
I had an amazing time camping at Samuel P. Taylor State Park in Marin County (California) all by myself for 3 nights! Well, not quite all by myself.....there were raccoons, Lots of raccoons. The bushes all around my campsite were lit up with their mischievous glowing eyes. I could not turn my back for a second, or they would be all over the picnic table, trying to help themselves to my dinner. They didn't get anything though! My new raccoon proof cooler did the business. As for other campers, there were hardly any. I felt like I had the whole park to myself. This was what I wanted, even if it was a little eerie at night. 

It was raining off and on, which I knew it would, and I was prepared. This was my first time setting up a tarp over my eating area, and I was so glad I had it. I had practiced setting it up in my backyard before I went (highly recommended). I got to the campground around 1pm, and spent the remaining daylight hours setting up camp (and drinking hot beverages because it was a bit chilly as well as damp). I had lots of rain on my tent throughout the night, which I loved listening to.

I spent most of the first full day hiking around Pescadero Creek, where the Coho salmon were spawning. I was in awe to see so many salmon in the water! It was exciting! And the area around the creek was so beautiful. In the afternoon of that day I hiked one of the trails in the park called the Ox Trail, and got back to camp at dusk, just in time to fight the raccoon wars.

The next day I took a half hour drive to Point Reyes National Seashore and hiked the short trail to Kehoe Beach which was breathtakingly beautiful with its partially overcast skies and seemingly endless sandy beach. I walked a long, long way down the beach and never saw another soul. The seagulls were perfect gentlebirds, and didn't even attempt to bully me and steal my PB&J.

On the last morning I didn't want to leave, but I also didn't want to feel stressed or rushed, so I took my time breaking down and packing up. My tent rainfly and footprint were soaking wet, so I stuffed them in a big garbage bag and brought them home to hang out to dry before repacking. 

I am LOVING this whole solo camping thing. Seriously.  I really feel like I've gone from someone who had never camped before (a couple of months ago), to someone who semi- knows what she is doing. LOL. My next 3-day trip is coming up in 2 weeks!

Solo camping at Samuel P. Taylor State Park