01-05SEP10 - Various, WA (olympic peninsula)

Wednesday, 01SEP, we tried once again to get onboard NAS Whidbey Island to stay at their military RV park, again with no luck. So as we did on 13JUL we headed to the city owned Staysail RV Park in Oak Harbor, WA. Thursday morning, kind of on a “spur of the moment” we decided to catch a Washington State ferry over to the Olympic Peninsula of Washington to see Dan’s cousin Kathie Grasser. Unfortunately the closest ferry (which is on Whidbey Island) is reservation only & was fully booked. So we were forced to drive off the island & back track for two hours to catch a ferry out of Edmonds over to the town of Kingston. Thankfully there was no line for the ferry, & we were treated to a glorious ride.

As we proceeded toward Sequim, WA, we stopped for a burger at Fat Smitty’s. We knew Smitty’s must be good because there were four State Patrol cars parked outside (or maybe a serious crime was occurring?). Smitty is a retired Marine & runs his establishment as he sees fit; for example he may or may not be open at any particular time or day. In addition to the unique objects outside, there are countless dollar bills covering the ceiling & walls. We have seen other establishments with money on the ceiling, but never as many as here. Luckily we only ordered one Fat Smitty burger to share, because it was three inches of bacon, paddies & cheese! Upon arrival at Kathie’s & setting up camp we sat outside in the sunshine with Kathie & mother-in-law, Marge, before being treated to an excellent chili dinner. For more on our last visit with these two fine ladies check out the below BLOG entry.

http://theryanrvexpress.blogspot.com/2007/09/27sep07-sequim-wa.html

Friday morning we took off in the Toad to explore the Olympic National Park. First stop was the main visitor center to gather info on the park & view the always informative park video. Next was a drive up to the Hurricane Ridge Visitor Center, a climb of almost 5000 feet. We spent a couple of hours enjoying the view & walking some of the shorter nature trails. While there we noted a display & buttons saying “Last Dam Summer”. Turns out that the dams on the Elwha River (2 total) are to be removed starting next summer. So this summer is the last summer of the dams (aka Last Dam Summer).

Dan decided that we needed to go view the dams before they are removed. He also decided that we would take the Forest Service dirt roads to get there. After a bouncy but scenic twenty minute ride we made it. Efforts to remove the dams have been underway since the 70s, in 1992 Congress authorized the removal of the dams; but it still took 15 years of legal proceedings & environmental studies before contracts could be signed. After a full day of just exploring a small portion of the National Park we headed back to Kathie’s for another great meal & more family reminiscing. There is so much to do on the Olympic Peninsula that next time we need to visit for much longer!
http://www.nps.gov/olym/

http://www.nps.gov/olym/naturescience/elwha-ecosystem-restoration.htm

Late start Saturday morning we awoke to the “threat” of rain & decided to head south on 101 along the westside of Hood Canal. It was a beautiful drive & we stumbled onto a beach front RV park at Hoodsport. Although it was next to noisy highway 101, the view of the shoreline & Hood Canal were worth it! After enjoying the afternoon sun it was into the Toad for a quick tour of Shelton & the surrounding area. For dinner we headed to the Goeduck Tavern for an oyster sandwich & goeduck (aka gooey duck) clam strips.

Sunday morning, 05SEP, we continued exploring in the Toad. First stop (after ten miles of National Forest Road) was the “High Steel Bridge”, a logging RR bridge built in 1929. It is 685 foot long & 420 feet above the Skokomish River. Corrie was not pleased when Dan upon finding the bridge, drove straight across it without checking to see how safe it was. To insure her safety she walked back across the bridge, leaving Dan to drive back solo. Turns out the bridge was the scene of a dramatic Naval helo rescue on 17AUG, that we saw several times on the Seattle TV news. Check out the below internet link to see a helo hovering under the bridge with no clearance between the canyon walls.
http://www.explorehoodcanal.com/high-steel-bridge.html

http://www.king5.com/news/steel-bridge-skokomish-river-100949169.html

Then it was off to Union, WA, to visit the Dalby Waterwheel. The waterwheel although not spectacular is a slice of local & Seattle history. In 1924 it provided the first electricity on Hood Canal. The wheel was recycled from the trolley counter balance system on Queen Anne Hill in Seattle & the water buckets were from a dredge used on the Denny re-grade in Seattle. We finished the day by driving along the south end of Hood Canal, to the south end of Puget Sound, & back to the RV park to enjoy the late afternoon sun.

http://www.dalbywaterwheel.org/

http://www.northmasonchamber.com/x3298.xml