8-24-2016 PORT ANGELES, WA

Rob’s forehead is nearly healed up.  Thanks for asking after him.  Recently, he stands up slower. 

Some of you post comments on the blog using the “anonymous” option.  Don’t forget to sign or initial it or give me some indicator of who you are.  Thanks to those who comment, by the way.  I really enjoy the feedback!

The distance to Port Angeles from Gig Harbor was so brief that we didn’t even hook up the Jeep.  We are now parked for 3 days at the KOA here. 

KOA Port Angeles

I’ll say this:  we hate staying one night at a campground:  Hurry up, park, set up the beast, maybe go for a quick swim, make dinner, clean up the kitchen, shower and so forth and the next morning, put it all back together again and hit the road?  Nope, that’s not for us.  Two nights minimum.  But now, we are getting even more spoiled and staying, often, for 3 nights.  That is really a luxury!  Three days almost make it worth setting up the patio!

The drive here wound through a lot of forest.  Trees, trees, trees.  There are many points of interest in the area but you can’t see them through the damned trees. 

The view

The view

The first day we just bummed around, had lunch at Downriggers and backtracked to Sequim (pronounced, “skwim”) to see what was shakin.’  Nothing.  The sidewalks are rolled up and you can skim through Sequim.  We couldn’t catch the ferry to Victoria because our passports are safe and secure in Pahrump.  A drive up to Hurricane Ridge was a possibility but the road is blocked off for more than an hour due to construction.  We turned around at the ranger station and headed back and at that point, Mamma Deer decided to cross the road.  She leapt out in front of the Jeep and Rob hit the brakes.  As I watched her make it safely to the ditch on my side, I didn’t notice Bambi, about a yearling, who was just behind her.  Rob did and his quick reflexes brought the Jeep to a screeching, fish-tailing halt.  Fortunately, we were not being followed by a logging truck on a speedy mission or we’d have been, how you say, permanently logged off.  Proceeding forward, rattled, we spotted antlered Dad Deer still standing on the side.  Later, Rob’s only observation was how disappointed he was with the performance of the Jeep’s anti-skid system.  Seriously?  I myself was delighted that Prancer’s fur and pancreas weren’t stuck to the front bumper and Blitzen’s hooves were not lodged in the radiator.

View of the ocean

On Wednesday, we packed up and decided to go for a drive out to Neah Bay and Cape Flattery, the north westernmost point of the Olympic Peninsula.  The road is narrow and so convoluted it looks like a brain on the map.  There are rv parks out this way but how the rigs manage this road is a mystery.  We were buried in trees,

View of the Strait of Juan de Fuca

trees, trees for much of the 100 mile trip.  There is an occasional break and the Straight of Juan de Fuca and Neah Bay peek through but mostly, it’s trees, trees, trees. 

View of Neah Bay

The road goes west and comes to an end where there is a ½ mile long trail down to the ocean.  The hikers said, “A half hour down, an hour and a half back up.”  No thanks.  I’ve seen the ocean.

A different route led back to Port Angeles, Hwy 101, past Lake Crescent and tucked into a cove there, the Lake Crescent Lodge.  What a find!  The many little coves are shallow and the water is sparkling, turquoise green.  The inside of the lodge itself is constructed of dark polished wood, tall beamed ceilings, thick pillars, a big fireplace surrounded by sofas and overstuffed chairs and a beautiful bar.  Dinner is served in the big, bright dining room.  Facing the water is a sunny deck completely enclosed all the way up with glass panels and windows that open to the beach where swimmers and kayakers frolic.  One can take a room at the lodge or one of the cabins with rocking chairs on the decks.  Not surprisingly, at this sunny, warm time of year, there is no vacancy at this beautiful lodge.  There was, however, an ice cold hefe with our names on it.  Then it was time to head home, sip a cold toonie and tumble into bed.  

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Cabin at Lake Crescent Lodge

Lindy at Lake Crescent Loge

Us on Lake Crescent

In the Lodge

Lake Crescent Lodge patio