Near Gold Beach

No internet last night so no post.  This will cover yesterday and today.  Yesterday I did close to 20 miles from Floras Lake to Humbug Mountain S. P. south of Port Orford.  Again there was lots of loose sand and some road walking.  All was pretty though.  I was happy to get a .75 mile ride up from the beach at Port Orford what's the local retired logger who brought me to the town's one grocery store.  I also enjoyed a strawberry shake at the coffee shop there in town. I had to double back a mile when the beach ran out because of a too-high tide just south of there putting me back on my nemesis, Highway 101. It really wasn't that bad though. Traffic was light and the scenery was good. nonetheless I stuck my thumb out and was lucky to get a ride to take me to last three miles to Humbug Mountain State Park.  The Hiker Biker Camp there was full of cyclists who all knew each other because they've been meeting up at camps like this each night from their points of origin far to the north. They were all going way South into California and even Mexico.  First thing this morning had me back on the highway for five miles to Arizona Beach State Wayside.  There was surprisingly little traffic though and the scenery was fantastic with a clear flowing stream on one side and forested slopes on both.  Several of my cycling friends from the night before called out hello since they passed.  When I got to the first beach access I gave it a good look and actually chose to walk the highway instead. By now I have a pretty good idea for what sand looks like and I can tell whether it's loose or hard. This was definitely loose and I didn't want anything to do with that anymore. The highway again was still sparsely traveled and the scenery was still great so it wasn't bad at all. At one point I had miles of wide shoulder and was above the beautiful beach the guide said to walk on so had the best of both worlds- t

Sixes River.  Doesn't look like much but was flowing out fast and was almost up to my waist. I put everything in a trash compactor bags inside my pack, which I brought for this purpose or heavy rain.  I also  unfastened my hip belt and got a stout walking stick from a nearby pile of driftwood. Trekking poles would have been handy today but I chose to go without them.  Shortly after this I have to cross the Elk River, which was only knee-deep.  Still had a strong current though.

Leaving Port Orford at Battle rock with Humbug Mountain, my destination, in the background.

Prehistoric Gardens.  A well-done old-fashioned tourist attraction on the highway.

he beach and firm footing!  About 19 miles of Road, Beach, and Forest Trail put me just north of Gold Beach here this afternoon for a stealth camp in the woods off some County Road near the beach.  From Gold Beach to the border is only 34 miles so I plan to be finished on Tuesday.  Apologies for the spacing on the pictures here. It's hard to manipulate this tiny phone screen.