LOOP TO THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST

CALIFORNIA TO WASHINGTON STATE

Thursday, April 14, 2022 - Jalama Beach, Lompoc, CA, to Lost Hills, CA

Another gusty evening yesterday at the Jalama Beach campground on the shores of the Pacific Ocean, with the breeze taking a long time to die down.

But a little calmer this morning as I run through an early workout, get showered and breakfasted and pull out of the campground by 9:00am for the twisty and hilly road from the beach to the highway.

I decided I couldn't stand a grubby RV any longer so detoured (through landscape reminiscent of the southern downs in the UK) via Buellton to the car wash there, embarking on the arduous task of washing the RV in a narrow bay.

Although tall enough to allow me to get onto the roof and wash off the dust that had accumulated there, I had to turn the RV around mid-wash to be able to reach the second side with the car wash hoses.

So all in all a 90-minute chunk out of my day... and certainly made coffee a late morning affair, though brewed as soon as I was done.

On highway 101 north for a long stretch, before turning onto 46 east and a 20-mile stint before finding a rest stop for a late lunch, leaving an hour to Lost Hills where I saw a truck wash right outside the KOA campground entrance...! I was sure I had searched on-line to check out this possibility and had come up blank.

Another annoyance to add to the accumulated dissatisfaction I'm feeling about this trip, the weather and the RV.

After getting set up I put in an hour of RV cleaning to get a start on my plan for tomorrow, waxing the whole RV again to remove the water spots left despite the car wash advertising "spot free rinse" - for the third time in a month.

Friday, April 15, 2022 - Lost Hills, CA

Out for a run first thing, 10 loops around the campground.

And after getting cleaned up, the first priority was to start waxing the right-hand side of the RV while it was still in the shade, working up a very strong appetite for my morning coffee and bagel. Then the back of the RV was waxed and, in due course, as the sun moved around to put the left-hand side in the shade, the final section was completed just before lunchtime.

Took a load of laundry to be done but discovered the campground office was closed until 2:00pm and special cards needed for the machines, so walked down the street to the gas station to scope out the logistics of fueling up tomorrow morning and to grab a lunch sandwich and an ice-cream bar for later.

Laundry duly started at 2:15pm, and much of the balance of the afternoon dedicated to forward planning - making reservations for the campground near Yosemite for tomorrow and Sunday nights and looking back on old photo-journal entries to see exactly where I had gone and stayed when on my last attempt to reach the Pacific Northwest in May 2017... although it doesn't seem as if it could have been 5 years ago.

Final cleaning flourish of the day late afternoon, getting the windshield free of bugs.

Saturday, April 16, 2022 - Lost Hills, CA, to Groveland, CA

Windy late evening and overnight, so pulled in the right-hand slide-out to stop the noisy fluttering of the topper although the breeze had mostly dropped by the morning, begun as yesterday with a run around the campground.

A little desk work and admin to make best use of the WiFi connection, coffee, then preparations for departure, intentionally timed to be late in order to weave between the rain showers forecast.

Very slow getting gas at the filling station as it was exceedingly busy, but my scouting yesterday paid off in ensuring I could get onto the right pump and out of the forecourt with the Jeep in tow.

Pulled off the highway after ¼ mile, before even getting onto I-5, as a rain shower was clearly visible a mile up the interstate. After a 15-minute wait, I headed onto I-5, keeping an eye on the weather radar on my phone, pulling off a second time after 10 miles to let another shower blow through.

Stopped in Kettleman City to put some gas in the Jeep and pick up a Subway sandwich for lunch, then a straight drive with no breaks until arriving at the campground, the last 10 miles of which were on very twisty roads climbing 3,000ft up into the hills on the way to Yosemite.

Going back down in a couple of days' time won't be much fun...

Sunday, April 17, 2022 - Groveland, CA

Up at 5:00am, breakfasted, gathered all I would need for the day, brewed a coffee to take with me but expecting to find lunch somewhere in Yosemite.

Out of the campground at 5:45am and entered Yosemite Valley an hour later, just as the sun was beginning to light up some of the higher peaks and clifftops.

