HOH and more....

Hurricane Ridge 

Photos By Permission R. Hallam 

FLICKR ATE A LOT OF MY PHOTOs so some of these are used by permission from family on a trip they made to the PNW, thank you!

Back on Highway 101 I resupplied in Port Angeles at a huge Walmart it was exhausting but I needed more flannel wear to beat the chill so it took all morning..got more fuel for my new Butane stove...

cooking veggie links for breakfast 

I continued on toward the Olympic National Park...along the way we stopped at Cresent Lake a very pretty blue green HUGE lake!  There is camping there but it was too early in the day for me to stop.  

When I stopped to stretch my legs this fellow came up for a look n see Casey loved this guy!

Finally made it to Olympic National Park. This park is huge I saw a fraction of it...Im not wild about being under such a thick canopy that you can't see the sky but this place has some amazing trees, mosses, and ferns!  I took a hike on the hanging moss trail it was not only full of moss but I chased down a red bellied sapsucker too! My photos were blurry just not enough light!
<--Web photo since Mine was lost.

            This White Crowned Sparrow wanted a hand out...

LOTS of robins watched my progress along the trail and at least one other critter...

If I had these in my yard I'd need a smaller cage!

the hanging moss!

It was a very easy trail with only 50 ft elev. gain...(Hall of Mosses)

the Spruce Tree Tr 

by Permission M Walling 

Photo by M. Walling 

Photo by M Walling 

I camped at the Hoh Rain Forest CG and over head were lots of chestnut backed chickadees...I was able to get this one not so good photo of one..

Casey and I camped right by the Hoh river it was awesome to hear the water rush by

MY photo is MISSING 

Photo by M. Walling 

and there was a small pond nearby with some mallards and pied billed grebes...the trees were starting to turn here..

This gray Jay decided if I wasnt going to share he'd just fly down and take what he wanted!!

The river was quite beautiful and clear..

When we left Hoh we continued on around the coast of Washington, and we camped near Rialto Beach...

Then Ruby Beach where some awesome rock formations were found..

the Destruction Island LH was visible...

It was my birthday so I splurged and stayed in a cabin by the sea at Kalaloch Lodge...in one of the Bluff Cabins, pet friendly!

form their web site,

And we beach combed and enjoyed the sea all day and the next morning I had breakfast in the lodge...

found some cool tide pools to explore sea anemones and sea stars!!

Quite a nice birthday...this is the view from the cliffside...

Im so far behind with the blogging I've had very little Internet with my Verizon WiFi so it is what it is!

I will catch up with all of  you when I can I did spend a lot of time uploading photos last night since I have net right now but Im moving on soon as I hit send on this...you just have to wonder where in the world is Sondra!...:o) till I get caught up!

PEACE

Eleanor Roosevelt: You must do the thing you think you can not.

Ft Flagler to Fat Smitty's

On 9/25 I headed north with the rain on the day I left Mt Rainier.  I had no particular destination in mind just eventually get on 101 Pacific Coast highway and to Olympic National Park. 

I ended up in the area of Port Townsend..and spent the night camped at Ft Flagler on the tippy top edge of Marrowstone Island.  Everyone said take a ferry...but I don't really like being on ships so I didn't ...I watched everyone go back and forth to other islands packed on the ferry from the tranquility of Marrowstone!  

We watched the fishing boats come in with the catch of the day.

And Black Tailed Deer on the drive in...

Casey and I scoped it out pretty good the lower section of the CG was full so up on the cliff we went where it was all open and quiet. After getting settled in site 2A right by the bathrooms we walked down by the water ...We saw information posted about how Pigeon Guillemot nests here during breeding season so If you wanna see them come to Ft Flagler in spring...they dig a nest in the cliff face...

Casey found some seaweed

FLICKR ATE MY PHOTOS  SOME OF THESE ARE USED BY PERMISSION.

So we explored the islands shore and watched some Harlequin Ducks dabble around, about a dozen altogether...as well as common loons & cormorants!

Photo Courtesy of R. Hallam 

...and SO many gulls!!! I think it was a gull rookery as there were so many young California Gulls.  

Photo Courtesy of R Hallam

Golden hues

 we watched an awesome sunset...it set the cliff ablaze with dusky color!

I wanted to visit the Naval Museum in Bremerton but parking was not to be found in an area where I would leave my van,,,and the parking garage was too short! 6'8"? So we drove on to Port Townsend and poked around I saw this group of Heermann's Gulls new  for me..

 then through Sequim famous for the lavender farms...

And I enjoyed seeing this artwork in the native style there was a gallery but $$$

We found camping at Dungeness State Recreation Area where a gentleman and I discussed the pros and cons of his using his generator in close proximity to my camp site *&^%$#  I won  that battle when  I asked how long did he intend to be making that terrible racket??

Used by Permission M Walling & R. Hallam

 ...after breakfast Casey and I hiked down  onto the spit to see the lighthouse. It may be hard to see but if you look at this strip of land then let your eye follow the top blue horizon to the right....you can see how the land turns sharply to the right and on the far right just under the clouds you can just barely see the lighthouse...

 Casey was not going to be able to do the 10 mile round trip hike and I was not too excited about the thought myself SO happy I have a 60X zoom camera!!

I did not get a look at Mr Baker in my photo so....my BIL allowed me to use the one he captured! Awesome...

By Permission R. Hallam 

and we past by Fat Smitty's burger joint... I thought it was kinda cool looking but don't think I'd eat food here!

PEACE

Eleanor Roosevelt: You must do the thing you think you can not.