Heceta Head

71.1 km today, 983.5 total

Set off about 1030 this morning, lounging in bed
studying Spanish and listening to music. It was a
slow easy day, with many brief stops at various
beaches and parks to admire seastacks, tidepools, and
ocean vistas.

I stopped at a small grocery across from Seal Rock
State Park for "3 hotdogs for $1.75" and a soda, then
headed across the to the park for views of the many
large rocks projecting from the sea, and a dead seal on the beach.
Also stopped in Waldport to mail home the couple of
Adventure cycling maps I'd brought along, since they
were for regions I'd already covered, and also got
some groceries, ice cream, check my email, and to stop
at the liquor store to fill the empty flask I'd been
carrying along. I decided on rum, since it's
recommended by 9 out of 10 pirates, and it also
reminds me of my time traipsing about the tropics on
my bike in Belize. It also serves a dual purpose.
First it gives me something to offer as drink if I
ever end up camping with others (although other
cyclists have been scarce so far), and also has a high
enough alcohol content to double as stove fuel, if I
run out of the other, less expensive but non-drinkable
stuff.

I arrived at the campground, Carl G. Washburne State
Park, a bit before 1700, and headed off to Heceta Head
lighthouse, staying there until sunset, talking to a
photographer from Sequim, who showed me the "famous
photography spot" up the hill behind the lighthouse
plus a couple from the Bay Area, and another older
pair from Pennsylvania.


Heceta Head


Returned to campground as darkness fell, cooking
dinner and discovering I'd apparently left my soap at
the last campground, so had a soapless shower. Better
than nothing I suppose.

I then spent some time in a vacant utility site, to
charge my electronic devices, admiring the moonbeams
shining throught the mist between the trees, the moon
almost full and quite bright.