Thursday, September 26
Goodbye, Mora Campground! You can see from this photo what little light descends through the trees to campsites in a forest. This has been a great campground. Close to Rialto Beach and practically empty all the while we were here.
The drive to our next campground will put some light on the solar panel.
One of my goals of this tour of the Olympic Peninsula is to camp along the Hoh River in the Hoh Rainforest. I’ve heard it’s a magical forest. There are several campgrounds from which to choose.
However, I force myself to bypass the Hoh Rainforest.
If I’m going to maintain good charge for my batteries and if I’m going to maintain this blog, as well, I can’t camp any more days in a dark place. It pains me to drive by the signs pointing to the wonderful camps along US Highway 101.
Oh well. Hoh, Neah Bay, Cape Flattery, Sequim, Deception Pass, the American River, Mt. McKinley, North Cascades National Park, Route 20, and other wonders of Washington go on the list for a return visit.
Besides I’m in the middle of a love affair with the Pacific Ocean!
At Forks I stop at the Thriftway Market. We left Mora so soon after breakfast, the crew may need a walk-around. We walk the perimeter of the parking lot, much to the crew’s delight.
I pick up a few can’t-do-without groceries.
I have no intention of buying ice cream.
No, I’m not going to get ice cream. I happen to take the ice cream aisle on my way to check-out. I try to look straight ahead as I push the cart past the freezers. Hmm. . . I wonder if they have that rare Tillimook ice cream flavor . . . . Oh, there it is! “White Chocolate Red Raspberry Yum.” Gee, it’s a new flavor. It might be discontinued, gone forever, at any time. I might never have this opportunity again! Dang, that’s the best ice cream I’ve ever tasted. Well, what’s it gonna’ hurt . . .
In the cart it goes!
The drive to the ocean on two-lane Highway 101, as one might expect in timber country, is through forest. I’m in high spirits. The sun is shining this late September day in Washington, I’ve got Tillamook in the freezer, the crew is cute while sleeping, and soon we’ll see the ocean!
I take the turn-off to Ruby Beach.
The little parking lot/turn-around is almost filled with cars. I find a place off to the side in which to park the PTV/BLT. As I’m letting Bridget and Spike out the side doors, I hear someone say something about “solar panel.” Heh-heh. That’s right. I’ve got soooo-laaarrrr! I smile to myself.
A steep path takes us down to the beach.
I stop mid-way for this photo.
At the bottom of the downward path, small logs are scattered about and in the way. Bridget jumps over easily. Spike hesitates. I pick him up and lift him over to the “awws” of people waiting for us to pass.
A stream rushes from forest to sea. Photographers wade through the stream in order to set up their tripods closer to the rocks.
I like to take photos of scenery without people traipsing through them. It’s hard to do that here today.
We don’t stay very long at Ruby Beach. I need to get us to the campground in order to snag a good campsite. Where are we going?
Kalaloch, of course!
I drive into Kalaloch with my usual anticipation. It soon dies as I troll five of the six loops (one loop is closed) and find every decent campsite is occupied! This is awful! I don’t want to camp in the bushes and trees. I want ocean view!
Dejectedly I back into a site that’s on the ocean side, but the ocean view is obstructed by thick bushes. I am not happy. I realize I’m totally spoiled. I’m at the point where I think every single campsite we stay in has to meet my expectations!
I don’t unhitch.
Tomorrow I’ll troll again for an empty ocean-view site. It’s supposed to rain. The wimps will move out and RVSue and her canine crew will move in.
What is this? They range in size from 5 -12 inches in diameter.
I walk Bridget and Spike to the day use area to pick up the path that goes down to the beach.
It’s very different here from Rialto Beach. The sand is tan, not black, and it’s a much finer grain. The beach is very wide at mid-tide and most of the logs are pushed up against a cliff. The ocean waves are gentler, rolling in several rows of white.
Beautiful!
The few people we meet as we walk the beach have dogs with them. All dogs are off-leash, although signs at the day-use area say they should be on-leash.
Hey, it’s the off-season. Why should Bridget and Spike be on-leash when all the other dogs aren’t? (Oh, how quickly we slide into anarchy.)
I let the crew loose to explore on their own.
(I admit I did some photo-editing on the above shot in order to counteract the fog.)
Spike discovers a sea monster!
“Watch out, Spikey! It might bite you on your cute hiney!”
Walking back to our campsite, I note that more campers have arrived. It looks like a dadburn parking lot. Gall-darn people need to stay home.
Rain pounds the roof throughout the night. Good. Drive away the weak. Open up a space for the strong.
Friday, September 27
We sleep late. Rain on the roof does that to us.
Can’t put it off any longer. Time to go out on a potty run.
I throw on some clothes, put the crew in their suits, and out we go into a light sprinkle. Three campsites up from us is A VACANCY. . . Look at that! A vacant campsite with ocean view!
“C’mon, guys! We’re going back! Hurry up!” Spike and Bridget are confused. No time to explain. We’re on a mission. I flip them into reverse and tug their little bodies into a sprint.
Into the PTV they go!
You can pee later. We’re getting that site!
Inside the BLT, everything that might fall gets tossed on the bed or the floor. I grab the chocks and throw them inside the door. In a flash, I’m firing up the PTV and we pull out!
We got it! Oceanfront property with a view! Yes!
rvsue
THANK YOU FOR SHOPPING AMAZON HERE!
No matter how many times I say it, I can’t thank you enough.
