Kalaloch Campground Olympic National Park Forks, Washington

Mileage:  50,005

Still raining this morning…autumn in the northwest!

The town of Forks is the setting for the Twilight Series.  There are tours and posters and bookstores all devoted to the theme. We stopped there for coffee.  As I stood in line the sun shone between the clouds and I saw a double rainbow.  The picture captured only 1.  From that point on the day just got better and better!

It was a short distance to Kalaloch Beach.  We arrived early in the day, just as other campers were leaving.   It is a good thing too…this is one very busy and popular place.  Our campsite overlooks the ocean.

We packed a lunch and walked the beach.  What a pleasure to walk on this wide expanse of sand!

There were lots of pieces of sand dollars and then, a few whole ones.  Instead of collecting them and crushing them, I just took pictures and left them for someone else to enjoy.

We walked about a mile and a half to the north before the beach became impassable at these rocks.

This pile of shells was from a birdy crab feast!

A sea otter feeding in the surf.

All afternoon I sat with a book alternately reading and watching the waves roll in.

The sunset was glorious!

 

 

 

 

Mora Campground Olympic National Park Forks, Washington

Mileage:  49,958

It rained from dinnertime yesterday through the night and into the morning.  I wasn’t even sure I wanted to get out of bed…much less move the RV.  As we had our coffee the skies began to blue and we were on our way.

Mora Campground wasn’t a far drive.  This campground is a little older and not necessarily designed for RV’s of our size, but we found a nice site and settled in.

We went for a drive to Rialto Beach.  Some sand and lots of rocks.  There was a ridge that you could walk on to the sand spit.  The going was rocky and covered with very large driftwood.

Tim made his way right up.  I picked my way and navigated more slowly.  Suddenly I was at this impasse…all by myself.

I wasn’t sure that I should try it so I sat on a log and watched the ocean.

Tim is way out on the spit.

Tim up on the ridge.

Tim caught me running from a wave.  I had been looking for shiny pebbles…I did NOT get wet!

The town of La Push across the water.

We made our way back to the car and drove to La Push.  This little town sits on the mouth of the Sol Duc River.  There was a restaurant on the water and we stopped for lunch.  We watched the gulls and some seals cavorting and feeding.

The rest of the afternoon was damp and dark here in the big trees.  A good day to read and relax.

Van Riper Resort Sekiu, Washington Day 2

The ranger at the Olympic National Park Visitor’s Center on Tuesday told us about a hike at Ozette Lake.  The trail is called the Ozette Triangle.  Three miles on the Cape Alava Trail, three miles along the beach, and three miles back on the Sand Point Trail.  We packed a lunch this morning and headed out to do some hiking.

The 1st  three miles was mostly boardwalk with lots of steps up and down.  We walked at 2 miles an hour.

The trees are enormous!

We arrived at the beach.  At home the beach is white sand.  Here the beach was filled with all sorts of obstacles.  Rocks and more rocks large and small, logs to climb over and logs to crawl under, and lots of sea grass in great heaping piles.  Three miles of navigating over, under and in between.  The tide was low at 10:30.  High tide was at 4:30 pm.  At high tide the trail is impassable at huge rock outcroppings.  There are steep emergency trails in the woods…but the goal is NOT to be there at all when the tide is high.  We were able to complete the stretch in 2 hours finishing at 2:15 pm…the tide nipping at our heels.

The views of the water.

There are two seals out on the rocks.

The third side of the triangle.

The forest is filled with dampness, mosses, ferns, mushrooms, fungus, and slugs.

We were tired and ready to be done by the time we got back to the car.  I am very glad we decided to do the whole 9 mile hike.  It was a challenge for us but that is okay…that’s part of the adventure!

Van Riper Resort Sekiu, Washington

Mileage:  49,878

It was a chilly, foggy, misty morning.  We followed winding roads along the coast of the Strait of Juan de la Fuca.

The Olympic National Park protects old growth forests.  Some of the trees here are 200-1000 years old.

Some fall colors.

There are signs along the water warning not to harvest or consume shellfish from this area because they may contain biotoxins

The fog was gradually beginning to lift as we pulled into the campground.  The view of the harbor.

Seagulls waiting as this fisherman cleans his catch.

Our afternoon adventure took us to Cape Flattery.  The road follows the strait.

This is the most northwest point in the contiguous United States.  There is a hike through the rain forest to get out to the point.

The sea caves and the bluffs were amazing!  This is the Pacific Ocean.

And then a drive along Hobuck Beach.

Walmart Port Angeles, Washington

Mileage:  49,820

We left Dungeness and traveled to the Olympic National Park Visitor’s Center in Port Angeles.

The ranger there was very helpful, he told us all the places we should try to see while we are in the area.  We left with maps and pamphlets in hand.  The first drive was from the parking lot 17 miles to Hurricane Ridge.  We unhooked the Jeep and left the RV behind.

We didn’t have much view from the mountaintop because of clouds.

We did see olympic marmots and black tailed deer.

We went out to dinner at the Coyote BBQ Pub.  The food was delicious!

A walk along the water in Port Angeles.

Home for the night.

 

Dungeness Recreation Area Sequim, Washington

Mileage:  49,813

Our good friends Pat and Ray told us that we must see Olympic National Park on The Olympic Penninsula in Washington.  Tim said we should take 5S around Seattle and across to the scenic byway.  I looked at the map and said that we could save a lot of time ad have a nicer ride if we took the ferry from Coupeville to Port Townsend.  I was able to book the RV and the Jeep for the 1:15 ferry.  We left early in the morning thinking we would have time to explore the town before our ferry left.  It was a lovely ride.

