2 nights around the Olympic Peninsula
Ok this is my first attempt at a trip report so bear with me...
The wife and I ditched the kids last weekend for a few days by ourselves. Got a much later start on Friday then we anticipated due to unexpectedly being held over at work for six hours but finally left at 3pm. Stopped in Shelton for diesel then drove straight to Lake Quinault Lodge. We didn't have any plans other than to camp on the coast so we had dinner at the Lodge here before continuing. Figured we could camp at South Beach or Kalaloch since it was the third weekend of September, but nope! Everything was full! At the fourth campground we tried (Cottonwood by the Hoh River) we were stopped looking at the map after finding all the sites full. We were about to just find a pullout somewhere since it was dark and after 9pm, when someone knocked on the truck window. A friendly Scotsman (with a name I won't even try and spell) offered us a spot to park at his site since he had plenty of room. Score!
Long gravel road leaving the campground.
20170923_095016 (600x800) by GHCreekside, on Flickr
Then we drove back south to Ruby Beach again to see it during the day. Cool sea stacks and beautiful beach.
20170923_101948 (800x600) by GHCreekside, on Flickr
20170923_104942 (800x600) by GHCreekside, on Flickr
20170923_105800 (800x600) by GHCreekside, on Flickr
20170923_111240 (600x800) by GHCreekside, on Flickr
After that we turned north again and stopped in Forks and visited the logging museum. I love Northwest logging history and seeing the old pictures and how hard those guys worked. Worth the $3 admission.
From there we continued north and east on 101 with thoughts of camping on Lake Crescent but we missed the turn we wanted and got stuck in a bunch of construction so we decided to look for somewhere to camp around Port Angeles. Tried Salt Creek Park but it was basically full and pretty crowded so we ended up next door at Crescent Beach RV Park. This is normally the type of place I try to avoid, but they have an amazing half mile stretch of private sandy beach so it was worth the $50something for one night and wall to wall RVs.
20170923_181136 (800x600) by GHCreekside, on Flickr
You can just barely see our rig tucked in there.
20170923_183532 (600x800) by GHCreekside, on Flickr
The next day we decided to drive up to Hurricane Ridge and hike a little bit. If you're ever in Port Angeles and the weather is clear, it's worth the 18 mile drive. This is the third or fourth time I've been here but I don't know if I've ever been able to see this far. We could see Vancouver Island to the north, and even Mt. Baker and the Picketts to the east.
Vancouver Island
20170924_110435 (800x600) by GHCreekside, on Flickr
Looking east
20170924_112216 (800x600) by GHCreekside, on Flickr
Looking south. If you look real close you can see the camper in the center of the picture.
20170924_112754 (600x800) by GHCreekside, on Flickr
From there we stopped in Sequim for ice cream and then east across the Hood Canal floating bridge to head home. Great first trip with our Northern Lite and I was happy to see 14.9 mpg (hand calculated) with the camper on!
The wife and I ditched the kids last weekend for a few days by ourselves. Got a much later start on Friday then we anticipated due to unexpectedly being held over at work for six hours but finally left at 3pm. Stopped in Shelton for diesel then drove straight to Lake Quinault Lodge. We didn't have any plans other than to camp on the coast so we had dinner at the Lodge here before continuing. Figured we could camp at South Beach or Kalaloch since it was the third weekend of September, but nope! Everything was full! At the fourth campground we tried (Cottonwood by the Hoh River) we were stopped looking at the map after finding all the sites full. We were about to just find a pullout somewhere since it was dark and after 9pm, when someone knocked on the truck window. A friendly Scotsman (with a name I won't even try and spell) offered us a spot to park at his site since he had plenty of room. Score!
Long gravel road leaving the campground.
20170923_095016 (600x800) by GHCreekside, on FlickrThen we drove back south to Ruby Beach again to see it during the day. Cool sea stacks and beautiful beach.
20170923_101948 (800x600) by GHCreekside, on Flickr20170923_104942 (800x600) by GHCreekside, on Flickr20170923_105800 (800x600) by GHCreekside, on Flickr20170923_111240 (600x800) by GHCreekside, on FlickrAfter that we turned north again and stopped in Forks and visited the logging museum. I love Northwest logging history and seeing the old pictures and how hard those guys worked. Worth the $3 admission.
From there we continued north and east on 101 with thoughts of camping on Lake Crescent but we missed the turn we wanted and got stuck in a bunch of construction so we decided to look for somewhere to camp around Port Angeles. Tried Salt Creek Park but it was basically full and pretty crowded so we ended up next door at Crescent Beach RV Park. This is normally the type of place I try to avoid, but they have an amazing half mile stretch of private sandy beach so it was worth the $50something for one night and wall to wall RVs.
20170923_181136 (800x600) by GHCreekside, on FlickrYou can just barely see our rig tucked in there.
20170923_183532 (600x800) by GHCreekside, on FlickrThe next day we decided to drive up to Hurricane Ridge and hike a little bit. If you're ever in Port Angeles and the weather is clear, it's worth the 18 mile drive. This is the third or fourth time I've been here but I don't know if I've ever been able to see this far. We could see Vancouver Island to the north, and even Mt. Baker and the Picketts to the east.
Vancouver Island
20170924_110435 (800x600) by GHCreekside, on FlickrLooking east
20170924_112216 (800x600) by GHCreekside, on FlickrLooking south. If you look real close you can see the camper in the center of the picture.
20170924_112754 (600x800) by GHCreekside, on FlickrFrom there we stopped in Sequim for ice cream and then east across the Hood Canal floating bridge to head home. Great first trip with our Northern Lite and I was happy to see 14.9 mpg (hand calculated) with the camper on!
