Olympic National Park

August 24, 2017 - Thursday

Third leg of our national park trip.  We left Ohanapecosh about 9:30.  We took 123 south to 12 west to 7 north to Alder Lake State Park.  There was lots of road construction.  We got groceries at a little store in Morton.  While we were getting gas a couple from Ohio talked to us about our "cute little trailer".  This happens pretty often.  Alder Lake SP was not very far from Ohanaceposh.  We booked a night here just to take showers because Ohanapecosh and Kalaloch do not have showers.  When we got to Alder Lake we took showers.  These were about the dirtiest showers I have ever used, thank goodness for shower shoes.  We talked to Scott and then Isaac since we finally have cell service.  Baby girl should be here any time.  They have decided to name her Lillith Alana.  We had left over chili again for dinner.  The park was okay for overnight - the bathrooms, not so much.

August 25, 2017 - Friday

We left camp by 8:30 traveling on several highways until we got on 101 north.  Once in the Olympic area we took a side road to Quinalt which is next to Quinalt Lake in Olympic National Park area.  We bought ice then ate a hamburger at the Mercantile Cafe.  One of the best hamburgers we've ever eaten.

The Mercantile in Quinalt

Lake Quinalt

After we got back on 101N, we stopped at the Kalaloch Ranger Station for maps and information.  We got to our campsite at Kalaloch at about 2:00 pm.  The site is nice but was a little hard to get backed into and is on a pretty steep slope.  We couldn't get the trailer completely level front to back.  We met the camphosts, Ron and Christy, as we drove in and they gave us some good information.  Later they even dropped off some free firewood at our campsite.

Mike relaxing at our campsite

Campsite A38

After getting camp set up we walked on the beach.  This campground is between Hwy 101 and the Pacific Ocean in a strip of Olympic National Park that runs parallel to the ocean.  While walking I saw a whale spout.

Logs on beach

Mary while walking on beach

Mike on beach

Beach shot

About 6:00 (2 hours before sunset) we walked to the beach access and sat on a picnic table at the top.  As we sat for 2 hours waiting for the sunset, we saw California gray whales and sea otters.  The whales are usually further north this time of year, but some spent the whole summer feeding in  this area.   We saw several cow - calf pairs.  We could see the flukes and sides while the mother was feeding the calves.  Later we saw the sunset and it was amazing! A great first day at Kalaloch.

Sunset

August 26, 2017 - Saturday

The weather here by the Pacific is really cool (50ish).  I got up, started the coffee, then walked to look at the beach.  We were getting ready to go to Ruby Beach to see the tidal pools when Mike stepped in dog poo, tracking it into the trailer.  After all the cleanup and going to get gas, we barely made low tide.  Aggravating!  People should clean up after their pets.  But the tide pools at Ruby Beach were great.  We saw sea stars, sea anemones, barnacles, clams and other things I am not familiar with.  Worth the trip.

Purple sea star

Rock island off the beach

Mike next to the tide pool area

Mary by tide pool

Rock by beach

Sea Anemones

Group of sea stars

After looking at tide pools we drove up to the Hoh Rainforest area of Olympic National Park. On the way into and out of the rain forest we saw 11 Roosevelt Elk by the Hoh River.

Roosevelt Elk by Hoh River

We ate a picnic lunch then went into the visitor's center for information.  We hiked the Spruce Nature Trail (1-1/4 miles) then the Hall of Mosses Trail (3/4 mile).  Both were interesting with plaques  describing the area. 

Interesting tree roots by trail

Hoh River

Group of trees that all grew out of the same rotten log

On the Hall of Mosses trail 

Ferns growing out of rotten stump

Moss hanging off tree

On our way back to camp we stopped briefly at an overlook to look at whales.  We fixed soup and cornbread for dinner and had an early night.

August 27, 2017 - Sunday

After breakfast we walked the beach at Kalaloch at low tide.  I found some sand dollars, even one that was complete.  Mike spotted a fish in a stream/pool of water that turned out to be a salmon.  After walking on the beach we walked the 1 mile Kalaloch Nature Trail. 

Orange fungi

Shelf Fungi

Interesting fern and plants

We had lunch then sat around the campsite for a couple of hours before we went to watch whales for a couple of hours.  It had gotten so cool that we had built a fire while we sat around camp.  When we went to whale watch we saw lots of whales and sea otters.  I even went and got my camera and tripod and was able to get pictures of both.  Mike was sharing his binoculars with a man and young woman from Germany.  All told we think there were about 6 whales right in front of us.  It's been a really good day.

Gray whale spouting

Same whale 

August 28, 2017 - Monday

I got a text from Eric at 6:00 am that Lillith Alana is on the way.  Needless to say, I wasn't able to go back to sleep after that.  After breakfast we drove back to the Hoh Rainforest where we had a picnic lunch. After lunch we hiked the Hoh River Trail out 1.1 mile and then back.

Entering Hoh

The Hoh River with mountains in the background

Mike in front of a large tree

The Hoh River Trail

On our way back to camp we got a text that Lillith Alana was born at 12:41 C.T., all okay.  When we got back to camp we walked on the beach north from Kalaloch to a tree that has almost all of its roots exposed and has been that way for 40 years. 

Mary on log in front of suspended tree

Fog on beach

We sat later and watched the whales for about an hour.  The temperature at Hoh today was 90 degrees but at our campsite was 70 degrees.  Makes it nice for sleeping.  There was fog coming in on the beach while we were there.  After dinner we went back to watch the whales one last time before we have to head out in the morning.  We have really enjoyed Kalaloch.  It has been a magical place for us.

Kalaloch Beach