Day 4 - From the Mountain to the other side of the Islands beach
..Considering yesterday was a long and physically demanding day, I was impressed with how well I did and how I felt afterward as I was pleasantly surprised I wasn't sore at all or really tired from the climb..
..Although the thought occurred to me that the Buffalo could come thru camp in the middle and trip over my tent as the Deer had done earlier this week, I had no problem sleeping at all that night..
..Without a definite plan yet on what trail I was going to take to get to today's destination (as I had a couple choices), this decision would be left up to the last possible minute due to not knowing how I was going to feel physically after the first day's climb and now the impending weather..
..When I woke up I could tell we had gotten some light rain overnight...It was a bit dark and gloomy while I listened to the last minute updates on the weather station..The current weather was very unstable and it appeared if we were going to get rain it could be measurable..
Plan A
.This was my first choice...I would take the Cape Canyon rd. right outside of camp and head down to Middle Ranch then down toward Ben Weston beach then across the coast range foothills to my destination of Little Harbor..
..This would be a more physical route and further in distance but also would offer more rugged terrain and the scenery to match..
..With possible rain though my thoughts were, this could turn into a nasty snot mud and rock trail where I might hate myself for even attempting this route with knowing the rain would be coming in and possibly hard...
Plan B
..The quicker more direct route (and the easier route)..
..This would be to head back 1.5 miles to airport road, then another 2-1/4 miles to the airport (3.75 miles)..From there I would take Escondido Rancho Rd. down to El Rancho Escondido then straight downhill for about 5 miles total (from airport) to the coast with a short jont of about 1.5 miles over to Little Harbor on the road..
..With the thoughts of possible rain, this route would be quicker and with the thought of spending a good part of the day drenched (and knowing the next day was going to start off with a 5 mile hill climb), I could load up on a good hot meal at the airport...This trip I was loaded up with protein bars only for a cold camp, hot protein as in a large grilled Buffalo patty and some carbs sounded like a proper plan for the trip.
...As I left the camp grounds and got to the crossroads, my decision got made so on to the airport it was..I wasn't to particularly fond of backtracking but the possible alternative could prove to be worse..
Hiker's Note:..There is a direct shortcut for hiker's over to the airport which heads out of the camp, straight down and back up a steep ravine..Some elect to avoid this route and go around on the airport road..
The safer and easier route?
..So off I was, back on my journey with thoughts of getting to my next campground as soon as possible while also thinking this would turn into a pretty boring route as it would be to simple and easy being a graded road and pretty much all down hill..
This would soon change..
..Not long after I was back on Airport Rd., I snapped this shot using my long zoom...This is Cottonwood Harbor and is where I would be going passed on my way over to my campsite destination...
..Enjoying the easy ride over to the Airport and really enjoying the scenery, my thoughts were on what I was going to order for breakfast when I came across the cattle guard near the airport..Just as I approached to the gate on the right side of the guard, I noticed a Buffalo Bull approaching the left side of the cattle guard...
...I had heard by several people over the past few days how they had only saw 1 lone Buffalo their whole trip (and previous trips) and it was at the Airport..I was feeling pretty happy about seeing the large number of Buffalo the night before and how close we were to them..
...Since I was so close to this Bull I figured I would snap a quick picture and wait for him to head down the fence line before I went thru the gate...Since it now looked like the rain clouds were not as dark and possibly breaking up, I had plenty of time to soak in my surroundings..
...I was putting my camera back when the Bull gave a deep snort at the ground and a hard look at the cattle guard...I thought to myself that I was far enough away but I should back up just so he didn't feel threatened..
..I was in a natural "Squeeze" with high walls on both sides of me on my side of the cattle guard..While I was backing up I kept an eye on him and to my surprise he gave another snort at the ground while putting one hoof on the first rail of the cattle guard..
..My first thought was he wouldn't try to come across the cattle guard as he hasn't been provoked so if I keep backing up slowly I should be fine but I did take a better evaluation of my immediate surroundings and planned my escape route just in case...
..The next thing I knew and to my surprise, he had crossed over the cattle guard and was headed toward me..With him and I within this natural squeeze, my boring ride quickly had some new excitement and one of us needed to move aside for the other...
..This is where my trusty bike and I temporarily parted company while I got the shot from above on the ledge..
...Hoping this was a lone Buffalo and I wasn't riding into the middle of the herd we had saw last night, I proceeded onto the Airport and got back to enjoying the scenery along the way..
(stupid camera)
..and I quickly arrived at the gate to the Airport..
..and on up the hill a little bit I was soon at the Hangar..
..and over to the DC-3 Grill..This is also the main tour bus, shuttle stop/transfer between Avalon and Two Harbors as well as the Flight Office located up stairs above the DC-3 Grill..
..I also ran into the Conservancy Ranger getting a fresh cup of coffee while making his rounds thru the Interior..
..I caught him on his way out and he smiled and said, "I see you made it"..It was quickly confirmed he was the Ranger I spotted the day earlier and just before I squeezed my bike thru the small gate opening..
..He was happy to take a few minutes and share with me the current local conditions ahead and I mentioned that one of their Bulls and I had just crossed paths and he walked across the cattle guard and was heading off in the other direction..
..He let me in on the fact that they had actually added rails into the cattle guard so the Buffalo could cross and that the guard was actually more of a wild boar guard...This particular Bull hangs out on both sides of the cattle guard and that's his territory..(I would later find out from another Ranger that this Bull's thing is to wait at the cattle guard for tourist buses and other unsuspecting travelers to come by..That's his thing)
..After talking to the Ranger I made it inside for an awesome breakfast that was worth every bit of it's price..I also got to do some tourist shopping as they have a nice little gift store inside this huge, rustic cabin type lounge area including a rock fireplace with swing out pot and all the tools to cook in the fireplace..There is also a large deck where you could eat outside too..
Planning ahead
..Thinking I need to also start figuring out my camping and trip plans for the next couple of days (None at this time), as well as getting a real time weather report and forecast, after breakfast I headed upstairs to the flight office (tower) as this is also a place to find out the schedules of not only the buses, but the boats as well as being able to make reservations for them and the local campgrounds too..
..After they made some phone calls down to Two Harbors and realizing this was right during the change of summer season to winter season, it was determined I could catch a boat from Two Harbors over to Avalon [MENTION=234733]10[/MENTION]:30 a.m. any morning..
..This would be perfect and would let me stay all the way out at Parson's landing the next night and not the local Two Harbor's campground..Nice place but I still wanted more of a rural adventure rather than being basically in town..So this would help me plan my route while riding down to tonight's campground where I could make my decision's this evening..
..Thanking them for all the information and help, I was back on my bike and headed out of the Airport, thru the next gate into the Interior, and onto the dirt trail headed to camp..
..It's all downhill from here..