9/4/2015 Friday we decided that we would see this place and get moving south. The rain had stopped but it was still cloudy and overcast. Our first mission was to get the stamp for Olympic National Park from the visitors center. As visitors centers go it was quite sparse but it was packed with young people standing in a line out the door waiting to get back country camping permits.
Book stamped, we gassed up and headed up Hurricane Ridge. Part way up I wanted to turn around and go back because the clouds had the road socked in. The higher we went the better visibility got but it didn't clear up for us to get a view of Mount Olympus. By the end of the day the skies were blue and clear.
Views of the Ridge. I would have liked to see Mt Olympus but she'll be there next time.
Bright foliage in the dim mist.
Coming off Hurricane Ridge, I found a gravel road to take as a short cut across to 101. I don't know if it was a short cut but it was a pretty drive and I enjoyed it.
We took 101 across to 113 North skirting around Lake Crescent. The water was very clear and cold. It was 55 degrees outside and we saw children playing and swimming in the lake.
We turned west on 112 again and drove along the Straits again looking across to Victoria Island.
112 proved to be a great curvy road writhing between sea and shore with spectacular scenery and great driving. My only wish as always was for a motorcycle. 112 going east between 113 and Salt Creek gets a little rough with some rolling bumps in the road. One took me by surprise and the old Tahoe caught some air. I laughed heartily and Becky wasn't thrilled at being bounced around.
At the end of 112 is the town of Neah Bay on the Makah Indian Reservation. Its a meager little town eking out an existence on the extreme NW corner of the United States. Everywhere there are signs that say "Have hope, say no to dope."
112 turns into Cape Flattery Road and ends at the Cape Flattery Trail unless you have a key to the gate the lets you continue on down the gravel road that heads back east from the parking lot. Google maps says the road makes a loop back to Neah Bay but we had to go back on the two lane blacktop.
As usual, Iris and I stood guard over Nora (the Tahoe) while the ambulatory crew took the path to the furthest NW corner.
This is a banana slug, prolific in the Pacific NW and darn ugly. The can get to almost six inches long.
Back in Neah Bay, we stopped at a gas station and bought some local made root beer.
Finally on the way back to the trailer in 112 east of Joyce we spotted some locals having fun.
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| And we didn't have a paddle! |
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