We bummed around Port Townsend a little bit in the morning, visiting a playground up on top of the hill in the area called Uptown. Seems like everyone with money a hundred years ago lived up here while the sailors coming through did their drinking down below in town. Lots of big beautiful homes.
We didn’t make it far down the road before stopping for the day at Sequim State Park. Just a quiet play day hanging around the bus and hiking around the park.
Sequim’s town planner has a sense of humor.
Dungeness Spit was next down the road. A miles long sand spit growing out into the ocean thirteen feet a year. Right along the path down the bluff was a Bald Eagle preening in a tree. We played the typical Washington beach games, which do not in any way include getting wet, then started hiking back up. The eagle hadn’t moved the entire time we were down there, but then just as we were coming up on him he hopped off his perch, spread his enormous wings, and glided thirty feet over our heads with the sun filtering through the tree canopy around him. It would definitely have been the most incredible photo I’ve ever taken—if I had the camera in my hands instead of shovels and sticks. I actually mourned that missed picture for an hour or so.
I had half expected things to die down a bit up here on the 101—I expected wrong. Campgrounds are still full up, and just pulling the bus out onto the road is an exercise in patience. Inevitably I pull out just as a line of cars comes roaring around the blind corner. Before I’ve even reached fifty-five I’m pulling off on the shoulder to let the group go by. We’re really looking forward to September.
We made the hike up to Marymere Falls. Hike is a bit of a stretch, as the path was plowed and packed smooth, and wide enough to play soccer on. We got to the falls, nodded our heads, and soldiered on with the rest of the crowd. Waterfalls are almost universally underwhelming—with a few notable exceptions of course. Yet we can never seem to stop ourselves from making the trek out to see them.
At Klahowya National Park the camp hosts took pity and made room for us in their own camp space. That’s how crowded things are around here right now. This is a beautiful park with spaces along the river big enough to build a home on. We played in the river a bit, took a hike, and then watched as the kids fell asleep before I was even done singing them our goodnight song. We can always tell if the kids had a good day based on how quickly they fall asleep.
15 Comments on “Olympic Peninsula”
When I was a kid, Eagles were very much an endangered species…there was a real sense that they might go extinct. In short, then and now, I’ve never seen an Eagle…in the wild or otherwise. Just this past week, way down here in Kemah/League City there were photos of an Eagle and nest. Good on the Eagles.
Great family photos in front of the bus, love both of those!
Love the road names!
Great eagle pic.
Best wishes from “its hot as hell here” Florida
Mark and Cindy
If you want to see eagle overload i.e. “oh, another eagle…” go to Alaska. Prince William Sound is lousy with ’em. What got me were the nests. As big as an old VW Beetle.
You could look up at some trees along the sound and see 15 or 20 of them on branches, just watching the wold go by.
These are all great photos, but I love the one of Ouest posing in front of the Hiking sign. Very cool photo, made me laugh! 🙂
I also love the way you let your kids play on piles of things, and in areas that might be considered off limits to some parents. Your kids are learning lots of things most never experience. They will be able to make good choices when they are older. 🙂
What great fun. I’ve grown up in the Seattle/Tacoma area and now to go the University of Washington, and there are some wonderful places. As you work your way south there are more great beaches in Seattle, Gig Harbor, and on the Nisqually Refuge on the way to Olympia. I’m sure that many have offered, but I’d love to share my treasure trove of recommendations. Have a blast and enjoy adventuring here!
Such a beautiful family. 🙂
Ouest suddenly looks SO grown up!! Love the shot of the kids in the forest. 😉
Hey you two –
The Olypen only has three months of outdoor weather per year so yeah it’s crowded during that time. But – I highly recommend pushing northwest out to the Hoh Rainforest (yep) and La Push. You’ll go through Port Angeles which is a cute little town and has a great marine center on the water for the kids. Also has a ferry you can take over to Victoria, BC for a day trip. The rainforest, if I remember right is the only true rainforest in North America. Lots of Bigfoot sightings. 🙂 La Push is a great tiny little place on the ocean with amazing beaches you can camp on. Don’t know about driving on, we were tent camping. Beautiful place. Also if you go up to Hurricane Ridge in Port Angeles you’d get some great hiking, wildflowers and an amazing view.
Enjoy! Love living vicariously through you. Thanks for sharing.
So funny how many times our paths almost cross. We are in Washington right now also, and were in Port Townsend the day before you guys camped there. Small world!
Pencil in Pisgah National Forest on your calendar for this fall or next spring/summer if you want to take in the great outdoors and incredible waterfalls in the Southern Appalachians.
If you go out to Neah Bay let me know, I have family up there that can show you around.
Thanks, Ron. We were just there though!
Oh, almost forgot, when you go through Forks and or La Push, watch out for the vampires and werewolves!!! Your in Twilight country.
Hi, been reading your blog for years.
Grew up in the Sequim/Port Angales area. Good clam digging on Dungeness spit.
Brings back memories.
Dan