Pictures for Pam, Day 195: HFF: Deer Behind Fence!

(+2 insets!)

Hooray for a day without rain!!! *dances around the RV*

This morning Steve and I checked the forecast and the weather didn't include rain until tonight! We were so happy! No matter how positive we tried to be, it's a bummer to have bad weather ruining all of your plans for most of the trip. :P

We were ready for action and after our brunch we packed up and headed out to a trailhead about 15 minutes away, just north of Lincoln City. Once a well-kept secret hike in the area, the God's Thumb hike was recommended to us by a camp host as something we must not miss.

The only way to get to the trail is by following breadcrumb-like directions to traverse the steeply inclining but lovely streets and then finally to the trailhead which was at the end of a beautifully forested residential road. (One of my insets shows the gate and fence where the trail begins.)

The trail was absolutely INCREDIBLE! Gorgeous ferns and glowing green plants everywhere, mottled birch and ash-like trees crowded close to the trail and flowers were everywhere! We walked silently on the pine-needle and moss-covered path that led up and up and up, eventually coming out onto a breathtaking knoll that showed Devil's Lake off in the distance and a view of the ocean and beach as well. What a lovely view!

We continued on, descending down, down, down into a verdant valley that felt as if we must be in Jurassic Park! Horsetail ferns intermingled with many other types of unfurling ferns, lovely mosses climbed all the trees and were so soft to touch. Steve and I were in absolute awe of this place.

Eventually the trail led down and out onto a bluff which overlooked the ocean and there it was! "God's Thumb" is a basalt rock formation at the edge of the sea and the sight of it and the rough and rocky coast included a gorgeous beach far below for those bold and adventurous enough to make the trek town and back up again. Far in the distance on one side was a lovely bay, and the other side showed the seemingly endless beach which began around a long stretch of impassable rocky coastline.

Before we climbed up to the top of the "thumb", we found a spot out of the wind and ate our afternoon snacks, enjoying the lovely views and the splendor of the area. How lucky we were. I remarked, "This is why we have an RV!" Steve couldn't agree more…we were so happy. This hike was every bit as wondrous as our Coo's Bay hike. What fun. And so much more hiking like this will be in our future now, how awesome. :)

Climbing up onto the knoll which made up the "God's Thumb" afforded amazing, breathtaking views in all directions…we were overjoyed that the weather allowed us to do this incredible hike. It was absolutely spectacular!

As for heading back, we initially wondered if we could make our way down to the beach and walk back the several direct miles back to the truck. But that idea was out of the question. The impassible craggy, steep and greenery-covered coast would never allow a way to the beach which started probably a mile away. We'd be returning the way we came but we certainly didn't mind that we'd have to return the way we came.

On the way back, Steve discovered that he could do "wide-angle macros" with our Mark III and 24-40 lens and he had a great time capturing some of the lovely subjects we found. I was delighted for him, and hope that his pictures turn out well!

By the time we got back to the car we were both totally spent from the hours of hiking we'd done, but at the same time we felt fantastic. There's just nothing like the feeling of exercising yourself to the point of exhaustion.

We returned to the RV and had our espresso and dinner, and I'm now finished up the evening with this post before we watch part of a show with Pumpkin and fall asleep, so happy with our day!

OH YEAH, it's my day to post my Happy Fence Friday picture! I have THREE that I took today! On the way back to our car, we saw deer on a property behind a rustic fence! And at the truck I saw an opportunity for a fence and ocean panorama! And finally, there's a picture of the trail's beginning at the end of the residential road! I hope you like them all! :)

Pam, I enjoyed your info about tornadoes and the like--oh boy…I know all about fracking and it's so incredibly bad, where do you even begin. Seriously people, if what you're doing is making EARTHQUAKES happen when they never had them before…maybe you ought not be doing that? *sigh* Big money doesn't care. It's horrible. Anyway, here's hoping you had an ok day my dear! You're in our thoughts!! :D *BIG HUGS* from Devil's Lake! :)

Explored on 5/24/19; highest placement #4.