision to sleep in well past our typical wake-up time is understood. Honestly there is even a sounder reason for this and it’s based on the Tides. We experience two High Tides and two Low Tides daily. Our low or sometimes minus tide occurs around 9am. Based on the -1.5 minus tide at 9:03am, we decided to head out later this morning.

We had breakfast with our coffee and sat watching Mother Nature wake up. Yesterday evening, Sally had her first oh-crap moment when a snake slithered past her open tent. She looked around trying to ward off the deadly beast of a snake from certainly making its way into her sleeping bag and pad. A reasonable and accommodating new home for the night, so I thought. Luckily it hurried along and went back into the forested area that it came from. In the morning no snakes slithered by, but we were greeted by two Mama Deers and two fawns. They obviously are not worried about us hikers and stayed feet from us, eating their curds and whey. Well more like grasses and leaves. Before long, a large rabbit hops over beside me and as he gets comfortable, a large Raven flys in the middle of this Wild Kingdom moment and lands on the ground. This is some kind of wonderful! After gawking at this sight for a bit, I pack up and scratch my head, where in the world have I landed?

Our beach looks so different during a minus tide. There are rock islands about a quarter mile off shore, that yesterday would’ve been a definite swim. This morning, if you can walk over kelp beds, slippery rocks, slick algae and navigating crabs and such creatures, you could walk to the island. We chose to walk south on the beach, less crowded with slippery things.

It’s not your typical SoCal beach with sandy beaches, endless surf and umbrellas in the sand. It’s much more rugged with polished rocks, thick spongy kelp and seaweed and just enough sand to make you yearn for more. All of the comments on FarOut mention rocky encounters of another kind. It was slow going and I was glad we had all day to hike six long miles!

We got into our stride and Sally moved up to take the lead. No surprise there. I meandered and talked to the other hikers as Sally looked for beach treasures along the shore. I had taken a picture without realizing I had captured a Bald Eagle. As I talked to the trio who were showing me the Bear Tracks on the beach, they asked if I saw the massive Bald Eagle on top of the rock. No, where is he? They pointed out the magnificent bird, still perched, still searching for his feast for the day. Go figure, another sign that God is showing me all that He has placed ahead.

I caught up with Sally and pleaded for a break. Much like my Union Walkers of Spain, I was now the one protesting for a needed rest period! We found a spot at Sand Point, sat down in the shade of many lichen covered trees and devoured our much needed fuel. Okay, I’ve only hiked three miles but it’s taken close to two hours and I was ready. We admired the beach we had conquered, and wondered when we would find real beach, with soft sand and lapping waves? Ask and you shall receive. We stood up and exited our protected little slice of paradise, cut the corner on Sand Point and popped out onto a sandy beach cove that went on for at least a mile.

It was so unexpected, walking on a truly sandy beach. The waves were breaking far from us as the tide was still out. We walked along the beach for a good period of time, watching mirages evaporate in the sun razes. It was as if we were walking on water. But as soon as it appeared, quickly it would disappear. All that was left behind was a glimmer of water over the wet sand. The waves were groaning, I’ve never heard that before. Sally mentioned it this morning, how loud the surf sounded when it broke. Then I heard it with my own ears, a sound like a freight train shooting across the water. So eerie, yet so strong, at the same time. Such a wild and wonderful place we are exploring.

Up ahead was a Red Warning. I was thinking it was red because they didn’t want campers sleeping there but it was an advisory to not pass if the tide was above 5’. Oops, I checked the Tide Table and sure enough, it was on its way to Five Feet. Well of course Kelly, this is your Motto. What was suppose to be easy peasy has now turned into a rock scramble! Headlands is a rock that jettisons out along the coast. We hit it just right. There was a bit of a scramble up and over a handful of times, but nothing life-threatening. I’m glad we did it before the tide got much higher because there would be a couple of areas that would surely be impassable, without submerging. Both Sally and I were able to time the waves and barely got our shoes wet. Well they are called “Water Shoes” for a reason.

Once around the Headland, Yellow Banks was visible. It’s a protected cove with the first bit of fresh water we’ve seen since Cape Alava. We dropped our packs and filled up with fresh spring water that was good, clear and cold. Then we went scouting for sites. I stayed on the beach looking for buoys what typically indicates probable campsites. Sally had read on the FarOut App that there were sites up above on a ridge that overlooked the beach. She headed up Scary Mountain, while I kept scouring the beach. Gosh, I love hiking with Sally. She does all the technical stuff and I take the easy route. We both met back and she looked like Scary Mountain lived up to my bestowed name. After explaining the ropes and slipperier snot that she climbed in search of a possible campsite, she was relieved that I found something on ground level. Thank goodness. We grabbed our gear and walked to our new home. It was in the trees, a bit damp and tight for two tents. After having lunch, I told Sally I hadn’t checked any further south, if she wanted to see if there was another, more proper spot. I finished my lunch and she found a bigger site just a few minutes later. And off we went.

Ended up it was equipped with a hammock. Sally went to take a swing and down went the hammock with Sally in it. First Turtle of the trip! We set up our tents and chilled on this private beach, that as of now, appears we have it to ourselves! Now I’ll just wait for another whale sighting.

We built our new homes and Sally reclined to read her book. I headed to the beach and went into the water. Washington water is much colder than NorCal. But it felt great on my feet, knees and thighs. And that’s as far as I could mustard. Then I rinsed out and baked in the glorious sunshine.

Dinner was Beef Pasta with Bread and Butter. I packed in some dehydrated Margarita Mix and Sally had some Nectar of the Gods. As I was finishing up dinner, I had my awe-crap moment as two slugs had landed on my bag of bread! Thank goodness it was protected because them Banana Slugs aren’t carrying that home. I shoed them off, packed up my food and hoped forage better evening. Sally wanted to head down to get more water, as I cleaned up and put my food away. A few minutes later, she was back.

I can’t get water! Why can’t you get water Sally? There a seal laying on the beach. Okay, is he an Elephant Seal? No but I’ve heard accounts of seals attacking people. You should come with me. Okay, but I’ve never heard of a seal lunging at a hiker. We head back down to the creek, and sure as you know what, there’s a seal between the creek and us. Hmm, he doesn’t look too furious! In fact he isn’t moving much at all. We decided it was safe to proceed and I inspected the seal a bit closer. He’s alive but barely. He is tagged with a Green Flipper Tag J839. Quin and I had just toured the Marine Mammal Center in Sausalito and they told us typically seals are tagged if they have been rescued and released. This guy was in trouble before. With our expert seal training not, we determined he was just one old seal and needed to rest on the beach. We left him alone and gathered Sally’s water.

So today’s count: 4 Deer-2 Female and 2 Fawns, a large Rabbit, Bald Eagle, and a an old Seal. That’s not too bad for a day on the beach. As I sit here, I wonder what God is up to? Why am I here and what does He need to teach me?

“Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.”
‭‭Psalms‬ ‭139‬:‭23‬-‭24‬ ‭NIV‬‬