2 - Ecola SP to Oswald SP

I heard rain on the shelter roof on and off throughout the night. I was disappointed to see it still raining when I woke up this morning.  Although, I had seen the forecast and knew it was coming.

Mr. E had already left camp and Ms. J was making breakfast.  I was up and out of camp fairly fast. I had run out of water last night in getting to camp and wanted to get some for both Xena and I soon.  I waved goodbye to Ms. J and her dog Denali and set off for a day in the rain.

The trail down was much nicer than the trail up. At the first parking area I stopped to filter water.  I got some funny looks. It was only a couple miles to the main parking area. In the main parking area I got more water from the tap and took a break from the rain under a picnic pavilion. Another short trail section and I was on the road to Cannon Beach. I am starting to dislike the roulette feeling of walking on narrow roads.

In Cannon Beach I waited out a heavier rain under cover in town. Just as I was leaving Ms. J walked in.  We headed out onto the rainy beach together. The stretch of beach from Cannon Beach to Arch Cape was fun. Although I could have given up the wind driven rains that put a damper on my spirit.

There are two points along this stretch that you have to wait for the tides to go around. The first was easy and we just timed it with the waves.  At Hug point the tide was too high and we had to take a break for half an hour. Then it was just a matter of avoiding the waves on the other side.

After leaving the beach at Arch Cape there was some more road walking.  It led us to this very well hidden trail head. I can see why. The trail was no more than a very overgrown old logging road paralleling 101. I guess it is better than being on 101. We took this until we crossed over 101 and entered Oswald SP.  The trail was back to muddy bogs, slick roots,  and a few down trees to keep you limber. The trail did improve in parts and we got some wonderful ocean vistas.

Near a high point I checked my phone about the camping here. According to Ms. J there is no longer camping in Oswald. Well, she was right. Now I was looking at another super long day. I wasn't sure what else to do other than to try to make it into Manzanita for the night.

I headed down trail and followed the signs to 101. Mistake! Even though I would eventually cross 101. This was the wrong trail. This one took me to the parking area about 3 miles north of where I wanted to be. While discovering my mistake I see Ms. J pop out from another direction. She detoured from the trail to meet up with her husband.

She told me how to get back on the trail.  Aftet feeding Xena I headed back up. It felt like this stretch was taking forever. By 8:30 I had not reached 101 yet. Xena was starting to lay down every time I stopped to check maps. There was no way I was going to make it into Manzanita by foot. I wasn't sure that once I got to 101 I could hitch into town so late with a dog. So I decided to backtrack about one quarter of a mile to a half way decent half way flat spot. I figured I could sleep and pick up camp before anyone knew we were here. So I did.

As I study the maps more and am realizing how much more difficult making a through hike of this trail is, I am coming to realize why people section hike this trail and skip the roads. It is making me rethink this whole idea. Hopefully a short day tomorrow will give me time to think and potentially replan. I also hope it will heal a blister I got from a clump of sand in my shoe!

Happy Trails,
Midnight Chocolate
and Sleeping Dragon