Olympic Pennisula

On the way to the Olympic Penninsula
Beautiful scenery with long trains on both sides of us!  Cloudy day but memorable!  Border crossing at Sumas was easy--Welcome to the state of Washington, USA!  We drove through Seattle and Tacoma which was okay since it was Sunday and up to Rt 101 to the Olympic National Park Visitor Center.

We camped at very scenic Heart O' the Hills campground which was on the road to Hurricane Ridge.
Nothing like these $10 a night National Park campgrounds!

Campsite

We followed the road up the mountain through more natural beauty to Hurricane Ridge Visitor center and took a ranger-led walk.  More beauty and marmot and deer right there to enjoy. Several trails had been closed due to removal of goats that had been introduced 100 yrs ago and have multiplied to the point they are affecting the natural ecosystem.

View from Hurricane Ridge

Visitor Center and meadow Hurricane Ridge

Mr Marmot porking up for 8 mo hibernation

 Around to Sol Duc area and did a hike up there with HUGE trees looking down at a river.  

Sol Duc trail

On our way out of there the road was blocked by a giant tree at least 4 feet in diameter that had fallen across the road about 20 cars in front of us!  No one hurt but it took multiple chain saws and 2 1/2 hours to make the road passable.

By the time we got out of there it was 4 pm and we had to drive around 101 to get to Quinault Rain Forest to camp.  Original destination Hoh Rain Forest road was closed for repairs.  It was getting dark.  We took the North Rd into the area for 19 miles of potholes, narrow gravel road, rain in the DARKEST dark forest!  We were so happy to see that campground!  Don't think it was set up for anything but tents but we made it!

Quinault Rain Forest

We hiked a trail at the end of the campground.  It is so rainy here that the trees are covered with moss and it looks like a "haunted forest" from Disney!

Left the next morning this time down the South Rd--better road.  Had a great time stopping at the Largest Spruce tree in the World--and it was spectacular!  1000 years old and about 59 feet circumference!












Further down the road we stopped at a Nature Trail on the right that was another wonderful hike.
Such a different world!

 SOOO green.  See the dead tree with a young tree growing out of it with its roots over the
old stump!

Land of Giants!

Many large trees had fallen across the trail

Goodbye Olympic Pennisula--such an unusual and great place to visit!
Hello to Oregon and sister

Kathy's family in Forest Grove!



Bailey got a shampoo and trim in honor of the relatives so we are all ready to celebrate life with our Oregon Family!



HELLO OREGON!

We parked the RV at Niece Laura and Pete Bower's lovely hill top home
They had electricity all ready for us!  We just stayed in the RV and it worked great!  Kathy and Tim provided great food for the 3 days we were there. The children are so much fun and very talented!

 TJ and Connie's home is also lovely with all their animals and darling children.  They took us to see their horses, goats, chickens and alpacas!  Such fun!

Haille, Connie, TJ and Carol

Carter and Uncle Pete

Our last night was at Tom and Janelle's for pizza and birthday cake for Lexie and Thomas!  We all had a great time and the kids played so well together in their new larger home!   All the Gray's are a happy bunch!

Tom, Janelle, Laura and Carol

Tom and Carol

So Good-bye Oregon family--after 5 days of determined driving, we are back in Loveland.  Home at last!  So good to be home with our family after a terrific road trip!