Oregon Coast Trail Thru Hike Day 25

The last road walk.

That’s how I looked at the last stretch of the Oregon Coast Trail heading south out of Brookings.

Honestly there didn’t seem to be a point. Except that I wanted that picture of me standing by the state line. Next to the sign that said entering California.

So I threw on the pack and headed out early. Stopped off at McDonald’s in Brookings for a chemical breakfast of preservatives and caffiene with a side of wifi and walked, south. The directions were pretty straight forward. I crossed a bridge, got stared at by farmers doing early morning chores and passed Crissey Field State Recreation Site until I got to the border.

Photo opp like an idiot. #selfie And just like that I was done.

I hiked back to Crissey Field but they were closed. Which was a major let down as I was looking for more information on what was just across the border in California. Maybe I’d hitch down and see the redwoods. Instead of waiting for them to open I walked back out to 101 and tried to hitchhike for almost an hour. When that didn’t seem to be working, and a local bus was approaching, I flagged him down.

Only he didn’t stop. He kept going and I really didn’t want to hike back into Brookings for some reason. I think the mileage of the day before had used up my reserves.

Then an amazing thing happened. The bus turned around somewhere much further up 101 and came back for me.

“Didn’t think you wanted a ride,” he said. “Never picked up anyone at that spot before.”

He felt so guilty about not stopping that he only charged me the senior rate. 1$ to get back to Brookings.

“But then what?” I wondered.

“Oh yeah, that book back in Bandon,” I thought to myself.

Better get back there before it’s gone, and while I still have money to purchase it.