Carol & Warner's Trip Around The USA: Tumwater, WA to the Olympic Peninsula and back to Tumwater

Sunday, May 29, 2011

Tumwater, WA to Olympic Peninsula and return

What great day this was!! We just had the best time driving the Olympic Peninsula as far as Port Angeles

From Port Angeles we drove up a mountain to Hurricane Ridge. This was 40-minute 17-mile drive through three tunnels, around sweeping curves beside sheer cliffs and precipitous drop offs. When we reached the top, it was buried in snow 10 feet deep. In addition, it began to rain and hail!

As an added bonus on the way up, we passed a black bear crossing a steep hillside beside the road. He seemed puzzled by the hoard of tourists (including me) who were taking his (or her) picture.

When we reached summit we were greeted by a panorama of snow-covered peaks wreathed in clouds and patches of sunshine. Awesome!

After returning from the mountain top jaunt, we drove to Crystal Lake for a hike Marymede Falls. It took us longer than most people because we were continually stopped to look at wildflowers.

The falls were spectacular dropping a hundred feet or more into a pool, which feed a stream.

From the falls, we drive back to Tumwater, WA whence we had set out that morning! Twas a long but satisfying day.

The drive from Tumwater took us along the shores of Puget Sound past small villages; in the morning, the tide was low exposing mud flats where groups of people were digging clams at the water’s edge. They were apparently selling them a man who had a truck loaded with bags of clams.

We passed several casinos operated by the local Indian Tribes. One community seemed to have cornered the fireworks sales market.

By lunchtime, we had reached the community of Seqium so we drove out to the shore to an area that was once known as the town of Dungeness. We had lunch at the Three Crabs Restaurant admired the Lighthouse in the distance. After lunch, we toured the town and went on to Port Angeles.

I do not plan to add pictures to the blog tonight because it late. I hope to add some in the morning.