A Travis update – what’s happening and where is he going?!?

Just in case anyone is curious… I was definitely contemplating being done with my hiking for the summer, but then decided that I needed one more.  Just one more hike.  I swear I’m not an addict, I can stop anytime, I just need one more hit, I mean hike 🙃

So I’m planning to hike the Oregon coast trail, it’s 300-400 miles (depending on how you handle the highway 101 walking sections – hint: I plan to skip them).  I’m leaving on Sunday Sept 1st, will fly to Portland, get a bus to Astoria, camp at the state park there, and then begin my hike on Labor day, Sept 2nd.  The trail goes from Fort Stevens State Park (west of Astoria) to the Oregon/California border.  People generally hike this one north to south because the summer winds are north/northwest and will therefore be at your back the entire time.  Much of the trail is actually along the beach (Oregon beaches are public property!!) with some sections routed along inland trails, quiet roads and hwy 101.  I’ll be doing my best to skip the 101 sections as I have already biked that highway and have absolutely no interest in walking along it and trying to dodge the steady stream of traffic.

The best part of this trail… There are towns all along the Oregon coast, which means that almost everyday I will have the opportunity for ice cream. I might as well call this hike the “ice cream tour of Oregon hike” 🥰.  People who are less interested in ice cream (I don’t understand how that’s possible) but do care about things like coffee have labeled it the “coffee Camino”.  Choose your own adventure, I guess.

Wish me luck!!