yoga under the trees
Although today's hike was 3 miles longer than yesterday's, it was over much easier terrain. The thin, winding, uphill trails of yesterday were replaced by wide, relatively flat fire roads. Again, we were walking parallel to a stream. Day 2's trail was also much busier (that is to say, we saw about 8 other people), probably because it was closer to the beach and locals could more easily make the drive to the beach-side trail head. This hike, although different from that of the first day, was no less beautiful. We crossed many streams over wooden bridges, trekked under the same tall trees as we had on day 1, and enjoyed the sounds of birds and trickling water just as we had on day 1. We paused for a quick lunch stop along the way on a half dried creek bed, and then continued on our way.
A wooden bridge spanning a creek
On the way home, my family stopped at a little pie shop on the side of the highway called Pie Ranch. Pie Ranch is rustic little place, a wooden building holding three cozy chairs (one of which held a slumbering black dog), a wooden table filled with fresh and local produce, two more wooden tables displaying shirts and locally made soaps, and, of course, shelves of pies. Outside are more wooden tables at which one can sit and enjoy local vegetables or a pie or two :) The owners were extremely friendly and helpful. This is a stop I would recommend! We each bought a small pie, and the sweet treats were the perfect way to end a sweet weekend trip.
On day 2 of our Big Basin backpacking trip, we all woke early, made a pot of tea, heated scones, and did some morning yoga to stretch out the stiffness of the hike the day before. Then, once again packed and ready, we set out for an 8 mile hike from Sunset Camp down to Waddell Beach.
scones heated on the tea pot
The last section of the hike led us along a thick, rocky trail walled on either side by trees. Visibility is limited through the trees, and so we were surprised to round a corner and see, in the not so very far distance, the ocean. I, at least, had thought it was much farther away than it ended up being. We had arrived at Waddell Beach. Another ten minutes, and we were on the sand. My brother and I took a dip in the ocean, and the freezing swell served to, as the waterfall had the night before, re-invigorate us. After the swim, we set off in separate cars (our parents had come up in the Hawkeys' car, picked up our car from the Jay Camp Headquarters, and met us at the beach) for home.
At Waddell Beach! We shared the beach with many kite and wind surfers. You can see their sails in the background.
The bountiful fresh and local produce table