There had to be fish coming under this bridge.  There were lots of boats in the water and fishermen on the shore.

We arrived at the Coupeville Ferry Terminal at about 10am.  The guy had us pay our toll and told us we probably wouldn’t have to wait for the 1:15 ferry.  He thought we might get onto the 11:45 boat.  Suddenly they were waving us forward.  We were on the 10:15 ferry!

We arrived in Port Townsend and continued on to Dungeness Recreation Area is Sequim.  We set up camp and packed a picnic lunch.  We were headed to the beach!  This is a National Wildlife Refuge.  The spit is formed by the wind and waves carrying soil.  The large pieces of driftwood and then plants hold the soil in place.  The spit is growing 13 feet each year.  It is a migration and nesting area for all kinds of birds.

We could feel the ocean spray on our skin.  The breeze was soft and mild.  The ocean sounds different here.  As the waves recede you can hear the stones tumbling against one another.

Later in the evening we walked along the bluff.

This was the best day we have had in a while.

Bellingham RV Park Bellingham, Washington Day 4

Some days a lot of patience is required.  Today was one of those days.  We were not really able to make a plan because we were not sure when we might get news regarding the Jeep.  We were supposed to check out of the campground at 11am.  I talked with the campground owner.  He was willing to extend our checkout time until 1:30 or 2.

I called the Jeep dealer at 11am and they had the parts and they were just taking the Jeep into the service bay.   He estimated that the Jeep would not be ready for several hours.

We were able to stay at Bellingham RV Park.  The owner had to move other reservations around in order to accommodate us for another night.

The Jeep was finished at about 2:30.  We went to get it and we took it for a good ride.  We checked the belt and checked the fluids.  Ok, good to go!

 

Everyone we encountered was helpful and kind.  We have a lot to be grateful for.  Not just today but each and every day!

Tomorrow the journey continues!!!

Belingham RV Park Bellingham, Washington Day 3

It rained all night and it was raining this morning.  The rain lessened and we thought we would try to get out on our bikes for awhile.  It was sprinkling when we left but it stopped as we continued our ride.  We cycled down to the waterfront in Bellingham.

We rode around downtown looking for a potential dinner restaurant.

We saw a sign for a Greek festival and we made our way to Saint Sophia Church.  We shared a gyro before continuing back to the campground.

Just as we turned the corner to the RV the rain began again.  It did not stop all day.  I spent the afternoon with Desiree getting my hair cut and styled.  We actually had a cable TV connection so Tim got to watch football.  Go RAVENS!!

We went to dinner at Jalapenos Mexican Restaurant.  I had a Big Mama margarita and yummy Hawaiian shrimp fajitas.  Tim had Dos Equis and chicken fajitas.

Not sure yet what tomorrow will bring.  We are at the mercy of the Jeep dealer and the weather.

Bellingham RV Park Bellingham, Washington Day 2

Today is day 100 of our trip.  Yes, we miss friends and family!  Yes, we are still having fun!  Yes, we still like traveling together!

Several people had told us how beautiful Mount Baker is.  We decided to take our Chrysler on a field trip.

It was misty and cloudy but it was still a nice ride.  This area is a rain forest.  The vegetation is thick and very green.  Mosses cover the rocks and the tree trunks.   Dense patches of ferns litter the forest floor.

We took a short walk to Nooksack Falls.

At the summit…this was the view.

What the view looks like on a sunny and clear day.

We stopped at a farmer’s market on the way back.  Delicious strawberries, beets, melon, and tomatoes.

Tim rested at the RV while I made the grocery run.  The store was mobbed.

When I got back we got to FaceTime with David and Andrea, Oliver and Austin.

Kyle called  short time later.  Talking to the kids was the best part of our day!  We miss all of you!!

Fresh silver salmon for our dinner.

Bellingham RV Park Bellingham, Washington USA

Mileage:  49,701

We left Lynden this morning and traveled through farming country to get to the “big city” of Bellingham.

We dropped the Jeep off at Rairdon Jeep and took the RV to the Bellingham RV Park in town to wait for the diagnosis and plan.

We took our bikes out to ride.  I decided to follow the signs that said fresh salmon ahead.

It was  a nice ride along the Bellingham Bay.

This guy was selling salmon in his backyard.   We was selling the salmon he caught yesterday…whole…oh…

He agreed to gut it and filet it for me for a fee of $2.00…totally worth it!

When I got back to the RV Tim had already talked to the Jeep dealer.  They problem was with the tensioner and the part had to be ordered.  They could get it Monday.  In the meantime, they would pay for us to have a rental car and everything would be covered by the warranty.  Enterprise came to deliver our car.  A Chrysler 300.  It reminds me of the car my grandfather always drove.  It is nice and comfy and new and free and we don’t have to be stuck at the campground all weekend!

We took it for a scenic ride on Chuckanut Drive.

We headed into downtown Bellingham for dinner.  We heard there was live music at the Boundary Bay Brewery and Bistro.  We shared appetizers and then went outside to listen to Ebb Shack and Flood.  This is a band that did not fit neatly into any particular genre but I would say they were a mix of funk, reggae, and jazz.