Olympic Peninsula, West End

This is my second story as I wrote a humdinger yesterday for one and a half hours, but it got lost in cyberspace. Bummer!
Tuesday-The last time I left you, I was taking my last walk at low tide on Long Beach at the Pacific Rim National Park. As I walked out on the beach, all I could see was big rocks marooned on the sand. As I approached, there were more sea anenomes and starfish clinging for dear life onto the rocks than I have ever seen in CA. I traveled over the pass to catch a ferry to Salt Spring Island. It is a island for people to hang out at B and Bs, resorts and visit all the artist's studios. I got there in the late afternoon, so was determined to get a campsite, which there are a lot of there, and go hear the music I was told about at The Tree House. I ended up at a new private campground build on the side of a mountain in an old rock quarry. I traveled down to the local hangout where they were having open mike and happened on a great musician playing a curious instrument. A Swiss man had taken the bottom of a steel drum played in Carribbean music, turned it upside down and put a strap this man had around his waist to keep it in place. The music that came from his fingers and palms was heavenly.
Wednesday- I had planned to visit art studios before I took the ferry to Sidney and then drove to Victoria to take the ferry to Port Angeles in WA, but after a quick phone call found out I had to be there before noon to get a spot. Off I went to que up at Fulford Harbor. I met an interesting man who lived on the island with his guitar, bucket full of paint supplies and straw hat. He was a musician, actor, and painter who was traveling to Victoria that morning to paint his daughter's apartment who was attending the U. of Victoria. I gave him a lift into the city from Sidney and I quickly got to the ferry by about 11 AM. I was told I needed to que up my car now and return by 1:30 for immigration inspection. It gave me time to explore Victoria one more time before departing by 3 PM. On the ferry I found some vacationing and retired teachers from back East and So. CA. It felt good to share stories and talk about all the cuts and changes in schools. I departed and drove down to Sequim, a cute retired community on the Strait of Juan de Fuca. They have this great Discovery Trail, biking and walking path connecting the towns, so I was able to make an 11 mile round trip to town and back in the evening. It is so beautiful riding through the local farmland with the round bales of hay and grazing black cows.
Thursday I was off to start my exploration of the Olympic Peninsula. Hurricane Ridge was first on my list, an awesome site not to miss. After picnicing at the top of the world, I was brave and walked up to the Lookout where you could see the snow-covered mountains and BC and the stait below. I thought I couldn't make it but I took my courage in my hands and did it. From there I traveled along to the road that leads into the forest at Sol Duc, where there is a campground and a 4 pool mineral springs resort to go swimming. The campground was full but I managed to get a walk in site where I could park in the parking lot. I soaked for 3 hours and found a couple who wasn't speaking another language, who told me about the hike to Sol Duc.
Friday - Up bright and early and off by 9 AM to hike four miles in and out of the falls. Now these were spectacular falls. With all the rain we got this year, all of them have been brim full. Leaving there I went to an Indian reservation out of La Push to check out their 1st Nation festival. Not quite what I thought it would be; 4-5 booths with people selling T-shirts, caps, decals, jewelry, chili and fry bread and cotton candy. The town was very poor and I always think about what we did to the Native Americans' way of life. I had to take a picture of the Rose boat beached at the harbor in the fog. Time to go inland. I went to the Hoh rain forest and found the sun and some spectacular trees in the Hall of Mosses. Three years ago they had hurricane winds blow through this area and absolutely ripped out and flattened many of these giants. I decided to check out eh beaches at Kalaloch and ended up at an overflow campgroound where RVs, trailers and tents are lined up end to end on a bluff right on the ocean. I met up with Bobby from Alabama and George from Yakima, WA, who took me up on the bluff to observe the fisherman knee deep in the water, bald eagles and huge burls on Sitka Spruce on the cliff. Later I visited George and his wife Delilah in their very nice RV and we talked about their lives as a doctor and nurse in Yakima.
Saturday- I am off to Long Beach, the Southern CA version of any of the beach towns. I went to Lake Quinault to walk through yet another rain forest, cozy up front of the fire to email on the soft brown leather couches in the Great Room, and visit the largest Sitka Spruce in the world. The afternoon was spent traveling down the coast to Long Beach for the night. On the way, I had to stop and get some fresh oysters from South Bend. When I got into Long Beach the state campground was full (sand castle contest weekend) and I was lucky enough to have a friend who has property in the area, so I stayed there for the night.
Sunday - History and forts day. I am now at the mouth of the Columbia River where Lewis and Clark finished their amazing trek from the East to the West. They have fasinating lighthouses, a very informative interpretive center about Lewis and Clark, and Fort Columbia. I can't imagine doing what they did to get here. I don't think I could ever be a pioneer. I went over the bridge into Astoria to check out the Astoria column which sits on a huge hill and you walk 164 steps up to the top to view the river, ocean, forests and two states below. It was a little scary at the top and you hoped you didn't drop your camera. They sell those little balsa wood gliders for you to sail off the top. What fun! Last fort, Fort Vancouver, back on the WA side was reminicent of Fort Ross and fasinating to wander through. A quick stop at the Pendleton Woolen Factory and Outlet, before heading to my northern home of Hood River with my friend Judi. After camping for 17 days, I was really ready for the bed and hot bathtub I knew was waiting for me. I have been restoring my energy as I start heading back home.