Day Four - beaches, barnacles and bruises

Today was by far the best day yet and probably the easiest. We left ahead of schedule at 0740 and right from the start was the cable cars. 

My favourite part of being by the sea, aside from the sound of the waves, is the fog. The sky has been blue all day and the sun is warming me now, as I sit and take in the day.

After the cable car we went straight into ladders. 

Then 2 hours in the bog to avoid wading through a potentially dangerous river with the water levels so high. There were some new boardwalks recently installed in this section so it was fairly pain and mud free. It was so beautiful in the morning light. The green of the moss and ferns just glowing and the giant trees letting just enough light through to create beams of Gods light. 

It kind of looked like I was dropped into a scene from Jurassic Park and I almost expected a raptor to stick his head out from behind the lush ferns and have me as a snack.

I confess without a group and guides to follow I wouldn't get very far. I would be stopping at every giant tree and every overlook and every ladder. Not just to rest but to take it all in and try to capture it with my camera in all its glory.
The group ahead keeps moving forward and so must I.  I have bruises in places that I an unable to recall exactly how they came to be but if you can imagine the amount of sticky outy things we have avoided or the bitch slap branches we have barely missed perhaps you can also imagine how many we have been stabbed with, smacked with or fallen on. I'm wearing the knee bruises like badges of honour.

We made it to the beach for another couple of hours, first powering through heavy sinking sand then finding a rock shelf to walk on.... with some trepidation. Everything on the west coast trail is slippery... the rocks, the roots, the moss, the mud and the logs. The fog was thick along the coast and made for some exciting photographic moments for me. 

Snack time was beside a beautiful waterfall. I was loving the level ground and the lighting and more than anything the scenery. Thick cedar and spruce forest, driftwood on the sand, waves rolling in and a beautiful blue sky only slightly masked by the everchanging fog. There was a decent river to cross and we all agreed to barefoot it across. The water was ice cold so within seconds the little stones didn't hurt anymore, nor did the blisters or the hotspots. At it's deepest it was maybe knee high but still better to keep the boots dry.

After more beach walking, we went into the forest again briefly to climb a few ladders up to the lighthouse.

It was there we had a hummus lunch party and enjoyed the view. We had our usual banter, some  giggles, compared battle scars and talked about our blisters and soakers. Always checking the status of each other's wounds and "are your boots dry yet"?

After lunch it was a few more ladders and another slippery forest jaunt back to the beach. Not so far to go today. I would love to tell you what time we arrived at camp but quite honestly I don't even know what day of the week it is let alone the time. However it must have been quite early in the afternoon because we set up tents quickly and had time to nap and swim and still there was time to relax while dinner was cooking.

I took a power nap in the hot sand and took some pictures.

At our camp, Chris spotted a whale just offshore. Sitting here on a random buoy I found on the sand, I stared out at the water until I too spotted him. First I saw the blowhole spray, then I saw the body roll. We tracked it all the way to sea lion rock where there are hundreds perched there barking at who knows what. After much wildlife viewing dinner was served. A lovely dinner, pasta alfredo with broccoli. Some time spent  by the fire with tea until my favourite time, watching the sunset.

 Now I lay in my cozy tent and listen to the sea lions chatter or sing or grumble or whatever it is they are doing when the belch into the night... sounds like a frat house belching contest.
I walked on barnacles today, barefoot on the sea wall, to photograph the sun going down...stupid decision...my feet are itchy and burning and tingling. How will I sleep? Another pointless observation.. it's been 4 days since I washed my hair and it's so gross, it no longer moves. 4 days of sponge bathing in ice cold creek water and I don't feel as bad as I expected I would. Brushing our teeth every morning and night as per usual keeps a level of humanity among us.
An incredibly beautiful, scenic day today and a long one ahead for tomorrow...our longest day yet at 18kms.