After spending so much time in the rural areas along the west coast, it was a bit of a shock to come into a city - but Seattle really was a cool city in which to spend the day. We tried to take the ferry out of Port Townsend to go up to Whidbey Island but they were sold out for the day, so we decided to head directly to Seattle instead. We ended up taking the ferry into the city out of Bainbridge Island. It was a cool perspective coming into a city from the water and it kind of blew my mind how much they utilize the Sound as a taxi to get people around the area. Both Will and I kind of fell in love with this area and we really enjoyed the city of Seattle. Of course we went to Pikes Market and we saw them slinging fish, we hugged the huge pig, we checked out the gum wall, and we ate a lovely seafood dinner at a restaurant with a view of the harbor. That night we caught up with some old friends who live just outside of the city and Dylan relished in having some kids to play with for the night. They were kind enough to offer us a bed, laundry, showers and a lovely evening together.
0 Comments
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO WILL! What better way to celebrate your birthday than on the adventure of a lifetime...and even better then that, spending it on the Puget Sound in search of Orca and other marine wildlife. We took a 5 hour charter out of Port Angeles, Washington and were incredibly fortunate to find 2 male members from the J pod of the resident Orca pod. It took us about 2 hours to motor out to where the Orcas were located and we were able to stay with them for about 20 minutes. It was a beautiful experience, especially since this pod is down to only 75 members and they are struggling to thrive. On our way back to port we came across about 5 humpback whales, two of which were quite close to us. It was a beautiful experience which we will keep with us for a very long time.
From rain forests to waterfalls, from mountains to ocean, the Olympic National Park has so much to offer. Having explored it for 3 days, we would have gladly stayed longer. We saw millipedes, more banana slugs, rabbits, and a dead whale that washed up on the beach The smell on said beach was not the most agreeable but the colors on the rotting carcass were surprisingly beautiful.
One thing we were told to check out was the Kaloloch Cave Tree. Down near the campground, a trail leads to the beach where the bank have washed away yet this evergreen (possibly western hemlock) tree remains alive and vibrant. This harsh condition has now created a cave below the root ball of this tree. The ranger of the area asked us not to climb on, hang from, or build fires underneath the root ball. We were saddened, but not shocked, that she had to say this. We knew that one of the most important things for us to do in southern Washington was to visit Cape Disappointment. The fog horn off the coast was necessary as we hiked to two different and distinct lighthouses. The bar where the Columbia River meets the ocean is known as the "Graveyard of the Pacific" because of its treacherous waterway. Many ships have sunk here. The Coast Guard keeps constant watch and practices many difficult maneuvers in the area.
Cape Disappointment also has Waikiki Beach. This small area had more driftwood than I have seen in all my life. Many shelters and works of art have been built on the beach and we decided to add our own sculpture to the mix. After about 15 minutes, our water horse came to life. As our time comes to a close in Oregon we reflect back on the many amazing adventures we have had along the Oregon coast. The small towns that dot the breathtakingly beautiful coastline of Oregon fill all of our souls and inspire us to find our own slice of heaven in an area that reflects the feel of this area. We met some lovely people as we have toured and quietly made our way through the area. The kindness we have been shown, the friendliness and the help we were given was beyond any that we have found as we have adventured the past month and a half. Although it is hard for us to say goodbye to this beautiful state we realize we have many many more adventures awaiting us as we continue our travels.
As we began exploring then northern part of Oregon, we realized that this land is rich with a very diverse history. We stopped at Fort Stevens, just outside of Astoria for the night and found that there was a lot of exploring to be done. We spent the evening playing on the beautiful sandy beaches of the area. The next morning we went into the historic fort to participate in a behind the scenes tour on a old Army cargo jeep. It was hosted by a lovely couple who volunteer their summers to provide the historical facts to the public as they visit the fort. We then went to another part of the state park to explore the Peter Iredal shipping vessel that shipwrecked on this beach in 1906. This area is home to many shipwrecks as it is near the entrance to the Columbia River, a major shipping route to bring supplies into the interior of the US and some of the most dangerous waters in the west.
As one of the nations newer National Parks, the Lewis and Clark National Park was a bit of a mystery as we were making our plans for the area. It wasn't until we were near Fort Stevens (a state park in northern Oregon) that we were able to find some solid information about the park. The park has one main area outside of Astoria, Oregon but it also encompasses 7 other areas or state parks which were significant sites for the Lewis and Clark party. We had the chance to visit the main park, where they have reconstructed Fort Clatsop on the space they believe was the original location, as well as 3 other areas that had significance to the party. Fort Clatsop is the spot where they arrived and spent a winter while developing relations with the natives of the area. The Lewis and Clark party had traveled through Utah, so we were exposed to parts of their adventure but visiting this park inspired me to beef up on my knowledge of their entire adventure.
The gentleman at Blue Heron recommended that we stop at the Neah-Kah-Nie mountain and hike to the top for some glorious views - and boy was he right. The hike itself was a 1200 foot ascent through an incredibly lush forest, the top of which I would qualify as a rain forest. Constantly gaining elevation for 2 miles while surrounded by this forest was soul filling in itself but the view from the top encompassed two very different landscapes. The vast ocean on one side with its majesty and power and the quiet farming valley tucked into the crook behind the other side of the mountain seemed quiet and secure. This vantage really has a conflicting tone as you scan for miles and miles. PS - Dylan was a machine and completed this 4 mile, 1200 foot gain hike with very little complaining.
Standing on the most westerly point of the contiguous US the beauty is astounding. To reach this spot you must cross into the Makah Tribal nation - a small reservation that diminished in size by 90% during the 1980's. We were able to spend the night at a coastal campground after taking the mile hike down to the actual point. It was a gorgeous hike through a lush forest which was built up with adorable wooden walk ways. The next morning we woke to rain, our first rain of our 5.5 weeks on the road so we decided to go out for breakfast in town (as tomorrow was Will's birthday). We found a restaurant right on the water, with a seat overlooking the harbor and were given a gorgeous show by 3 juevinial bald eagles.
Back on the coast and to the lovely big, small town of Tillamook - known for its dairy industry. During our two days here we managed to visit the creamery 3 times, and we stayed in the farmer's field of the Blue Heron Cheese Company just up the street. Needless to say we have had more dairy in the past 2 days then we have had all month. This area also boasts some incredible shorelines which we spent a whole day exploring as we drove the "3 capes scenic by-way" to Cape Meares lighthouse and Look out point. The views are stunning in this area and the shoreline like none we have encountered thus far. We also went for a hike at the Munson State Park waterfall and Dylan found about a half dozen banana slugs (which have quickly come to be one of her favorite animals).
|
Categories
All
Archives
April 2019
AuthorCarolyn and Will Bollwerk share their adventures with their 5 year-old daughter, Dylan. |