Monday was an odd day weather-wise. It was foggy when we got
up, but based on previous days we went off to the beaches after breakfast
anyway. Got there, sat in the car watching the rain pour down for a while, and
returned to the campground. After lunch
in the Alfa, Craig took a nap and I did some needlepoint. It finally cleared
later in the afternoon and we took a short walk, but otherwise we just relaxed
for the day. It was very peaceful.
Tuesday morning was clear and sunny again. We took the
rather short but beautiful hike up to Merrymere Falls
and the Moments in
Time trail. We parked near the Crescent Lake Lodge. While not as grand
as the Ahwanee or the lodges at Grand Canyon and Crater Lake, it is cited in of
a book of lodges in the National Parks. Like most of the others it was built in
the thirties and has the air of “old time character” we have enjoyed visiting
them.
Following our tradition of eating at the Lodge at least once
during our visit to a National Park, we had lunch in the dining room
overlooking the lake.
This was our view from our table by the window, but Craig
actually took it outside.
How quickly our time here has passed. Tomorrow we will pack
up and head out seeking our next adventure. I’ve had time to relax and think
about a few things. Time to take a deep breath and re-examine “my plan” and “my
view” of the future.
Craig and I have been married for 47 years. Our best times have been when we were on
trips away from the daily stresses of house and job. I know that full time RVing is not full time
vacationing, but I’m looking forward to some fun adventures and some quiet
peaceful days. We have overcome many
challenges together over the years. I am confident we will overcome more
together in the future. But I also know we have to relax and learn to have more
fun. I believe we will.
[From Craig] Merikay has asked me to write about Wednesday.
We got out of Sol Duc reasonably early for us (9:45), and headed south on the
101 loop that encircles the Olympic National Park. We took the Alfa in on the
road to the Hoh Rainforest. Those of you who are very experienced in RV driving
will have no problem with the road in, but those who don’t care for “interesting
driving” may want to leave your rig somewhere outside and take your smaller
vehicle in.
Actually the Hoh Rainforest site has nice big parking spaces
for RVs. We left ours in one, had lunch on one of their tables, and then went
hiking on two fairly short trails.
The Hall of Mosses trail is unique in my experience. At just about any point on this 0.8-mile
trail, you can point your camera in just about any direction and shoot a
terrific picture! No photographic skill required! Just look at the following
images for proof.
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| Green! and more ... |
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Green! |
The Spruce Nature trail is another fine adventure in
learning about non-tropical rain forests. At one point I said to Merikay “I
wonder what this looked like before they spruced it up?”
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| Giant "Pick Up Sticks" |
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| Finding your Roots |
Getting back to our rig, we re-coupled the Alfa and toad and
headed back out to 101. We had no idea where we were going, but Merikay perused
our various resources and selected Kalaloch Campground in the coastal part of Olympic National
Park. It has 170 RV sites "on the beach" but no hookups.
When we got there, there was no one at the office but a sign
“no spots available” was displayed. I stayed with the Alfa while Merikay walked
down the RV sites and couldn’t find any flagged as available. About the time
she got back, a ranger arrived and confirmed that he didn’t know of any
available spots. But Merikay said that what she saw of the place was very nice,
and it’s worth a stop (or a reservation if you have Internet access like we
haven’t had for a week) if you get up into western Washington. With 170 sites it can’t be full all the time!
We continued south and ended up finding a spot at the Hoquiam River Rv Park. We found it thru our Rand McNally Navigation unit, and also in our Escapee resource book. Nice park, good people. Good internet connection! LAUNDRY! Which we did need.
Who knows where we will be tomorrow night. The open road beckons. And this RV park is fully booked so we have no choice but to move along.
