Life in the Northwest - as good as it gets.

Let it be said: I love the Pacific Northwest. It's stunningly beautiful, the outdoor options are plentiful and year-round, the food is brilliant, and there is (contrary to popular belief) almost always good weather to find. 

I took a road trip last weekend to the north coast of the Olympic Peninsula and visited Salt Creek State Park where there is a lovely walk along the rocky beach and, in true Northwest spirit, sea stacks, mist, divers, and people swimming despite the water being cold enough to freeze your face off. The trail then meanders to the cliffs above. It was beautiful.

Seastacks in Crescent Bay

Hermit Crab Rock, Tongue Point

We'll call this one Peekaboo Rock

Tongue Point

Tongue Point trail

The original plan to hike Hurricane Trail was thwarted by trail closure - the park service is working on relocating all of the mountain goats from the Olympics to the North Cascade near where I live (hooray, more goats on the hikes!) - so I visited Dungeness Spit instead and did some of the trails there though not the 11 mile spit which I have done once and will never do again. Once in a lifetime kinda thing, walking 11 miles on sand...

Dungeness Spit

Driftwood

It's not easy always easy finding a campsite near Sequim but I was fortunate to get the last spot at the somewhat overcrowded Sequim Bay State Park. Luckily it was tucked away in a corner of the park, affording nice views of the bay.

Sunrise at Sequim Bay

More sunrise at Sequim Bay

After a hearty oatmeal breakfast, it was on to Fort Townsend State Park and walks along the many trails. The park is unique in that the plant life has remained essentially untouched and so offers lots of fungi not seen elsewhere, especially in the spring.

Ghost Pipes (monotropa uniflora), Fort Townsend State Park

I continued onward to lunch in Port Townsend, which is pretty touristy, and then on to Fort Worden State Park for some more beach hiking. Lots of wildflowers were out - always a bonus - and the lighthouse is very pretty.

Fort Worden lighthouse

Hunting for mussels

A perfect trip for a short weekend but I will definitely be returning to Tongue Point to camp. There's one with my name on it. Cheers!