Notice what is NOT on the bike? Yep, did not need the fork bags. All the food is in one of the rear panniers. Don’t really need a whole lot for just one night.
Of course, I had to decide where to go. It had to be someplace I could start from home. I wanted something that wouldn’t just be an out and back, but where the days would still be similar in distance. I settled on Schafer State Park. Where is that, you ask? Yes, it’s not a well known park (unless you did the Olympic View Road Race, which goes right by it…even then, you might not have noticed it). It’s on the Satsop River up away from Hwy 8 between Elma and Brady.
I’ve actually stayed here twice before. The first time was a shakedown overnight before I did the ACA Sierra Cascades bike route back in 2011. I was riding my Cannondale t2 (Stella). What I remember about that trip was that I had two flat tires (but had zero flats on the Sierra Cascades tour)! The second time was with Annette as a shakedown for our Selkirk loop trip (she rode Stella, and I rode Mama Cass because Tilmann wasn’t done yet).
Anyway, I left home just before 9:00am. It was cloudy and about 50 degrees. I knew it wasn’t going to rain, but it was going to be a bit windy, and not in my favor. Oh well…it is April after all. The first quarter of the ride was just getting out of town. As I was waiting for the light at Mud Bay and Kaiser, I saw Brian Koder in his pickup (likely going to Joy Ride based on the time). He waved and continued on.
I took Old 410 up to Hwy 8. I made a brief pit stop at the Kennedy Pond turn off (where we do dog gravel).
Hwy 8. Highway riding is not the quietest, but there is a wide shoulder. Just 7 more miles before I would be getting off.
Been here many times before.
Got of the Hwy at the McCleary exit.
Hmmm…did not bring my bear spray.
I was thinking I would stop for a slightly early lunch at that sandwich shop that used to be a Subway. Well, now that’s not there anymore either. There is another “cafe” on the other end of the building.
At the moment, calling it a cafe is a bit of a stretch. Currently, it’s more of a donut shop. In all fairness to Chrissy, it’s only been open for three days. She has big plans. In the meantime, the donuts were fresh, and she was very nice.
Sugared up, I continued along McCleary-Elma Rd. Sometimes, I think the Hwy is actually better. There’s not much shoulder on the old hwy. The speed limit is lower, but there is still quite a bit of traffic. At least the scenery changes a bit more. I got this view of the Satsop Towers (which I could have also gotten from the Hwy).
Like bookends for the trees.
Not long after the “town” of Satsop, I turned onto East Satsop Rd. This was the aforementioned race course, but in the opposite direction. That means it was a heart-thumping uphill instead of a screaming downhill. Oh well, it wasn’t a race today. I looked at the upcoming climbs after that one. That was the last one for today. I had about 6.something more miles to the park. Next climb was in 10 miles. I made one more pee stop before getting to the park (I always hate when I have to immediately seek out the restroom when I get to the campground).
Four miles later, I made it to the park road.
East Satsop is a nice rural road.
Made it! 47.4 miles.
My first thought was that I did not recognize the park at all. But, I remembered that the last time I was here, the camp host had said they were going to remodel the whole park. It must have been awhile before they started work, because it is all very new. The fire ring in my campsite doesn’t even look like there has been a fire in it!
First I headed to the Hiker/Biker site. Unfortunately, that loop of the park is still closed for winter. So I found a walk-in site in the other loop. I wasn’t sure if I had to pay $20 for the site because it’s not the H/B, or if I still paid $12. When I came in, there was no ranger in the building. After I set up camp, I walked back to the entrance building. I saw a park vehicle. The building was still closed, but the ranger was inside, and came to the door. I told him I was on a bike, but the H/B site was in the closed part. I asked if I needed to pay $20 or $12. He said $12 would be fine. But I only had a $20 and 5 $1 bills. He had closed out the till, so he said, just put $5 in the envelope. How nice was that? We chatted for a bit. He has done the STP several times. Nice guy! I told him I noticed the showers no longer take tokens. Washington State Parks has finally joined Oregon State Parks in having free hot showers!!! The shower building, being new, is very nice, including having heated floors!
I returned to my campsite. Oh, and the clouds completely went away. It’s still fairly windy, but warm.
Paved path to the walk-in sites.
My campsite. The park isn’t full, but there are quite a few people here. I walked over to the closed loop to check out the H/B site (there’s just the one).
It’s okay…
The East Fork of the Satsop
Where the park gets its name.
I think the loop that is closed is original park, as is the day use area. It’s much more rustic. I’m guessing there would be more mosquitoes over there. It’s a little early for them now.
Now for some dinner…
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