Made my way slowly around the loop drive through the valley to the Visitor Center, stopping periodically for photos, collected a newsletter and map and then retreated to the warmth of the Jeep and the coffee I had brought along.

Marginally revived, I continued my anti-clockwise drive around the valley, with stops at all the classic viewpoints and after one full loop had a second coffee (and Nutella croissant!) at the restaurant at the Visitor Center.

Although very quiet initially, the park soon filled up with visitors, to the point where I was forced to join a conga line of cars searching for parking spots.

Eventually resorted to a little creative parking - next to a dumpster in the main parking lot - and got out the bike for a ride up to Mirror Lake, detouring to the central meadows area on the way back...

...and made a final swing by the Village Store for a (pre-lunch) ice-cream before heading back to the Jeep, loading up the bike, eating a sandwich I had bought earlier and then heading off on a final drive towards the park exit.

I decided not to stay for sunset at the Tunnel View overlook as I had photos of that from my first time in Yosemite and didn't want to fight the sunset crowds only to then have to sit in a long line of slow traffic getting out of the park in the dark.

But I did loop up to that classic overlook spot on my way out, doubling back through the one-way system to finally leave the park and drive an hour back to the campground, arriving at the RV at 5:15pm.

Rather too many photos taken during the day, so had a first stab at culling them while enjoying my evening beer. I find Yosemite difficult to photograph well or, at least, to satisfactorily capture the grandeur of the place - same with the Grand Canyon.

Not entirely sure why, as it all looks so magnificent in real life... I took better photos first time in Yosemite, I think.

6 miles walked today, and a further 8 miles of bike riding.

Monday, April 18, 2022 - Groveland, CA, to Oroville, CA

A morning workout to start the day, followed by a couple of hours of desk work (via a $2.95 WiFi subscription - only 1 free hour with the campground reservation, unreasonable in my view given the cost of the site).

Two frustrations continue... weather remaining wet in Oregon until the weekend, and little to no availability in California state campgrounds. So as I need to "mark time", and a day catching my breath would be helpful, I decided to head north of Sacramento to a "relatively" inexpensive KOA campground.

Coffee at 10:00am before getting ready to head out, eventually on the road at 11:00am to face a long and winding descent, making extensive use of engine braking in 2nd gear to keep off the main brakes. A few turnouts allowed me to let traffic by, so although slow going there were no unduly scary moments.

Feeling peckish by 12:30pm, I pulled over in Oakdale in search of a Subway store, but instead found myself in a grocery store so took the opportunity to stock up, as well as buying a lunch sandwich. From there, a straight drive north up route 99, through Sacramento in the early afternoon (so no traffic hold-ups) and then on routes 99 and 70 to the day's destination campground, just south of Oroville.

Tuesday, April 19, 2022 - Oroville, CA

Several hours of the morning taken up with itinerary planning, complicated by trying to work around a weather system due to blow in tomorrow and Thursday.

And it's not so much the high wind forecast that is an issue (as the wind direction would, for once, be mostly behind me) but the steady rain associated with it - as I don't want to get the clean RV filthy again, and there's not much point arriving on the scenic west coast of Oregon in the rain.

Got a tentative travel and campsite plan worked out, which I put aside to switch to catching up with accumulated admin and some further photo culling from Yosemite - having a digital camera, rather than limited and expensive film, encourages (me, at least) excessive "bracketing" of shots and marginal changes in composition, so usually a good deal of post-shoot winnowing necessary.

Finally committed to the first stage of my forward itinerary mid-afternoon, which required nothing more than booking another couple of nights in the current campground, the days thereafter to be reviewed tomorrow as more up-to-date weather forecasts become available.

Got out for some fresh air and exercise late afternoon, looking for a route for a morning run, and eventually - at the end of a 2-mile walk - found a ½-mile paved loop in the undeveloped area right opposite the campground.

Wednesday, April 20, 2022 - Oroville, CA

Out for a run first thing around the paved loop beside the campground, weather sunny but the breeze building.

Then unhooked the Jeep for a drive into town for a Starbucks coffee and breakfast sandwich and a top-up of groceries - seems like if I'm not spending $200 on gas during the day, it's only because I'm spending $100 on groceries. Who's eating all this stuff?

And another chunk of the day taken up with "admin"... how can there be so much of this?

