Aberdeen - US101 - Quinault Rain Forest - Queets - Ruby Beach - Hoh Rain Forest - Lake Crescent - Port Angeles
I misjudged todays task, so I didn¥t make it to Port Townsend as planned. Tomorrow will be an interesting day, since I need to be in Bothell, WA at 2 pm. We¥ll see.
I took hundreds of pictures today, so it was very difficult to pick the most important ones.
The day starts at Aberdeen with me oversleeping. I leave by 10:30. Not a good start. I head up 101 to make up time. At Quinault I stop to take a short hike through the rain forest. What a contrast to yesterdays Mount St. Helens.
In these socalled temperate rain forests, trees almost as large as the redwoods grow because of the unique climate.
The unique feature of the rain forest vegetation is the moss that grows all over the trees.
Even dead trees have life as these holes caused by woodpeckers indicates:
Heading north on the 101, I reach the pacific again. Peter said the Washington Coast is not as beautiful as the Oregon Coast. At least here, it is equally interesting.
The most interesting feature is the driftwood which collects at the beaches. It is very dangerous when the tide is high and the logs flow in the water.
Close to the beach I find funny trees. They are called Spruce Burls. (At least I hope I remember that right.)
Ruby beach certainly is a beauty.
A family of native americans prepares a kite.
The beach is full of the perfect pepples.
I manage to make it dip only twice. Looser.
Onward to Hoh Rain Forest. On the way, I think about the road signs I see. What is a "Compression Brake" and why is it¥s use prohibited? Also, I notice that unlawful really is an awful word. Why are they using so many different words for things that are forbidden? Is it some sublime cultural thing? Also I notice that there are an awful lot of things unlawful in the land of the free. In fact, I miss being able to simply pull over and hike into the woods on some off road. Most of those are private property and you are not allowed to trespass.
Also, I reflect on the inherit humour of the english language which seems to influence the US culture. They have Seattle in Washington. And the signs say: "Plants grow by the inch and die by the foot". It will loose a little if they ever switch to metrics, I imagine.
Anyways, once at Hoh Rain Forest, I find a guide:
It takes me along the trails where I find hundreds of motives to take pictures.
Notice the elk marks on this tree:
Fallen trees are fertile grounds for new trees and are called nursing logs:
On the way out of the Hoh valley, I pass a swamp with a nice look to it:
Finally it looks like it is going to rain in the rain forest. A quick glance back up the road reveals a view to Mount Olympus. (This name reminds me of an exhibit from "The Tech" which was a flyby of the Mars surface which sported Olympus Mons.)
I still hope to reach Port Townsend so I hit the gas pedal. In Forks, I stop to buy some food since I get hungry. I notice that the people here are very prototypical loggers. There are more pickup trucks in that little town than there are in all of Germany.
I hurry. When I reach Crescent Lake, I realise that I am too tired to drive on another couple of hours.
So I decide to call it a day and find a Motel. I try a Lodge by the sea but can¥t afford it, so I drive on to Port Angeles.
To be continued with WWDC Trip - Day 13 (Friday): From Port Angeles to Seattle.