Thursday, September 5
The crew and I wake to a typical Pacific Northwest day. These photos were taken during the brightest part of the morning between rain showers.
The ferns and big leaves of the bushes are dripping and drooping.
Mossy tree trunks are bright green.
Mist rises off the Hamma Hamma River.
It’s not the sort of morning for a soak. Sniffing river rocks will have to suffice.
Let me give you a little tour of Hamma Hamma Campground. It’s beginning to look a lot like Fall here!
This next site is very picturesque.
Whoever designed this campground knew how important privacy is.
The trees are too tall for me to fit in this next photo.
As Bridget, Spike and I wander around the campground, my mind also wanders to the upcoming weekend.
Although this is a pretty place with the features I covet — seclusion, quiet, natural beauty, affordable — I’m going to move to another camp for the weekend. This part of Hood Canal is mostly private residences clinging to the shoreline, a few restaurants and a place to taste and buy wine. I want to move closer to Port Townsend.
We make our way back to the Best Little Trailer.
“Let’s go see what we can see! C’mon, Bridge. Get out from under there. We’re going!”
First I drive to Lena Campground, a few miles further up the forest road. No one is camped there. Just two cars are parked at the trail head.
I take us the eight miles or so to Highway 101.
We backtrack, heading south along Hood Canal. It’s not a good day for taking photos. My plan is to drive to Potlach State Park Day-Use Area, walk around by the water with the crew, and then go to one of the restaurants for a late lunch.
At Hoodsport, I stop at the IGA store. In the deli section rotisserie chickens are “$5.99 for one day only.” Gosh, the crew has been so good . . . yesterday on that long drive . . . and this morning, walking around the campground, not running off (Spike) . . . .
I pick up the heftiest chicken.
I can go to a restaurant another day. We’ll have a picnic at the park! It’ll be fun!
Right before I ease out of the parking lot onto the main road, a guy pulls up alongside the PTV.
“What’s that? 110 watts?” he calls out.
“No, two hundred, I answer. Got two AGM batteries inside.” Gee, I sound like a guy.
“How’s it work for ya,'” he asks.
“Fantastic! I love it,” I respond, while glancing in the side mirror to see if I’m holding up traffic.
He looks up at the panel wistfully.
“I want to get solar for my motorhome.”
“Do it,” I respond. “It’s great!”
I have this conversation all the time with people. If they’re not asking about the solar panel, they’re complimenting the Best Little Trailer. Hey, it’s nice to be the subject of envy. I won’t deny that. Better that than the other way around . . .
I drive us into Potlach State Park.
Uh-oh, Discover Pass required. I don’t have one. I have a Forest Pass. Thinking we’ll have to leave, I drive toward the exit. What’s this? “15-minute parking – no pass required.”
Looks like we’ll have our picnic after all!
Bridget and Spike LOVE rotisserie chicken. I like it, too.
I don’t have any utensils (shoulda’ picked some up at the deli), but it doesn’t matter. I pull off pieces for me and for the crew with my bare hands. Boy, it tastes good, sitting out here in this misty air. A brief walk-around and we’re good to go!
The rain pelts the roof of the BLT most of the night.
During a brief hiatus, an owl hoots several times. No one is here. Not even on the road or at the campground further up the road. I smile at the peace this gives me. I fall back to sleep waiting for the next hoot.
rvsue
TODAY IS A SPECIAL DAY!
Two people dear to me – my sister, Pauline, and my friend, Mick in Tennessee — share a birthday today.
(And guess what? Mick has sent a surprise package for me to a nearby post office. That’s typical of Mick. It’s HIS birthday, so he sends ME a gift . . . Hey, that works.)
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, PAULINE AND MICK!
