Trip to the Olympic Peninsula, 2005
(click on the picture for a larger version and description)

This spring (May, 2005) I went to Washington to visit Alan. We took his car and went for a drive around
the Olympic Peninsula. I had done this once before, about 12-15 years ago, and had a great time, so I
was anticipating another good trip. I wasn't disappointed. I ended up taking close to 200 pictures, but here
are the highlights:

 

 We took the southerly route, going through Aberdeen and Hoquiam, before heading north up Highway 101. This is the not-so-interestingly-named Beach 1. Not a great name, but a nice beach, and a beautiful day.
This is also at Beach 1. The trail to the beach (it's only about 100 feet off Highway 101) goes through a forest full of trees with these big burls. Very neat looking.
This is Beach 3 (Going North, we saw Beaches 1,2,3,4 and 6. We never saw where Beach 5 was). We actually walked down to Beach 3, as it looked a little more sandy than 1 & 2. It was a beautiful afternoon, and there wasn't anyone but us out (of course, this was a Thursday afternoon, before Memorial Day, so I guess it wasn't exactly peak tourist season yet. However, for this Alaskan boy, the weather was perfect).
As it turns out, there was one or two good looking guys on the beach (ok, one).
Alan and I, at Beach 3. :-)
A few miles farther north, we saw a sign that said "Big Cedar Tree" with an arrow pointing to it. The sign was right--this was a BIG cedar tree. This is Alan, looking up at it.
If it weren't for the height, I'd say this was a creepy forest-gnome, or maybe one of those stupid Keebler Elves.
This is Ruby Beach, right where Highway 101 heads inland. There were a few more people here, but still not very many. If you ever are in this area, give yourself a few hours here! This was a great place to watch the sunset, which is what several of the people we saw were doing. Others were just wandering around taking pictures, like we were.
Looking south at Ruby Beach. I thought it was neat how the big trees came right up to the beach. Once again, there was hardly anyone here, but I suppose it was still "cold" for the people that live in the 48 contiguous states. For me, it was darn-near swimming weather.
Alan, looking north at Ruby Beach.
I was trying to show the difference in height between Alan and the trees here. To get the entire tree in I almost had to walk back into the surf!
The next day (Friday, May 13th) we drove along Highway 112 to Cape Flattery, the most northwesterly point of the 48 contiguous states. There's a beautiful trail through the woods at the end of the road. We were a little worried parking there, since there was a sign that said we had to buy a parking pass, but the place that sold the parking passes was five miles back the way we came, so we decided to risk it (we lucked out-no ticket or boot on the car!)
This is looking out at the Pacific Ocean, at Cape Flattery. The water was the neatest green color. Beaches are nice, but I love the look of the ocean waves, crashing against the rocks below (even though it wasn't stormy when we were there, but you know what I mean)
Looking east, at Cape Flattery
Alan and I, at Cape Flattery.
This is Totoosh Island, which is even MORE "northwesterly" than where we were. There's a lighthouse on it, which my dad said he worked on when he was in the Coast Guard one or two (ok, forty) years ago.
Alan and me, with Tatoosh Island behind us at Cape Flattery. This was a great day. :-)
The first part of the trail was just a dirt trail, but the last part was a nice wood-plank walkway. It made it that much nicer, and we didn't even have to get muddy!
Later that day we went to Marymere Falls, which is near Lake Crescent. I had been here about fifteen years ago, and remembered how pretty it was, so we went again. It's about a 1/2 mile walk through the woods. Once again, there were very few people here-we just about had the place to ourselves.
Alan, on a bridge crossing the creek near the falls.
Marymere Falls. Now, this picture really doesn't do it justice. It was really a neat sight. This picture is actually two photos stitched together, as I couldn't quite get the entire thing in one shot. Trust me that it's very beautiful, and well worth the walk through the woods to see if you're ever in that part of the country.
This is the trail on the way back from the falls. Yes, pretty much the same as one of the pictures above, just in the opposite direction.
Right as we were leaving, we saw three deer along the road. It was a narrow, windy part of the road, so we couldn't really stop, but here's one of them! cute!
The last part of the trip was Alan's hometown-Port Townsend. My family actually lived here, a couple of years before I was born (early 60's). Pt. Townsend is a very picturesque. town with a lot of 1800's-era buildings in it.
This is Fort Worden. Well, this is a lighthouse at Ft. Worden.
OK, this is Ft. Worden, as seen from Alan's parents house. Yeah, they have quite a view! This is looking (roughly) North. The land you see on the far side of the fort is Whidbey Island.
Alan and his parents on their boat. They're really great people, and I had a fantastic time there!
This is the Water Street Brewing & Ale House, of which Alan's sister and brother-in-law are partners in. A very neat place with some really fun people. Make sure you have a margarita while you're there! You can see the typical architecture of downtown Port Townsend here.
Well, obviously there was more to the trip than that, but that gives you the highlights. I had a great time (mainly because of the company) and can't wait to go back. This was definately a "whirlwind" trip, and I don't doubt that there's plenty more to see there!