Olympic Peninsula

Ron in BC · 08-09-2016, 02:05 PM

Came back from Baja, put in a new larger driveway, rebuilt the sundeck, put on a new roof and rebuilt a set of stairs so I decided that I needed a week off.

We've made the blast down I-5 many times and on the times when we wanted to get out to the coast we'd do so to the Oregon coast but we'd never done the Olympic Peninsula coast.

So, prime 2 weeks of summer off we head without any reservations anywhere,

, which is typical for us as we like to be flexible in our travels.

Took the "costs less than a BC ferry" from Fort Casey on Whidbey Island to Port Townsend. No reservations, no problem. The state park right in Fort Townsend was full, but the Jefferson Country Fairgrounds have RV parking. Good location, minutes into town and inexpensive. Checked out Port Townsend for a couple of days.

On the way West we stopped at the Dungeness Spit, longest spit in N.A. It's been on my wife's list for a long time. Then on to Salt Creek by Tongue Point. Scored a primo waterfront site.

Half hour later the "campground full" sign was out. As we always say; "timing is everything".

From here we ran out to Neah Bay, sans trailer. Fantastic walking out the trail to the most North Westerly location of the continental US. And spectacular.

Also went up to the Sol Duc hot springs. Kinda not worth it or maybe, after seeing the Liard hot springs it pales in comparison.

Then on down to Kalaloch, on the coast. Scored a water view campsite. It was right behind the tree in the photo. One day that tree is going to go swimming and the campsite will really be an ocean front site.

Did some exploring of all the beaches, they're numbered 1-6 and then discovered another camping area called "South Beach" that hadn't shown up on any of our info. I'm thinking that maybe it was a day use area that they've recently started allowing people to stay at. Very much like camping on the beach in Baja. Next time we'll give it a try. I love being as close to the water as possible.

So, a nice little break in an area we hadn't seen before. Makes a nice little circuit. Now back to my chores, fence posts to replace.

Ron

Jim Bennett · 08-09-2016, 02:16 PM

Sounds like a great trip Ron, thanks for the report. Great photos too.

MyronL · 08-09-2016, 02:37 PM

The BaHa, and now Oregon?

Whew! Glad you made it back safe to BC OK.

PS---Great pix.

gabeck · 08-09-2016, 03:25 PM

So nice !

MyronL · 08-09-2016, 04:38 PM

Just noticed all them places you visited are not in Oregon.
Never mind.

Ron in BC · 08-09-2016, 04:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MyronL

Just noticed all them places you visited are not in Oregon.
Never mind.

No worries. All along the coastal roads you see signs, "Tsunami Escape Route". Sometimes you have to wonder; if the road runs parallel to the ocean for miles and miles without any way of getting to high ground, would you really get to escape?

Anyway, I don't worry about such things. When your numbers up, it's up. So get out and enjoy that Escape.

Ron

Mike Lewis · 08-09-2016, 05:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ron in BC

Then on down to Kalaloch, on the coast. Scored a water view campsite.
Ron

What?! You found a campsite at Kalaloch just by driving up? I assumed one would have to make reservations months in advance to camp there in August, as I plan to do next year. Was the campground mostly filled?

Ron in BC · 08-09-2016, 07:07 PM

Our cruising/travel policy has always been; get a reasonably early start and get to the next place before check-out time and before some folks have shaken off the effects of too much wine at the bonfire that night before and got underway to their next place. Usually works well and we always seem to find a spot. In all cases on this little trip there were places before noon; by 2:00 not so much.

The spot we had was one we'd consider "primo", the best in our little rating system. There were others but they weren't as good as this one. But our good luck was someone else's bad luck or a lesson in what happens when you reserve a site and don't show up for the first night.

Asked a ranger about empty sites and he said that he'd "just cleared one" and said it was a water view and a good site. He'd put a sign on it saying that it was available for the next two nights. Perfect and in we went. Later that day a fellow showed up and said "excuse me, but I have this site reserved."

My wife calmly pointed out the tag that the ranger had placed on the post saying that it was available for the next two nights. Oh he said, "I guess I've forfeited it by not showing up yesterday."

Felt a little bad for him, but not really, really bad,

but on the other hand if I'd been in a crappy site and seen a primo reserved site sit empty all night I'd be a little chuffed.

Don't know what the deal is with the South Beach area. Don't know if it's can even be reserved but check it out if you like being right on the water.

Ron

Mike Lewis · 08-09-2016, 07:42 PM

That's interesting. I was there in April last year for about three days. At that time reservations weren't needed, but I was told that the story is different in the summer. If I go back next year I'd like to stay for a week, so I'll try to reserve something ahead of time.

Regarding a tsunami- If I recall correctly Kalaloch Campground is pretty high above the water. In any case US 101 is as it passes Ruby Beach a few miles to the north. In case of a tsunami warning I'd go there first, looking for a trail inland on the way.

Patandlinda · 08-09-2016, 07:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ron in BC

Came back from Baja, put in a new larger driveway, rebuilt the sundeck, put on a new roof and rebuilt a set of stairs so I decided that I needed a week off.

We've made the blast down I-5 many times and on the times when we wanted to get out to the coast we'd do so to the Oregon coast but we'd never done the Olympic Peninsula coast.

So, prime 2 weeks of summer off we head without any reservations anywhere,

, which is typical for us as we like to be flexible in our travels.

Took the "costs less than a BC ferry" from Fort Casey on Whidbey Island to Port Townsend. No reservations, no problem. The state park right in Fort Townsend was full, but the Jefferson Country Fairgrounds have RV parking. Good location, minutes into town and inexpensive. Checked out Port Townsend for a couple of days.

On the way West we stopped at the Dungeness Spit, longest spit in N.A. It's been on my wife's list for a long time. Then on to Salt Creek by Tongue Point. Scored a primo waterfront site.

Half hour later the "campground full" sign was out. As we always say; "timing is everything".

From here we ran out to Neah Bay, sans trailer. Fantastic walking out the trail to the most North Westerly location of the continental US. And spectacular.

Also went up to the Sol Duc hot springs. Kinda not worth it or maybe, after seeing the Liard hot springs it pales in comparison.

Then on down to Kalaloch, on the coast. Scored a water view campsite. It was right behind the tree in the photo. One day that tree is going to go swimming and the campsite will really be an ocean front site.

Did some exploring of all the beaches, they're numbered 1-6 and then discovered another camping area called "South Beach" that hadn't shown up on any of our info. I'm thinking that maybe it was a day use area that they've recently started allowing people to stay at. Very much like camping on the beach in Baja. Next time we'll give it a try. I love being as close to the water as possible.

So, a nice little break in an area we hadn't seen before. Makes a nice little circuit. Now back to my chores, fence posts to replace.

Ron

Darn Ron just going to miss you by couple weeks ! Pat

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