Sunday, March 18, 2018

PORT RENFREW LOOP, Pacheedaht Camp Veg Day

DAY 4, 07 23 2017
Rest Day, beachcomber style...

Got up early, spent lots of time enjoying this great camping experience with some photo moments. Had coffee dialed in as well. HWC wanted to go surfing but I convinced her to mellow out on a hot rock instead. She growled at first and then purred profusely.
After sufficient veging, we head up to "Avater Grove"
https://www.ancientforestalliance.org/directions-avatar-grove.php
http://www.ancientforestalliance.org/news-item.php?ID=33
The road was paved for most of the way but eventually got pretty nasty for a steel frame road bike. A steep gravel road with switchbacks and potholes. Not fun, but we were excited to be on an excursion. The weather was great too.
Once we got to the parking area, I cable locked Shirley and headed up the trail to the special tree. It felt pretty cool to be accessing this treasure via bike among a group of cars.  Avatar Grove has an upper section where the "Gnarly Tree" exists and a lower area that has a loop trail where you can see all sorts of old growth. Visiting Avatar Grove was a unique and enlightening experience. The trees were amazing. I kind of rushed the visit as I wanted to do other things.
On the way out, I encountered a vehicle that was selling T-Shirts and concert related things. There was a rock festival in the area earlier. " Tall Tree Music Festival" I bumped into this guy more than once. I didn't buy anything...
https://talltreemusicfestival.com/2017/about/

 https://www.portrenfrew.com/botbeach.htm
After some eats and a little snooze, I ripped over to Botanical Beach to take in some marine wonders.

I was here many years ago. At the time, there was a very rough "road" down to the tide pools. I was traveling from Ontario and saw this low clearance route and decided to take my old 77 GMC Vandura down. I got a little ways down, but had to pull over as the conditions were more monster truck friendly. Walked the rest.
This time I was on my bike and the whole area has been developed. It's a walking trail. It was longer than I expected. I aborted the mission as it was getting late so I turned around. Rats.
Went to the Cafe for overpriced eats, then some beer and junk at the general store. $40.00! Arrgh.
Back at the site for photos, beer and I made myself a cool "beer cooler"

This was a good day and I was so excited to re-visit Port Renfrew after many years.

Road to Avatar Grove. It was nastier than it looks.

99.9% of people drive to this trail head


Heading up

The Gnarly tree
Lower Avatar Grove bike parking


Tree Gnome

Me holding up a big tree, no charge

Forest

Another crazy tree
T Shirt guy.

Bridge out of old growth forest

Poser at my cool site


Beach to our selves

Beach spaghetti


Cats Ass poser

Storage cooler

View

Game of Thrones Reinactment

Hey look ma!

Chillin

Crab

View

Pacificat




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