Heading South

With my right leg paddling in the ocean.

I spent Christmas eve up the Hoh River @ the XG @ the trailhead for Olympus. One other camper and several day hikers. Overcast & chilly damp. I hiked 3 miles up the Hoh to Tom’s creek then turned around. I noticed the Hoh is running clear instead of milky from glacier silt. Amazing amount of plant life from the highest evolved tree to nature’s bottom rung. What water will do. Amazing that I had 3 bar 4G reception way out in the boon docks.

Christmas day I continued driving S down US 101. I camped @ Ocean City WA SP just in shore of the transition zone. I walked out to the shore. Here vehicles are allowed on the beach. Flat land that holds the rain. There were water puddle issues in the campground. My $20 bought a shower. I gambled on $1.00 of tokens for a 6 min shower. After dinner I steeled myself for a chilly cleaning. Amazing: the water was hot almost @ once; Amazing: it wasn’t hot enough nor plentiful enough for a comfortable shower. Those aerating nozzles mix in too much air. To date coldest hot shower was Jim Thorpe, PA in October where I had to pull a chain to release a drizzle while in an unheated concrete block rest room.

I just read that scientists have determined that a human cold is not caused be getting cold. Also that any uncovered body surface radiates heat. The head is just square inches of surface area. With that I can’t comprehend bare legged women.

Today I rejoined US 101 heading South crossing the Columbia  into Oregon where they pump your gas and don’t charge sales tax. I bought a cooked Dungeness crab that was cooked on the 24. I asked her if she was able to tell any taste difference between just cooked and several days old. She said they all tasted the same. Was she truthful or was she selling me 2 day old dead crab? Tasted good for dinner here @ Cape Lookout Oregon State campground. I am even closer to the surf line. No vehicles allowed on OR beaches which are all publicly owned.

I am ready for the mountains. I am planning on crossing the Cascades thru Oakridge, OR and stopping to visit.

I have spent some time w/ the new Freehub mag reading and observing about me. Magazine devoted 12 pages, 9 of which had pictures of me. Thanks Brandon and Ben.

I have ringing in my ears.

Today I stopped in Tillamook for groceries. A major dairy food company shares the town’s name. Dairy equals cows which consume plant material in the front end and out the rear squirts the left overs. Dairy cow manure. I arrived w/ my windows rolled up. When I slid open the side door the odor smacked me upside the head. The odor pervaded the grocery store. I don’t imagine there are wine tasting events going inside. Tacoma had the aroma of Tacoma from the Kraft paper mills. Other towns have a distinguishing odor. Manure just turns my nose. And yes, I eat dairy so I am driving a consumption market and I buy Tillamook products.

Tonight’s campground is the most crowded so far. My newer Core doesn’t like being @ 0′. I calibrate the elevation to 0′ then watch the elevation climb. The older Core mimics the same behavior. I plan on visiting Death Valley which is below sea level. I am curious as to their elevation perception.

My right rear tire had a small leak. Today I found a Les Scwabb right on 101 and stopped for repair. No charge complimentary flat repair. Said there was a small nail.