Greetings from the Northwest,

After moving through California at a leisurely pace, we sped through Oregon and doubled our meager weekly mileage.  Our Atascadero neighbors, Ben and Sid, got a one month head start on us and we wanted to catch up. 

1) Escapees Co-op, Timber Valley RV Park in Sutherlin, Oregon.  2) Portland OR, as seen driving on Hwy 5.


1) Oregon, come and gone.  2) When we got on the freeway and saw this truck, we thought we were going the WRONG WAY. Then we noticed the road sign in the distance and realized that we were the ones going in the right direction.  Whew!!!


1) Reflecting on our visit to the Elks Lodge in Ocean Shores, WA.  2) We drove the 101 up the Washington coast for hundreds of miles.  This is a rare glimpse of the beach that you can get from the road.  There are a number of turnouts where you can pull over and walk through the trees to get to the ocean.


1) Our GPS is generally reliable.  On the trip up the coast on the 109, it took us to the Quinault Indian Reservation.  It indicated that in 13 miles we would rejoin the 101.  Unfortunately it did not mention the "109 Ends Sign" or the fact that it is dirt and later has huge impassable pot holes  2) We stop to wash a couple of layers of dust off.


1) This the what you see (or don't) on the 101.  2) We saw hundreds of miles of the most beautiful wildflowers that we have see anywhere in the USA.  They line both sides of every road and come in many colors.




Lake Crescent in Northwest Washington just short of Port Angeles.


1) We sit with Sid and Ben upon Hurricane Ridge in the Olympic National Forest.  A 17 mile road goes from Port Angeles at sea level to this spot at over 5,000 feet.  2) The Lupine covers acres of meadow.


The weather on Hurricane Ridge changes in seconds.  From this misty photo ...


to this one seconds later and then in a few minutes, the clouds fly by again.


A railroad worker sculpture in Port Angeles, Washington.


1) Looking North from Port Angeles towards Vancouver Island.  2) A city park sits over the harbor on a pier.

1) Thousands gathered for the 4th of July parade, as did we.  2) Victoria City came over in their Police Car.


1) The seniors floated by.  2) And what parade is complete without the bagpipe band?


You don't get many sunset photos, but the skies are gorgeous.


1) Our site at Shadow Mountain RV Park was very private.  We rate it 3.5 out of 5 at $25/night.  2) The view of a very private lake across the road from our camp.


1) Ellen, Sid and Ben walk through the Sol Duc forest.  While not officially named a rain forest, it was lush with beauty.  2) The Sol Duc waterfalls.  Ellen walked the 2 mile trail, so yes, her knee is doing better. (or at least was)


We were drawn to the Sol Duc Hot Springs resort.  We didn't go in.  We forgot to call ahead and reserve a seat! 


Sayonara until next week when we take the ferry to Victoria and Vancouver Island.

Love, Pete and Ellen

Photos from Jul 2008