The itinerary planning from yesterday still seems to be holding, although final decisions not required until the more up-to-date weather forecasts that I'll review tomorrow.

Out for a walk mid-afternoon to stretch my legs, the day's forecast rain arriving around 5:00pm.

Thursday, April 21, 2022 - Oroville, CA

A relatively quiet day, with the next couple of days' itineraries confirmed after checking weather forecasts locally, on the mountains I'll be driving across and on the California/Oregon coast.

More time at the laptop working on culling photos (for now - always easier to delete when I've got some distance from the moment they were taken) and developing those that remain.

A couple of RV maintenance projects thrown in to break up the laptop projects, and tanks emptied and flushed late afternoon to save time tomorrow morning and before the forecast rain, which arrived with a few rumbles of thunder and a couple of heavy downpours.

Friday, April 22, 2022 - Oroville, CA, to Blue Lake, CA

Woken early by noisy truck exhaust but took advantage of that to head out for an early run - in chilly air, just before 7:00am - before getting on the road after dealing with a couple of e-mails that had come in overnight.

First stop at the gas station half a mile down the road where gas was "only" $4.89 a gallon (on an Indian reservation, thus no federal or state tax) versus the mid-$5 range or higher elsewhere. Fill up still came to $250...

A relatively early stop for a lunch after passing through Redding and before heading onto the Trinity Alps road, breaking up the 130 miles to the overnight stop at the couple of rest areas conveniently spaced along the road.

A very scenic drive (i.e. hilly and winding, 4 peaks in all, 3,500ft at the highest) following the Trinity River for a good portion of the drive, which was swollen and running fast, presumably from the rain over the last couple of days but possibly also some snow melt from the higher elevations of the mountains.

Arrived at the Blue Lake Casino & Hotel at 4:45pm, signed in at the front desk to get my Redwood Rewards Club membership (free), personalized plastic card, a couple of $5 "promo chips", a 20% menu item discount voucher and, most importantly, my overnight RV parking pass.

Moved the RV to a slightly better parking spot, cleaned the windshield of the day's accumulated bugs and grime and settled in for my Friday evening beer.

Saturday, April 23, 2022 - Blue Lake, CA, to Brookings, OR

A little chilly first thing not having run the heater overnight as I wasn't plugged into shorepower.

Caught up on some desk work courtesy of the strong WiFi extending out to the bottom of the parking lot where I was located - mainly sending through some pictures of Black Jack Springs at night to Les's real estate agent.

Moving by 10:30am, on the last part of the mountain drive before connecting with Highway 101, the main coast road.

Stopped at the Prairie Creek Visitor Center for a brief wander through the redwoods there and then on to Crescent City where, with the day wearing on, I had to choose between unhooking the Jeep and driving to another redwoods walking location or visiting the lighthouse (both of which I had done last time through here in 2017).

The lighthouse won out, so I walked across the causeway - the tide fortunately being low - and had a wander around.

The pink flowers not quite as bright a carpet as last time here but the various ground cover plants producing a delightful fragrance.

From Crescent City it was a fairly short drive to the overnight campground at Brookings, just across the state line into Oregon, the final 200 yards to the campground down an unexpected and nerve-wrackingly narrow and steep entry road.

Got set up in the campsite, sucked down a beer and headed out to Harris Beach for some sunset photos.

Sunday, April 24, 2022 - Brookings, OR

Out for a run early (around the campground), with an initial plan in my head to move on up the coast today.

But mulling this over while running (always a good thing, as it takes my mind off the run) I decided to stay put in the campground for today - fits better with the weather forecast ahead, gives me a day off tomorrow before some mountain biking on Tuesday and, being Sunday, I just feel like a quiet day.

Got the campsite reservation extended and settled into my quiet day... early coffee to start, plenty of desk time, reviewing and culling photos, some research into an alternative RV format to the current motorhome and tow vehicle, did a load of laundry, booked my campsite for the next two nights.

I also managed, through some on-line sleuthing, to find the location of some sea mounts with trees growing on them, 14 miles up the coast, so headed there in the Jeep in the middle of the afternoon.

