Thursday - 13 July 2011

Ferry Loading

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The Washington State Ferry Walla Walla and its sister ship which was traveling in the opposite direction.
It took us from Edmonds (just N. of Seattle) to Kingston then we drove on west over

the Hood Canal bridge
(called canal but is a natural long skinny and deep body of water which separates the Olympic Peninsula from the rest of Washington State)
to the Olympic Peninsula where the first town we encountered was Port Townsend.

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Downtown Port Towsend WA

We got local maps at a visitor center and made a very short visit to Port Townsend,
then drove on to Sequim State Park to get a camping spot. It was good to do so, as it was rapidly filling up with local campers.

campsite at Sequim State Park, on NE part of Olympic Peninsula.
the drive in the park was quite steep.
This was the first campsite after our stay in the Seattle area.

After setting up we headed back to Port Townsend and spent several hours visiting the Northwest School of Wooden Boatbuilding and
the Northwest Maritime Center.
It is adjacent to their yacht basin (Port of Port Townsend) where we encountered quite a number of beautiful boats.

Small boat harbor - Eastern part

Small boat harbor

Boat shop - East side - bronze otters looking on

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On the East side of the boat shop

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Inside the boat shop

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~ ~ ~ and outside the shop ~ ~ ~

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more Small Boat Harbor

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at left boatbuilding shed in the background - Catboat

Brian Toss rigging loft in background

a heavy rowing boat - with masts (replica of Vancouvers boats?)

clinker hull - double ender

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paste these pictures together in your head

from the front

a multi-chine hull (Swampscott dory ?)

Kayaks - and yes that is our Suburban in the upper left corner

Hull shape makes this a pinkey - note stern
name is Pleiades
It is a large and beautiful vessel, richly appointed with many bronze fittings

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first sail in a boat new to them

The new owner couple in their new boat, farther out in Puget Sound

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Southern part of the Harbor

a rather nice vessel

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having the outboard in a well saves the lines and simplifies auxiliary power

North side of the harbor

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The heavy rowing boats

After we had a good long look at all the magnificent boats we retired to
our campsite at Sequim State Park.
The next morning we de-camped and drove into Olympic National Park.

Friday - 14 July 2011

We got moving fairly early and drove to Port Angles,

then drove on to the nearest camping site in Olympic National Park.
We checked out the Elwha campsite and the Altair campsite farther upstream on the Elwah River valley.
Altair campground had a very narrow road in the campsite...

also had deer walking in the campsite.

We chose Elwha which had a level spot which we would fit in.

The soggy Elwha campsite number 4 in Olympic National Park. Just off the Elwha River
It has tall moss laden trees.
The regular bathroom facilities were being repaired and were temporarily replaced by port-a-potties.

This patch of lichen some 6 inches long grew on the trunks of trees
and sometimes peeled off and fell to the forrest floor.

The trees are fairly covered.

Mist on the Elwah River - northern side of Olympic National Park

After setting up camp we drove over to the road up to Hurricane Ridge via a narrow back road

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The first part was paved - then it went into an unpaved section some of which was quite steep.

which took us out of the park, through logged over area
and then back into the Park.

The road up to Hurricane Ridge was scenic.

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last part of the road up to Hurricane Ridge

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Wallflower

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Some of the deer were too friendly -

Strangely enough the fierce little critter above kills and eats the much larger rabbit (below)
during the winter under the snow when both are active.

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On top of Hurricane Ridge - end of nature tour with Ranger

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some flowers at top of Hurricane Ridge - - sedge, a grass-like plant

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It fogged over When we left Hurricane Ridge

It was really cold and windy. Mona took a look and decided to wait in the cozy Suburban.
Joseph and I followed a ranger who led a tour of the area.
After the tour we visited the visitor center, and while there it began to completely fog over and rain.

The first mile or so down was in heavy fog on a winding mountain road.

We continued on down the road under and out from the fog (which was a cloud on the mountain) into Port Angeles.

We visited the visitor center, had a look at a raw totem pole in the making
and got information on the Black Ball ferry
which we plan to take to visit Victoria, BC Canada tomorrow.

Port Angeles waterfront mall - some offices - some tourist shops

There is a fine grocery and gas station where we got supplies, then returned to the campsite for supper.
Then to the Altair campground for a Ranger talk about the removal of he Elwha River Dam which for over 50 years provided a modest amount of electicity.
There was no fish ladder around the dam, and after its careful removal the Elwha will again be a wild river allowing spawning fish to breed naturally.
After the program, which was in a fine old pavillion with fireplace we borrowed the fire and had toasted marshmellows and smores.
Then back to our camp and settled in for the evening.

Friday - 14 July 2011
up early and drove to the Black Ball ferry dock

Visit to Victoria, BC Canada