on the road: Salt Creek and Dungeness Spit

We had a big decision to make coming back from Cape Flattery. We initially thought we'd camp at Lake Ozette where there is a small National Park campground but, as we entered that road, we saw signs indicating that there were only 15 sites there and many were small. Since we didn't want to drive down there and have to come back, we decided to give up on that plan (that was a tough one, after all we learned about the area at the museum.) We had originally planned to go into the park again to see the Sol Duc Hot Springs area. But, since it was going south (out of our projectory), since the hot springs were essentially swimming pools (and we have done those before and Boo probably wouldn't be allowed near us), we decided to head for the Salt Creek Recreation Area, another recommendation from our friend, Mike from Cape Disappointment.

It is a meticulously groomed county park, with many "in a row" RV sites, which we really don't like and many tucked away in the trees, many with wonderful views of the ocean. Although we didn't get a view of the ocean, we did get a lovely big site near the trails to the bluff and tide pools, so we were content. The area itself is a protrusion into the Strait of Juan de Fuca, located at the crest of the Olympic Peninsula.

We got there in time for sunset and
a stroll along the ocean bluff trail.

Wild roses grow everywhere.

The next morning we walked down to the tide pools at Tongue Point.

Can you see where the stairs end and the
climb down begins? We really are too old
for climbing over rocks like this but we
did survive without a fall.

That smile is a ruse.

Most of this is encrusted with barnicles and shells. I was
amazed to think afterwards of how it could have been rough
on Boo. He was so fascinated with all the moving creatures
that he didn't seem at all concerned.

Beautiful purple and gold mussels and kelp are everywhere.

A star fish hiding under the grass. We learned that a star fish
preys on mussels and clams by bringing its
stomach out of its mouth and into the shell of its prey,
devouring it and then slipping back into its body.
Weird, huh!?!

We think this was an anenome of some kind.
It was so thin and transparent inside that
outer body!

Beautiful elderberry trees were everywhere.

Although it was hard to leave this area, we decided to move on to Dungeness Spit, another Challam County Park. We had Jason send our mail to Sequim (pronounced "Skwim"), so we needed to camp nearby. Sequim is a delightful little town that sits in the shadow of Mt. Olympus and because of that, it is one of the driest and sunniest locales in this part of Washington state. It is also known as the lavender capital of North America.

Our campsite, with the ocean just beyond those trees

They have a wonderful ocean bluff trail here, too.

This "Spit" (a narrow land formation created by the movement of sand, other sediment and wind to create a curved land mass) is growing at the rate of 13 feet a year!

The Dungenes Spit

There is a delightful trail run by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife people leading down to the spit. It is almost up there with the rainforest walk in terms of beauty and solitude.

One side of the Spit is the ocean and the other is the bay.
There were people looking for something (clams?) in the bay.

I sat here for awhile and meditated......

....while watching this man doing Tai Chi.
I was sorry that I have forgotten how to do
these moves.

Mt. Baker in the background, surrounded with clouds

Meanwhile, back at camp, we decided that it really was too bad that Boo had to sit on the ground while we were in our chairs. So, we brought out a chair for him. Cracks me up!