Lots of roadside overlooks and beauty spots marked along the roadway, but not the location of the "secret beach" where the sea mounts were... Fortunately, my earlier investigations had pinpointed the spot and a couple of cars parked beside the road pretty much confirmed the location.

A rough and steep trail seemed to lead down to the shoreline, eventually joining an easier trail, and suddenly the view opened up and there were the sea mounts in all their glory, pine trees clinging tenaciously to their rocky tops.

Plenty of photos taken, as well as just standing enjoying the view - a little light cloud cover unfortunately not allowing the tops of the sea mounts to pop with the brightness I had seen on some reference photos.

Back up the easier trail to the Jeep, drove back towards Brooking, stopping at several marked spots, none of which were particularly remarkable.

Debated whether to head back to the RV but as the campground was on the opposite side of town from all the coastal spots it would have meant simply turning around not long after getting there to head back out to Harris Beach for a second evening of sunset photos.

So I carried on into Brookings, got some gas, got a late coffee, stopped in a car wash to spruce up the Jeep and then headed back down to Harris Beach for a somewhat cloud-marred sunset.

Monday, April 25, 2022 - Brookings, OR, to Sunset Bay State Park, Charleston, OR

Up for a morning workout, breakfast and then an hour at my desk making use of the campground WiFi before heading out just before 11:00am, stopping on the way out of Brookings at a rest area for morning coffee.

Cloudy early on but a very scenic drive, the road mostly running along the shore in full view of the Pacific Ocean.

Pulled over briefly in Port Orford for a bite of lunch, decided not to make the 8-mile round trip detour to the small Coquille River Lighthouse - having visited it when passing through in 2017 - so drove on the few miles further to the turning off Route 101 to head towards the small town of Charleston and Sunset Bay State Park.

Got there at 3:00pm, an hour ahead of official check-in time, but with no-one at the entry station, my campsite reserved and vacant, I went ahead and got set up. A bit of a tight squeeze in a small site, as they pretty much all are here, but comfortable once in.

Bowl of fruit and a late afternoon snack to fortify me, and out to search for the neat and photogenic little cove I "discovered" last time here, which I found just half a mile up the road beyond the campground. Spent some time there, exploring a little more than previously, climbing over the rocks and watching the waves surge in through the opening between the two rocky outcrops guarding the entrance.

Then drove on to a few other viewpoints along the road where the ocean swell was crashing spectacularly against the rocks.

Went back briefly to the RV to clean salt mist from the camera lens before returning to the cove to see if it might offer any kind of sunset photo, although as there was a good deal of cloud cover my hopes were not high.

And in the event, the orientation of the cove proved to be not great for sunset, at least at this time of year

But a glimmer of sunlight breaking through on the trees above had me scrambling back to try to find another sunset viewpoint and I duly discovered one on a cliff above one side of the cove, looking out over the ocean.

Low cloud on the horizon obscured the moment of sunset itself but made for some OK shots before then.

Having waited for the sun to drop well below the horizon, in case of an unexpected break in the clouds, I headed back the short distance to the campground and a late supper.

Tuesday, April 26, 2022 - Sunset Bay State Park, Charleston, OR

Slept well, woken by an early morning shower and a second burst of rain around sunrise, though it didn't seem to be enough to fully stir me from my slumbers - the quiet and relative gloom outside from the dense tree cover had me falling back into a doze.

Eventually out of bed at 7:30am, showered and breakfasted, did a little e-mail checking, caught up on the news online and then the unexpected early sunshine tempted me out to visit the nearby cove where the morning sun would offer different lighting and the tide would be more fully in.

In fact, the tide decided to welcome me a little more intimately than expected, with one particularly large - but silent - surge in the cove raising the water level a foot and covering the rock on which I was standing... only noticed as the water seeped into my sneakers.

Waited for a while for the sun moving higher in the sky and improve the view, as it did once the sun was illuminating the rock faces.

With the camera full of photos of the cove under various lighting conditions I headed back to the RV to warm up, enjoy my morning coffee and begin reviewing the excessive number of photos taken last night and this morning.

While contemplating the timing of a mountain bike ride another rain shower came through... as if to tell me I should maybe park the idea and consider riding tomorrow, staying on here an extra night.

