August 18, 2010 - Olympic Peninsula, WA

We are blessed! No other words for it…the opportunity to visit the Olympic Peninsula is a special treat!

From the ocean's edge at sea level to looking over and down on mountains standing at 5,200 feet, The Olympic Peninsula covers it all.

We stayed at the Sequim Elk’s Club for four nights ($16) and then moved to a Coast to Coast park at Diamond Point ($11) for five nights.

We drove the peninsula from end to end—from quaint Port Townsend out to Neah Bay on the Western front. From beaches up to Hurricane Ridge to look out over the Olympic National Park’s mountains.

We started for Neah Bay with sun shining in Sequim, but picked up fog in Port Angeles. The fog played hide and seed with us as we drove west on Hwy 112, the scenic route to Neah Bay.

I understand what poets mean when talking about fog creeping in on cat’s feet. The fog teased us, coming in to blanket one scene while opening up to show us another.

We drove up the 17-mile highway to Hurricane Ridge. The fog played with us there too. We saw some fog going up, but arrived at the top to a beautiful sunny day.

It was too beautiful for words. Within 30 minutes, however, our friend Mr.Fog slipped in to hide the snow-covered mountain tops—and all the views. From sky blue to gray within minutes.

We also drove up the Elwha River valley to re-visit two National Park Service campgrounds, Altair and Elwha River, that we camped in about 20 years ago…(where has the time gone?) and see the Elwha Dam that is being removed in 2011 by a joint project of the Park Service, the Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe and the Washington state government.

The dam will be removed to restore the river to “save” the salmon runs that come up the river. I wondered about what will happened to all the lake trout that call the reservoir home?

I guess the lake trout don’t have any supporters to save them before they are flushed down the river to the sea.

It is a beautiful lake; I have remembered the sight for 20 years. I will be sad to see it drained.

And of course, we can’t forget visiting the local boat harbors.

No, we didn’t fly to Los Angeles, CA for a few days. John Wayne’s family really did donate 22 acres of waterfront land in Sequim Bay to the City of Port Angeles for a public marina. He enjoyed sailing his boat, the Wild Goose, in the Puget Sound and while anchored in Sequim Bay, he thought it would be a perfect spot for a marina.

It is perfect. It’s a safe and protected harbor in a protected bay. While checking out the boats, Larry fell in love with this little cruiser.

See all those surfaces--on the hull and house--that require someone to wash and wax it? No Way! Enough with this truck and camper! But I am not mean; if he wants a boat, I I offered this boat—less maintenance for Carol to do—just a dab of paint every five years!

No washing or waxing required. (No, not the blue one.) Room for just one person—perfect! I could go for this one. Isn't’ it cute?

The weather turned quite warm in Sequim, it was over 90 degrees all weekend. Where was the fog when we needed it? We ran the air conditioner several days and nights. We are moving on to Hoodsport, WA, for a few days. This morning the fog returned. Oh, I do like that cool fog!

Have you ever seen the inexpensive Northwest weed whacker? Guaranteed to keep your green weeds down. Saw one in use by Diamond Point RV Resort for trimming the green dandelions:

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Check back in a few days for news from Hoodsport, on the Hood Canal, Washington. More water and mountains…life is beautiful.