Adventure is one third anticipation, one third execution, and one third remembering. These snippets of memory don't seem to do the middle third justice, but Olympic definitely checked all the adventure boxes. This trip was also a testament to the wonders of natural wool, and man-made GORE-TEX. Thank the good Lord for both. Winding our way from Port Angeles to the entrance of Olympic National Park, fresh with adventure and the beauty of the Pacific Northwest covered in a layer of snow, Lake Crescent couldn't be a more perfect welcome to this gem of a park. Lunch in La Push. We enjoyed chatting it up with two local ladies who gave us hike suggestions for second and third beach where we were greeted by gulls, low tide, and sunshine. After a night spent at Minnie Peterson camp ground where the only voice we heard was a Bard Owl, the next morning included coffee in the Hall of Mosses, and a hike along the Hoh River with a lone trail runner and heard of Roosevelt elk for company. Ranger Todd would have talked for hours - with no working heat or telephones in the ranger station, and apparently very little human company. He told us about his morning sighting of a bobcat fishing and his love of all things National Parks. Ranger Todd was cool. I wish the world had more Ranger Todds in it. Ranger Todd suggested Mount Storm King as the best mountain hiking since Hurricane Ridge was closed, and once again Ranger Todd scored more friend points. We enjoyed lunch at the top with a couple from Pennsylvania, trekking across the country in the back of their Jeep - committed conversationalists with stories from their adventures. Bogachiel State park served us well the last two nights, and Forks Washington lived up to its title as the rainiest town in the contiguous United States. But "The In Place" had good burgers, and was a warm, dry place for writing postcards, drinking tea and washing our hands in warm water. It's the simple things in life. One last hike before winding our way back through the rugged beauty of the Pacific Northwest, back to Port Angeles, and of course a ferry ride to Seattle through the Puget Sound. Pizza and a hotel room never sounded so good.
It only took us two hours to realize the air-conditioning was turned on in the hotel - a good sign of adjustment to the conditions we had enjoyed. But the heat was nice once we turned it on. Here's to more adventures with you, Jennifer!
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Naomi JoyI was born a month early, and to the surprise of my parents, I was a girl! Archives
June 2023
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