Spent a considerable amount of time trying to sort out my visit to Olympic National Park, trying to juggle the variables of weather, campgrounds on the way and there, efficient route to visit the main features of the park... and not making much progress on the campgrounds in particular.

Got an additional night here booked at the ranger station mid-afternoon, in between continued attempts to figure out a workable forward itinerary, from which I took a couple of breaks to continue winnowing down the excessive number of photos taken the last few days.

Cloud cover late afternoon meant it wasn't worth heading out to chase a sunset, so I actually had a 6 o'clock beer on schedule for the first time in several days.

Wednesday, April 27, 2022 - Sunset Bay State Park, Charleston, OR

Awake earlier this morning, still pondering the immediate itinerary ahead... but adjusting to the fact that I'm likely to be driving in the rain a good deal.

An hour's desk time dealing with the admin that never seems to go away (including continued correspondence with a 3rd-down-the-line buyer of a boat I sold in 2003!) and finally figuring out that Washington state campgrounds keep rejecting on-line reservation attempts as they don't start taking reservations until mid-May, though this isn't said explicitly anywhere. It appears to be first-come first-serve until then.

Coffee and bagel at 10:30am to set me up for a mountain bike ride at a relatively close by Whiskey Run Trails.

Out onto the trails at midday... fast, flowing, smooth dirt surface, not at all muddy despite recent rain, winding through the forest, a cross between a pump track and rollercoaster ride. Trails would be great fun once known more intimately, and once the best direction to ride was figured out.

Took an early wrong turn on my route, requiring a long backtrack uphill, and thereafter checked where I was fairly frequently - which broke up the rhythm of the ride a little - but overall most enjoyable.

In the end, 8.5 miles ridden in 70 minutes of actual moving time... rather longer out on the trails.

Wolfed down an energy bar at the end of the ride while cleaning up the bike a little then drove back to the campground and picked up the camera to head to Norton Gulch cove to see what a mid-afternoon photo might look like.

Not attractive, it turned out, due partly to weak sunlight but mostly to the fact that the tide was out and so the cove foreground was just rocks with no water.

I think I've settled on a loose forward itinerary... driving up the coast road to see how far I get and taking my chances at the closest state park campground.

One unresolved itinerary issue, though - finding a way to stop in at the Hoh Rain Forest section of Olympic National Park as I drive by over the weekend as there are potential 30-minute delays on the access road due to construction on weekdays and it's almost on the opposite side of the park to where I'm likely to stop for a few days in Port Angeles.

Thursday, April 28, 2022 - Sunset Bay State Park, Charleston, OR, to Nehalem Bay State Park, OR

No rain in the immediate forecast when checking as I woke up at 6:00am, so I decided to brave the elements, and the hills, and head out for a run... which in the end was actually quite refreshing, the hills not as bad as I had anticipated, and at least the final mile was mostly downhill.

Usual post run routine, showered, tidied up the RV for the road, hooked up the Jeep and headed out of the campground at 9:15am making a first stop 90 minutes later in Florence for a coffee, breakfast sandwich, grocery top-up and $125 of gas.

Pulled over in Newport at the Subway store there, parking in a residential area where I didn't feel like staying so drove on to Depoe Bay where I stopped to actually eat the sandwich and then take a brief stroll over the bridge and past the "world's smallest harbor" according to the sign there - I suspect many UK harbors are smaller, though it does have a rather intimidating cut into it from the ocean.

Then on for the final stint of the day, passing over some damp roads and through an occasional sprinkle but not encountering the rain that had been forecast.

Turned off Route 101 at 4:30pm and into Nehalem State Park, situated behind the dunes of the beach and with 300 campsites spread over 6 loops.

Took a walk, exploring an unofficial beach access path just behind the campsite, through a band of moss-covered trees and onto the sand dunes behind the beach, slightly reminiscent of Holkham Beach in Norfolk.

Chilly and breezy on the wide open beach but I decided to walk for a while in search of interesting driftwood and found a very twisted and bleached section of a tree.

Somewhat distracted by taking photos of the driftwood I didn't notice an approaching rain shower and had to scamper back along the beach to the RV to avoid a drenching.

