On the Olympic Peninsula, it was very difficult to find an available campsite on the July long weekend. We were fortunate to land in Rest-a-While Campground beside the Hood Canal. At low tide all of the campers grabbed boots and buckets then headed out onto the inter-tidal zone.
Inter-tidal zone on the Hood Canal
Turned out this was an ideal location for shucking oysters.
A family busy shucking oysters
Bed of Oysters
Oyster Shell
After a few hours the tide rolled back in and covered the oyster bed.
The action was lost on Sonaa who preferred to have a nap in her favourite spot.
Sonaa Riding Shotgun
July 4
We drove up to Olympic National Park near Port Angeles.
At the Visitor Centre, we stopped briefly then continued upward to Hurricane Ridge.
Olympic National Park Visitor Centre
The road up to Hurricane Ridge was long and windy with beautiful views as we gained altitude.
Hurricane Ridge Road
Clouds were in the valleys but they dissipated as we arrived at the top of Hurricane Ridge.
Hurricane Ridge
Hurricane Ridge and Visitor Centre
Hurricane Ridge Visitor Centre
The Visitor Centre had a scenic balcony with a view that looked deep into the Olympic Mountains
We started our hike on Cirque Rim Trail and walked upward through open meadows framed by patches of forest.
Emma on Cirque Rim Trail
The large numbers of Black-tailed Deer were quite tame and hardly noticed us as we walked up the path.
Black-tailed Deer
Emma on Cirque Ridge Trail
Hanging Moss
Hurricane Ridge
At the high point of the Cirque Ridge Trail, we shifted over to the High Ridge Trail.
Emma on High Ridge Trail
As we approached the summit of Hurricane Hill Emma spotted some Mountain Goats.
Nanny goats were being followed by their kids. It was really quite cute until one pair was on our path and walking directly towards us. When they got within 10 feet of me, I realized that they were going to continue straight ahead. One of us had to move aside.
The foot long daggers on mom's head decided the issue and we shuffled off into the bushes.
Junior happily followed after his mother without a care in the world.
After they passed us, mom looked back to make sure that junior was still in tow.
Emma on top of Hurricane Hill
The panorama view from atop Hurricane Ridge was world class.
View from Hurricane Hill
The colourful wildflowers added an artistic flare to the landscape.
Olympic Onion
Olympic Onion
Harebell
Emma Descending along High Ridge Trail
As we descended from Hurricane Ridge we continued to encounter deer foraging close to the path.
The does and their fawns were particularly prevalent.
Twin Fawns
Given the choice between hanging out in the forest meadows with the mountain lions or foraging near the hiking trails, deer clearly preferred the company of people.
Fawn
Late in the day we headed down to our campsite.
July 5
In the morning we did a short walking tour of the town of Port Angeles.
Courthouse
We walked down the main street of Port Angeles then stopped at the Crab House Restaurant for brunch.
Crab House Restaurant
The boardwalk out to the city pier was welcoming with a few well-placed statues.
The waterfront had a range of ships from small fishing boats to large freighters.
Freighter
Yesterday, we had such a good time on Hurricane Ridge that we decided to do it again.
Ocean view from Hurricane Ridge
We retraced our route up the Hurricane Ridge Road.
In short order, we were up in the sub-alpine and wandering along the Hurricane Ridge Trails.
Black-tailed Deer in an open meadow
Black-tailed Deer
Olympic Larkspur
Oregon Sunshine
Indian Paintbrush
The day was cloudier than the previous day but this created a new look to the panoramic views from the top of the ridge.
Hurricane Ridge
The nanny goats were still shepherding their kids about from one steep hillside to another.
In the late afternoon, we drove back down to Port Angeles. We finished the day with one of Emma's great seafood dinners in the RV.
Fantastic location! Great pictures!
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