Heading Home

I left my curtains open so that I could see the ocean when I woke up.  I was up early and in my car headed towards home by 7 a.m.  I decided I wanted to drive the loop around Lake Quinault, which is on the southern edge of the Olympic National Park.  It took an hour.  Half of the road was a gravel road and had narrow bridges.

The view of Lake Quinault was beautiful.

I saw a huge gang of wild elk.

I stopped at Wolf Creek Tavern and Inn.  It is a historical site.  It was suggested to me as a great place to eat but it doesn't open until 5 p.m.  I stopped and took a photo.

Then I headed to Medford and my hotel.  I worked on my stories, updated my blog and watched the movie, "On the Basis of Sex."

Stories and Beauty

I woke up early and worked on stories for Song and Story Fest.  I had two of them shaped up by 9 a.m.  I had breakfast in the lodge and then headed out to conquer the day.  I went to the day use parking lot of Kalaloch Campground and headed down the hill in search of the Tree of Life. 

I started driving to Hoh Rainforest.  Somewhere between the 101 and the ranger station I quit conquering and started savoring. 

On the way to the rainforest trail I saw a black bear.

I started out on the Hall of Mosses trail.

I took my time.  I walked quietly and listened to the sounds of the forest.

I was in such a zen place I decided to also hike the Spruce Trail.

Another beautiful walk.

Back in my car I saw a gang of elk along the road.

I went into Forks to go to the grocery store and get fruit for lunch.  Then I headed to Beach 4.  My cousin said it was the best place to view tide pools.  Low tide was at 4:34 p.m. and I arrived at 4:15.  I headed down the steep hill.

The path down to the beach was treacherous for someone who has had three knee surgeries and one knee procedure.

The tide pools were amazing. The best I have ever seen.  I had the whole place to myself.

I went back to the lodge and wrote two more stories.  When it was dark outside I put in my air pods and went outside to dance under the stars!

Dungeness Spit to Kalaloch Lodge

Kathleen and I headed out to Stymies for Crab Benedict.  It was delicious.  We drove to the Dungeness Spit.  We headed down the hill.

The view from above was glorious.

We walked...

We looked at rocks...

We enjoyed the view.

When we got back to the house the septic tank was being pumped...ohhh...country living!

I bid good-bye to these good people and headed to Port Angeles.

I had lunch with my cousin Ardith who lives in a home with a view of the ocean and the mountains.  It was so good to reconnect with her.

From there I headed to Olympic National Park.  I passed Lake Crescent. 

I stopped at Ruby Beach, highly suggested by my cousin.

I walked down and crawled over the drift logs.  I crawled around on the rocks.

Then I headed to my hotel for the night.  I am staying at Kalaloch Lodge in a corner room with a view of the ocean.

I ate dinner in the lodge dining room.  I sat with a 59 year old woman veterinarian from the UK.  I enjoyed hearing the story of this stranger as we watched the sunset.

Hurricane Ridge to Murdoch Beach

After a delicious breakfast, Kathleen and I set out in her little red Fiat for an adventure.  We got some coffee and headed up the mountain to Hurricane Ridge in Olympic National Park.   Just the drive up was incredible.

When we got to the top we admired the view.

Then we headed down the road that was blocked off to cars.  We walked 1.6 miles to the end of the road and then up the snowy hill.

We wanted a 360 degree view of the mountains and ocean around us.  We got it.

Going back down the snowy hill was more treacherous but we made it.

Then we hiked back wondering if we would ever make it.   We did.  We ate lunch in the gift shop/snack bar looking out the window at the beauty.

When we left, Kathleen turned on the heater in the car and took the top down so we could smell the pine and hear the wind in the trees.

On the way down we stopped at the look-out to get a great view of the Dungeness Spit where we will go tomorrow.

We hadn't had enough beauty for the day so Kathleen drove us to Murdoch Beach.  We got a bit lost on the way and found ourselves on a private road called Dew Not Enter Road.  We did anyway.  We eventually found our way to Murdoch Beach and hiked down the hill.

This beach is covered....and I mean covered...with rocks. 

We looked for agates and fossil rocks.  We were rewarded. 

We headed home well-sated with beauty.  Jeff had teriyaki kebabs waiting for us when we got home. It was delicious.  I headed to bed before I fell asleep on my plate.  I am blessed to have such good friends.