9/6 and 7-A Little Beach Bikepacking Trip

While I was still on the GAWR, my friend, Jana asked if I wanted to do a bikepacking trip on the beach…literally, riding our bikes on the beach from the North Jetty in Ocean Shores, WA to Moclips. I said, “Sure, why not?”

This would also include Jana’s border collie, Radar.

The one and only Radar!

Jana picked me up about 11:10. It’s about 90 minutes to Ocean Shores. We were timing it so we would hit low tide at 3:00 so we could get across the Copalis River on the beach.

We got to Jana’s friend’s house in Ocean Shores where we would park the car. We visited with Anna, then commenced with packing the bags on the bikes. Having just done this for 75 days, it didn’t take me long (even though I was riding Billy, my Priority 600X). I then held on to Radar while Jana packed her bike.

Billy is ready to go!

Jana getting her Esker loaded.

A mama and her fawn observed the process.

Well, it was about 2;45 by the time we were ready to roll. Unlikely we would hit low tide for the Copalis crossing. But, we’d deal with that when we got there. 

Rolling to the beach!

Jana had told me when she rode the beach earlier in the summer, she was doing about 10 mph. We got over to the beach. 

A little pushing to get to the hard pack sand.

We started riding on the hard pack. We were definitely NOT doing 10 mph! That was due to the pretty decent headwind. At first we thought that the sand just wasn’t as firm, but really, it was the wind. 

Radar would get to run for awhile, then he’d need to ride in the basket to not completely wear him out. We did a thing where he would run for 5 minutes, then ride for 5 minutes. After awhile, because we were going pretty slow against the wind, Jana let him run for 10 minutes. 

Basket time!

We came to Conner Creek. We saw one kid ride it. Jana rode it, then I did. It was pretty easy. 

About a mile later, we came to the Copalis River. It wasn’t low tide. To test how deep it was, Jana threw something in the water that Radar went after. He was very soon swimming. Okay, that was not going to work. We rode back down the beach. With the tailwind, we were finally doing the aforementioned 10 mph!

We had about 1 1/2 hours of daylight left. We would have to get off the beach at Copalis, then ride the highway to Pacific Beach State Park, which would be about 10 miles. We decided to ride back across Conner Creek, then find a place to camp in the dunes. Jana unloaded her bike. I watched Radar while she rode into Copalis to get more water. She wasn’t gone long. 

We got our tents set up.

My brand new Big Agnes!

We cooked dinner, and enjoyed the sunset. 

We only rode 17.3 miles, but it was hard work! If we could have made it across the river, we would have made it to Pacific Beach State Park. We were so close!

Day 2

We didn’t have to rush this morning. We had decided there was no reason to get to Pacific Beach or Moclips as it would just be gratuitous road riding. Also, since it’s Labor Day, people would be heading home, so more traffic. No, we just decided to ride back to Ocean Shores. 

When I got out of my tent to pee, I was welcomed by this.

Sunrise

Oh, and a friend!

She went to see if Radar wanted to come out and play (he was still sleeping).

We cooked our breakfasts while Radar dug around in the sand. Bikes loaded, we headed back to the hard pack.

Today there was very little wind, and it was fairly warm. I took the sleeves off my vest. Since we weren’t going that fast, Jana let Radar run for about 3 miles before having him ride in the basket for a break. 

Also, no cars. 

Way more blue sky today.

We passed a few parked cars, then got to the section where no cars are allowed. 

Of course, there were way more birds in this section. 

Fly birdies fly!

The tide was high, and the riding became much more difficult as we had to ride in softer sand. We saw there was a beach access road. Enough beach slog riding, we diverted out to the road. We rode a side road for awhile. Radar was even able to run as there were no cars. We looked at and talked about the merits of the various beach houses. 

Before long, we were back at the car for 14.3 miles. It was a fun overnight, and I think a bit harder than expected. It was really fun having Radar along. 

6/14-It Sure Is Harder on a Loaded Bike!

Today was all Palouse to Cascades. I was on the trail shortly after 7:00. I’ve done the trail up through the tunnel and back several times on a gravel bike. This was the first time I’ve gone up to the tunnel on a loaded bike (I’ve come down…very different). It was fine…at first. I stopped to take all the obligatory photos. 

The beginning

Nice little waterfall. 

About 4 1/2 miles in I came to the bypass trail. 

I actually did walk my bike!

The often photographed washout

The lovely bypass trail

One of the bigger trestles

Another one

I-90 way down there

I finally got to Alice Creek. Turns out it was 10 miles from the start, not 6. I’m so glad I didn’t go there last night!

I was really starting to slow down. I was stopping for a butt break every mile. It was so much slower on a loaded bike! I always used to say that I didn’t really notice the climbing, until we would be coming back down. Oh, I noticed the climbing today!!!

After what seemed like an eternity, the tunnel finally came in to view. There were quite a few people there. I sat with a young couple who were riding to Walla Walla and had a snack. 

After taking a photo of Wanda (her first time through the tunnel), I turned on my headlight, and headed in. 

I hadn’t put my jacket on. Kind of regretted that, but just told myself to embrace the cold because it was going to be hot on the other side. There were numerous people in the tunnel. Not too many bikes though. Mostly walkers and runners. 

I saw the young couple again at the restroom in Hyak. They were going all the way to Ellensburg today. From Hyak to Lake Easton was 18 miles further. I got back on the trail. Even though I was now going a few miles and hour faster, I was still stopping a lot. I did let some air out of my tires, and I think that helped. 

Lake Kacheelus (which we now know goes to Yakima, not Seattle)

Today’s deer sighting 

A bit after the lake, the trail surface became heavy gravel. It looks like they had recently regraveled it. It was not fun. 

This isn’t even the worst!

The gravel was really thick in this tunnel!

I saw a guy pull over to a picnic table a ways later. Needing a butt break myself, I stopped to remark about how horrible the gravel was. His name was Tom, and we sat and talked for about an hour! It was great! Little did he know, he saved my day. I really needed the break, and it was wonderful talking with him. We both agreed we could have talked all day. Another bikepacker rolled up. I asked where he was going. Turns out, he was at the start yesterday, but I never talked to him. His name is Dan, and he did it two years ago too. He’s hoteling this time, and not exactly following the route, but perhaps I’ll see him again. 

Tom!

Dan is filming his trip, and putting it on YouTube. 

I felt much better after the break with Tom. Now I just had about 8 miles to go. The thick gravel persisted for another mile or so, then it was back to normal, and I could pick up the speed. 

Yakima River 

Funky bridge over an arm of Lake Easton

One final tunnel for today.

I exited the trail at Easton. I could have taken a trail into the park directly, but I wanted to get a bit of resupply in Easton. There was a small grocery, and I got some snack stuff. Across the street was a burger food truck. The woman in the store said it was good. By now, I was starving. I went there next. 

I pretty much inhaled a “Mama burger” and a Sprite. Best burger ever!!!

The state park wasn’t too far. There was one of two H/B sites available. I’ve actually stayed on this site before. Best part was the hot shower!!! Now I can just relax. Don’t need to cook dinner as I’m still full from the burger (maybe a snack later).

Even though I was tired today, I know it will get better. I’ve done 100 miles in two days. That’s more than I usually do.