We scurried away from the heat and headed toward the coast.
First stop- Willapa Hills trail. We decided to hit the far West section of the trail for a quick 10 mile out and back near Raymond, WA. We did this by bike so it wasn't a "hike" but we are still able to report on trail conditions.
The section of trail we did was mostly paved and flat with a few short spans of small gravel, that would be suitable for all ages and abilities.
Scenery included the metal art of the "Raymond Wildlife Heritage Sculptures Corridor". Just as we rode past a metal deer in this area, an actual deer bounded out of the trees and onto the trail in front of us then continued up the trail until it finally bounded back into the trees.
Next, we headed to Long Beach. Temps in the low 90s as we approached. We parked at Beards Hollow (77 degrees), pleasantly surprised to find parking since we didn't arrive until 12:45pm, and rode North on the paved Discovery trail. It's a slight downhill grade as you leave the parking lot toward the shore. A minute or two into the ride an "uphill" e-biker, was craning her neck back, talking to her group when she came veering right at me. Fortunately, she looked up just in time to correct her course and avoid contact, apologizing as she did so.
The e-bike rental business is clearly doing well, so many buzzed passed us. A 100% increase (from zero), since we were last here. With the rolling terrain, blind corners, and the speed of e-bikes, a bit of caution goes a long way in avoiding a day-ruining encounter.
We rode a bit then spent some time on the beach soaking in the scenery including a bald eagle on one of the eagle perches they have set up along the shore. We continued our ride North to the main part of Long Beach before heading back the way we came.
Final stop- Fort Columbia SP. This was not a planned stop, just saw the sign as we headed toward home and decided to check it out. Its hilltop location is perfect for the batteries. A group with several children were having a blast exploring the grounds. There are also historic buildings on site, two of which can be rented for overnight stays.
We survived the heat, mainly at Long Beach as it didn't take much distance inland before we were back in the heat. Overall great day on paved trails and the sand.
Comments