Day 1 of the PNW USA trip also included a visit to Caffe Laddro along Union Street:

A plain latte in my mason jar.

Nice.

It was alright - it’s no Culprit Cafe, but it ain’t horrible either. Clean enough, with a couple of crumbs, and friendly service. I’d come back in a pinch… [SIDE NOTE: As I’m writing this, I am suffering from caffeine withdrawal – chills, intestinal discomfort, headaches… I tried to go a day without coffee at work and I swear I almost DIED.]

This was enough to carry me through the 2 hour drive in bumper to bumper traffic from Seattle to Seaside, where we were staying. The highways got super dark, and it started to pour. H took over the driving after, I was clearly going to be a hazard. How do people drive so fast in such low visibility?!

We also drove over the Astoria Bridge in the dark and there was no time to make a pit stop, so no pictures. It really felt like a never ending bridge… One of the longest, most awesome bridges I’ve seen in my short time in this world.

I'm so impressed by your brave drivers and America sized things.

Didn’t make it all the way up to Tin Hat Hut. We were about halfway there, but a series of unfortunate (preventable) events occurred.

First, we were late for the ferry. Then, we didn’t have enough gas, because there wasn’t enough time.

We took the Dixon Road, as described here: http://www.clubtread.com/routes/Route.aspx?Route=998

Veloster Turbo cannot handle gravel roads… I was clenching my hands and starting to sweat. Some websites advertise 1 hour drive to get to the trail head, but I suppose, not in a low vehicle.

The first wooden sign along the road:

A 4x4 pickup drove by just before we reached this sign – the driver was laughing.

This was the sign where we decided to turn back (about halfway there):

The drive along the logging road isn’t very nice, no views, logging trucks rumbling by, and rough, jagged terrain.

After turning back, we tried to hit up the SCT via another route… Rainy Day Lake was the destination. We made it to here:

Again, bumpy gravel road that the Veloster could not handle. We gave it a good try, but we had to turn back. Ended up on an empty camp ground, sleeping in the car after a dinner of Mountain House Macaroni and Cheese:

This was quite delicious and extremely simple to make – add water and mix. Lots of cheesy flavour (cheese addiction is a real thing, if you haven’t heard already). I would get this again.  8/10.

Here are some other links to Tin Hat that I found:

http://sunshinecoasttrail.com/tinhat.html

http://www.clubtread.com/routes/Route.aspx?Route=998

http://www.sunshinecoastcanada.com/blog/232-52-weeks-of-trails-week-50

 

I bought the Sunshine Coast Trail Hut-To-Hut Hiking book. All set for next year. BETTER WATCH OUT.

We hiked to Skookumchuk Narrows, and passed by Brown Lake:

We went to both North Point and Roland Point. Roland Point has a closer view of the rapids and kayakers were using this spot to enter the water:

These rapids only occur at certain times, when the tides are right (there’s a tidal schedule somewhere on the Internet).

You probably can’t tell what’s in the titanium pot on the right (H bought this pot for $70. SUPER lightweight), but we had instant noodles in there. Sardines to top off the noodles.

H was covered in sweat during this hike, possibly because he wore his Patagonia down puffer jacket the whole way. It was an easy hike.

Here a few places to look for hikes along the Sunshine Coast:

http://www.sunshine-coast-trails.com/

http://penderharbour.org/Recreation/Trails/trails.html

http://www.sunshinecoast-trail.com/

http://www.sunshinecoastcanada.com/hidden-gems/sunshine-coast-trail

 

We went to pick up groceries at the IGA at Madeira Park afterwards for dinner:

Cedar Creek wine, tortellini, spinach, pepperoni sticks, and crushed up Ruffle cheese chips.

We still had not yet discovered a good coffee place. Coffee on the coast is watery and not effective. Will bring my own next time.

Not quite the middle, but we were on the side of nowhere. We still had data.

Enjoying the view at brunch, before hiking to Skookumchuck Narrows. I need a waffle maker to make bacon waffle benny’s.

We booked this place through BC Ferries, so it included the ferry ride over for $360. TripAdvisor review here.

I need to try harder to keep this up to date. Things sure have changed! I think I’ve found somebody to travel with and have dinner with and maybe breakfast and lunch, but definitely, dessert, and get fat with. 

 

3 months ago – St. Mark’s Summit

2 months ago - We drove along the Bow Valley Trail and the Icefields Parkway to see what we could find. I think we discovered a lot, and not just the Columbia Ice Fields (top) or Peyto Lake (bottom). What’s the name of that rock in the middle photo?!

1 month ago – Cheakamus Lake

Places to look forward to - Elfin Lakes, Mount Cheam, Mexico?!?!