A number of TV stations coming through the rooftop antenna so caught up on world news while enjoying an early evening beer, not venturing out later for sunset photos as it was far too overcast.

Friday, April 29, 2022 - Nehalem Bay State Park, OR, to Forks, WA

Thoughts of a morning run around the campground rather dispelled by light rain coming in, so instead called my mother in the UK, pushed on through a workout, got cleaned up, had breakfast, hooked up the Jeep and hit the road, back on Route 101 at 9:15am.

Made a stop on the outskirts of Astoria for a coffee, the latest weather check and to narrow down the options for overnight - either a state park just before Forks or a commercial campground in Forks itself.

Departed the land of coffee shacks and weed shops, heading over the Astoria bridge into Washington State, taking the slightly longer coast road trying to avoid the rain showers I could see on the inland route - a somewhat doubtful tactic as I hit rain several times on the drive, mostly when logging trucks were zooming past in the opposite direction, throwing up sheets of dirty spray.

Pulled over just before Aberdeen for a quick bite of lunch, and for $200 of gas on the way out of town before continuing the day's drive.

The coastal section of Route 101 has several beaches noted in the general guide to Olympic National Park, whose boundaries reach out considerably beyond the central point of Mount Olympus. Although apparently popular - I assume for beachgoers - they didn't seem too special as I drove past so I continued on to the final beach area before Route 101 turned inland, Ruby Beach, and pulled over there for a stroll around.

Slightly more interesting than the earlier beaches, a number of sea stacks offshore and even one right on the beach.

With a final 30 minutes of the day's drive ahead I was still debating state park versus commercial park, but with the state park coming up first I was able to drive around it to evaluate it - small and tight and down in a hollow with only one bar of cell service, making it an easy decision to head on into the commercial campground in Forks.

Got checked in for tonight and tomorrow night, to give me weather options for a visit to the Hoh Rain Forest, and was greeted by the beginning of the evening's rain as I set up in the campsite.

Not a hugely scenic campground, but quiet and with WiFi that appears to be good and strong.

Saturday, April 30, 2022 - Forks, WA

Occasional rain overnight, but with tantalizing glimpses of blue sky and sunlight breaking my concentration during an early morning workout.

The forecast still stubbornly cloudy with periods of rain until the end of the day so I put in some desk time, enjoying the break from long driving days.

Decided to head out at 3:00pm, just as a heavy rain shower was easing, in the hope that some brighter weather might follow the shower... and follow me up to the Hoh Rain Forest. But it was not to be... and towards the end of the 45-minute drive up to the rain forest there was light and intermittent rain, with low cloud above the tree-tops across the Hoh River.

And that was pretty much the story for the couple of hours I spent there, walking the two relatively short trails looping out from the Visitor Center.

The shorter Hall of Mosses trail was the most interesting, many of the trees covered in a blanket of thick moss, the second trail, Spruce Nature Trail, not quite as thickly mossy but having more variety in trees and plants as it meandered down to the Hoh River, on the opposite bank of which low cloud was still hanging.

Although I perceived hints of brightness at the end of the walk, and even saw a patch or two of blue sky as I drove away towards Forks, I wasn't persuaded it would change the view or experience of the rain forest, so continued on back to Forks, the roads getting progressively drier further away from the rain forest.

So a slightly late evening, beer not in my hand until 7:00pm, but I found a good movie on Netflix for my Saturday night entertainment.

Sunday, May 1, 2022 - Forks, WA, to Port Angeles, WA

May Day today, celebrated many many years ago when I was at Oxford with a ritual all-night drinking and socializing session, rounded off with an early morning walk down to Magdalen Bridge to join the official May Day crowd:

"At 6am from the top of Magdalen College's Great Tower choristers sing the Hymnus Eucharisticus, which was composed in the 17th century by a Fellow of Magdalen College and has been sung every year since. The Great Tower's bells will then ring out over the city for around 20 minutes. Morris Dancing and folk singing in the streets will help celebrate the coming of Spring. Clubs will be staying open later while many restaurants and pubs will be open offering breakfast, beer and Bucks Fizz from 5.30am."

Celebrated this May morning with a run, out and back a couple of times to the southern Forks city limits.

