6/25: Marin Headlands Day 1

Got up at 8:30 again. Slept reasonably well, but it got a bit moist during the night. Plus, I was sleeping on a slight incline so the sleeping bag would slip n slide down the Thermarest all night. I had some cold coffee and oatmeal, packed up and started toward the visitor center across the highway when I ran into a cyclist who told me that Rodeo beach, about 5-6 miles down the Coastal Trail, had water etc. That did it for me. I was going into the woods. An 11 mile hike toward Muir Beach. No hitching. That really raised my spirits a bit. My cell phone needed charging though, and I needed water.

I found a Mobile Satellite truck, of all things, at the visitor center. Good thing too, because there is not ONE power outlet ANYWHERE at that 'rest stop'. Luckily the truck had one, the guy who was literally sleeping there with the equipment (pic) let me plug in and I proceeded to write in the journal and let the phone charge as long as I could.

Turns out the satellite truck was contracted by the Fox Business Channel to do some stellar, I'm sure, report about tourism from the Golden Gate Bridge. The meat- puppet was a woman who reminded me of Nicholson's deformed girlfriend in the original Batman. Probably my own jaded perspective. I'm sure most guys would think she was smokin'. I kept my opinions to myself, of course.

Eventually the truck packed up and left, and I had my water: ready to hike off. That's just what I did. Over the big hill that separates the Marin Headlands from 101. The views got better, and so did my attitude. Felt GOOD to be out of San Francisco and back into nature.

The initial part of the hike was the hardest, and I was carrying alot of water making me pretty heavy. I was ecstatic at how my body held up, and the new inserts REALLY helped the blister problem.


Rodeo Beach was my goal for the day, but I got started late, about 1:30, and was unsure of the terrain or ANYTHING about the hike. Turns out, it was great. Once to the top of that first hill, it had the accompanying decline on the other side. Life was good. Along the way, I began to ponder the idea of how things seem to present themselves along the way, and how they seem to accompany the effort you put forth, and the openness of your mind to finding them. A bit of foreshadowing.

I was making good time, so when I saw three cyclists sitting by the side of the path, I just said hi and continued on, but seeing the Canadian flag, they hollered at me and asked me where I was from, saying they were from Montreal. I told them that was my ultimate destination, and that led to a short, but restful chat.

Shortly after that, the trail markings became less clear... few and signs that were a bit vague. I'd noticed on one that there was a hostel near Rodeo beach, so figured I'd aim myself in that direction. About the time the confusion set in was also the time I stumbled into some stables where a very nice, and attractive, woman offered some directions to me. Apparently the fact that I was spinning around like a top with a 50# pack indicated that I was a a bit... "confused"... I like that term.

I stopped to snack on a Clif Bar and realized that was probably half of my problem, then continued on toward the well- placed hostel, envisioning cheap accommodations and even a shower!

Ooops.

When I finally got there the Lisa Loeb look- alike at the counter informed me that it would be $21 to stay there. I believe she was offended when I laughed. She then told me about a free campground that was right around the corner. I laughed again, much to her chagrin I believe. I thought the whole idea of a hostel was to be affordable to travelers, rather than paying $21 to immerse yourself in some pseudo- hippie culture. No thanks.

Am I cynical?

I found the visitor center, registered to stay, for free, at the Bicentennial Campground and proceeded to hoof it past the Nike Missile Cold War- era nuclear weapon site. Reeked of death. Can't explain it, but it was creepy. I got to the site which was already occupied by two tents, with no people there. I set up my tent, and figured I'd have some company that night. Nope. I collapsed at about 7:30 after my day of hiking the hills! I woke up at about 10:00 when I heard them, but never did talk with them!