Another 'explore' we make on the Olympic Peninsula is to the Sol Duc Falls in the Sol Duc Valley. Another hike - but this time we are prepared for it with the right footwear!
The forest is beautiful; the trees are covered with hanging moss; the density of the trees creates a silent paradise.
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| Hansel? |
The Falls are at the end of the trail and are awesome! There are lots of cameras out - photographers looking for that special picture yet knowing that every picture will be wonderful!Sol Duc River originates in the northern Olympic Mountains in the Olympic National Park and flows west and northwest. It passes Sol Duc Hot Springs, a resort best known for its soaking pools, hot tubs and a swimming pool all heated by nearby hot springs. The resort is situated in a valley carved by the Sol Duc River.
The springs are known for their therapeutic value.
We visit, just for a look - the Hot Springs are crowded with people all soaking in the pools. It's not a cheap day out - I think about $12.50 per person. It may make a difference if you are staying at the resort.
The Sol Duc River is a key highway for salmon as they go to spawn.
On our way home to Port Angeles (I wonder how many places I have called 'home' over the last 14 months?), we drive the shores of Lake Crescent. Maximum depth (official) is 624 ft but unofficially it is much deeper. The waters of the lake are a deep azure blue.
The Olympic Peninsula has it all - rain forests, migrating whales, fishing, bird watching. It also has 'Twilight' connections - the location of Stephanie Meyers' Twilight novels. Forks is the setting for her books.
It is also visited by 3 million visitors a year.
Another superlative for Washington's Olympic Peninsula is that it is home to the biggest dam removal project in US history. The demolition of the Elwha Dam and the Glines Canyon Dam on the Elwha River will return the river to its wild state.
The demolition has occurred; you can now visit what was the dams.
Numerous benefits flow from the river's restoration; it allows native salmon to move upriver to spawn which also benefits other species that live in and around the river - black bears, bald eagles and cougars. It also benefits the Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe who lived in the area long before the park was designated and were dispossessed by the dams. |
| Adagio Bean & Leaf |
We drive south on a fine but misty morning, first checking in to Eric's RV
Service to have the new awning motor installed. We are a bit early; stop for coffee at the Adagio Bean & Leaf in Sequim. It is a great cafe- we get talking to the barista and it turns out she spends half the year working in Margaret River (in West Australia for those not familiar with the name).
It is such a small world!
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| More coffee! |
And to make it even smaller, we see this shop on Main Street!
Then we are driving along the Hood Canal which borders the Olympic National Park to the east; breathtaking views of the canal though not for Trevor - he is contending with a narrow, windy highway with lots of traffic!!
The bottom part of Hood Canal, a natural waterway, is indeed very picturesque. We pass through a number of small towns and state parks. Clearly recreation is an important aspect of the region.We stop for a night at Hoodsport. It is beautiful - we are surrounded by a thick forest of tall trees. No trains or planes and little other traffic.
The next day we drive through Elma and the nearby town of Satsop - we can see the massive cooling towers of the never completed Satsop Nuclear Power Plant on the hills. The plant was abandoned/cancelled before fully completed. The site has been transformed into a business/technology park.
We finally get several rainy days, although it is mild and the rain doesn't hold us up at all. We keep moving; from Hoodsport at the south end of the Hood Canal, then southwest to Hoquaim and finally further south to Oregon.
We follow Highway 101 through small coastal towns and beside wetlands and tidal estuaries. Oyster farming and logging appear to be the main industries in the area. We cross the mouth of the Columbia River over the Astoria-Mengler Bridge- which is also the state line into Oregon. |
| I think we are being watched! |
I have a thrill to see the Pacific Ocean. I can only imagine how it must have felt for Lewis and Clark when they first saw the ocean after their momentous journey. Clark wrote in his journal "Ocian in view! O! the joy."
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| Showing our route on Hwy 101 |
The Astoria-Mengler Bridge is 4.1 miles long (6.6 kms) It is the longest continuous truss bridge in North America. There are 171 piers in the water.
Once a year - usually in October - the bridge is host to the Great Columbia Crossing when pedestrians can walk or run across the bridge as part of a 10 km race
It is a unique experience driving across the bridge in the RV!
The state line is clearly seen on the GPS.
We are sometimes a bit blase about crossing a state line - there have been a few - but this is quite something!
We turn off 101 at Sunset and take Hwy 26 east to Portland. The rain has lifted; it is a beautiful drive through the Coastal Ranges; dense forests of fir, spruce and red cedar on each side of the highway; tall, tall trees.
As we get closer to Portland the forests give way to farming land. It looks very fertile and productive. Then we really get into traffic -4 lanes then 6 lanes!! Then the bridges. Apparently there are 11 bridges leading out from the city across the Willamette River!!We arrive at the Jantzen Beach RV Park about 3pm. We are on Hayden Island which is about 5 miles north-east of the city. It all looks good!
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