Coffee brewed before breaking camp, heading out just after 11:00am but only as far as the Forks Outfitters store across the road... where I bought a sweatshirt (technically a hoodie, my first ever) with an Olympic National Park design - all out of "blue for boys" so bought a green one for the rain forest and to commemorate now having been to all four corners of the USA.

Finally on the road out of town at 12:00 for the relatively short drive to Port Angeles, very scenic on the twisting road around Lake Crescent.

Stopped at a Subway for a late lunch sandwich, with the longest ever wait to be served, behind a family, a picky couple, and a large phoned-in order.

Finally arrived at the campground on the east side of Port Angeles just after 2:00pm and, with the weather rather gray and dismal, as expected, settled in to a couple of RV chores and some desk time checking out maps and trails for the next spot I planned to visit in Olympic National Park.

Monday, May 2, 2022 - Port Angeles, WA

Up a little later than usual... morning workout, breakfast, coffee.

Desk time this morning researching details of the ferry from Port Townsend to Whidbey Island, reservation advised even at this time of year, and departures around midday for Wednesday already showing standby only - but apparently this would be bad timing anyway due to low tide making the ferry ramps very steep.

A 9:30am ferry would seem to be the best idea... but at least an hour's drive to get there, 30 minutes arrival before departure advised, plus time to decamp. All implying an early morning departure from the campground to make that sailing.

The sun making occasional appearances towards the end of the morning had me heading out for Hurricane Ridge...

...but cloud cover increased as the road climbed and by the first viewing point half-way up at 2,500ft I was right at the cloud base. From there on up, colder and wetter and mistier, snow banks building at the side of the road.

By the time I arrived at the Visitor Center, at 5,200ft, it was 34 degrees, visibility fully socked in and snow banks beside the road 3-5ft high.

So my thoughts of walking some trails clearly had to be abandoned. Hurricane Hill Road would have taken me a mile further on but it was cordoned off even though the road surface had been mostly cleared.

So I decided I would walk down the road to the parking lot loop at the end just to see what there was to see...

...which wasn't much in the low cloud and occasional rain, but at least I got some fresh air and exercise.

Drove back down the mountain, cloud base still hovering around 2,500ft, and made a brief grocery stop on the way to the campground, getting back at 4:30pm.

Tuesday, May 3, 2022 - Port Angeles, WA

Unexpected clear and sunny skies when I woke around 6:30am, but no immediate idea how I could use that to my advantage without rushing out immediately... and to where? Up to Hurricane Ridge to take a simple postcard panoramic view down over Port Angeles...?

And before long cloud cover starting to drift in so that by the time I would have been up, showered, dressed, breakfasted and ready to head out (again to where?) I would likely have gained little.

So I stuck with Plan A and headed out for a run, driving a couple of miles to get to a nearby section of the walking/cycling Olympic Discovery Trail.

A little late by the time I had run, driven back to the RV, got cleaned up and ready to head out, so for convenience I stopped at Starbucks for a coffee and breakfast sandwich in town before heading on to Sol Duc (or Soleduck if you're the Forest Service).

Treated to the sight of a black bear happily taking a roadside snack, apparently not remotely bothered by the cars parked opposite with windows down and cameras clicking away (silently these days, of course) although the hackles on his (her?) neck were standing up.

Pulled over a short distance on from the black bear sighting at the Ancient Groves trail - as the name implies, an older growth section of forest, huge trees everywhere, a surprising number on the ground, and everything covered in moss. But a very peaceful and soothing ¾-mile loop trail.

Then on to the end of the road and the trail out to Sol Duc Falls, where a lot of people were also taking the hike.

Impressive falls, readily viewed from the footbridge crossing the river below the falls but with no way to get down into the narrow gorge to get photos looking up at them.

So I strolled up to the river above the falls for some shots of the fast-flowing stream cascading over the rocky river bed and found another viewpoint above the falls as they streamed down into the gorge.

Felt a little weary on the drive back to Port Angeles after my day's exercise - 4 miles running and then another 4 miles of hiking - but no more exertions planned.

Spent a little time back in the campground on an initial sift through photos and before settling in for the evening I got the Jeep hooked up in preparation for an early departure tomorrow morning for the ferry.

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