Time Flies When You're Havin' Fun

Today was the start of week three and the end of our time in Washington. We awoke at our campsite in Olympic National Park in a very quiet (yes, and chilly) lowland forest at the base of mountains but this is only one of three different ecosystems in Olympic.

We circled the Olympic peninsula to reach the Hoh rainforest. Along the way, our frequent visitor, Road Construction, showed up again uninvited. However, seems to me that if you have to be standing still along the road, under a canopy of trees among the ferns is a great place to hang.



On our hike (got to love a nice level one at only 500 feet above sea level; easy compared to our past few weeks) we went through rain forest landscape and came out by the river to find a herd of elk grazing on the other side. Nothing truly dies in the rain forest. We saw trees, moss, ferns, and carpet like growth on everything! Trees growing on downed trees; fascinating.






We then headed to the third ecosystem, the beautiful Pacific Beach. I love the look and sound of the surf but I prefer my beaches warm and water tropical. After a nice picnic lunch overlooking the Ocean, we headed on our way.



The remainder of the drive took us south central to Mt St Helens. It is hard to understand the devastation but what we first noticed on the long winding road in was how surreal the forest looked. I finally figured out it was because all the trees are the exact same size and shape. They are all the same age, planted after the eruption. As you reach the top you get a staggering view of all the regrowth and green against the bare grey huge volcano with a side missing. They built the visitors center directly across from the opening so if you watch the short video documenting the carnage of the event (so sad but also could really turn kids on to geology and the power of nature), when it concludes the screen rises to leave windows with the most incredible view of her.



Washington has been a great 4 days but tomorrow we will move on to Oregon. We have two missions to complete compliments of Caryne and Greg Salyer and Mike and Valerie Spirz. We also will be witnessing and celebrating the marriage of Crystal Bowyer and Troy Pierce in Oregon wine country. I wonder how we top these things in the weeks and states ahead?!

Stats:

376 Miles
Ice $2.54
Gas $55.80
Camping $ 22

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