Adventures With Ruby

After our Pacific Coast adventure we traveled inland through Aberdeen and continued on Hwy 12 and caught the I 5  toward Mt St Helens Volcanic Monument on Hwy 504. We camped at a nice spot across the street from the visitors center at the Seaquest State Park.  Since it was still early in the day, we drove further into the park to Johnson Ridge Observatory.  

The drive up was again beautiful sights on every turn. 

We stopped at the Forest Learning Center. The exhibits were very well done documenting that fateful day in May, 1980 and the recovery efforts. 

There were thousands and thousands of pine trees hand planted three years, 1983, after the eruption which was in May of  1980.   The previous two years were spent  harvesting the destroyed trees.

We watched two documentary films at Johnson Ridge about the volcano. Both were very interesting. From this vantage point, the volcano is just right in front of you. 

The next day we broke camp and made our way up to Mount Rainier.  From many points along the way, the mountain is visable.  There are only two campgrounds in the park and both were full so we just drove through and made stops at the view points along the way. 

We left the park a little late in the day and we knew the camping spots were full but we found a camp site at a Forestry Service Campground.  All a long the way we have been blessed with a place to stay. 

Our time is running short but on to more adventures through Washington with a couple of stops to see family. Then it is on to Glacier. 

Adventures With Ruby

From Tacoma, Fort Lewis, We took I 5 toward Olympia  and caught the 101 around the Olympic National Park. Hwy 101 took us along the Hood Canal.  The first night we stayed at Dosewallips State Park. It was a real nice park but no hookups. 

The drive took us past a Lavendar Farm. They just happened to be having a festival, so of course I had to stop. We enjoyed the quick visit. I bought a few Lavendar products and a beautiful basket made by a man from Sierra Leone. He had been making baskets since he was a small boy. 

We traveled on to Heart O' The Hills , in Olympic National Park . 

We stayed here for two nights. The sites were small but we found one that we fit in. It was a great park and we enjoyed our stay. While there we traveled up Hurricane Ridge. The drive was beautiful. We were able to see Mt Olympus and the surrounding mountains; such a beautiful view from the summit. We actually took that drive twice. it was so beautiful and perfect weather.  

I had to get Brindle's meds refilled and so we went to Wal-Mart in Port Angeles.  The pharmacist was so kind in helping us. He use to be a tour guide and told us of a nice waterfall.  Madison Falls was down a small wooded path. I love waterfalls. 

The next day we continued on our way on the 101around Lake Crescent. We tried to stay at the Sol Duc Hot Springs but they were too crowded. We found a nice National Forestry Campground, Klahowya. We could have enjoyed two nights here but we have to travel on. 

We finally made it to the Pacific Coast again. The views of the ocean are breathtaking. We made a short hike down to the Ocean at Ruby Beach. We had to climb over a few drift logs but it wasn't too bad for us old people. Even Brindle enjoyed the seaside. 

Our last night we spent at Friends RV Park outside of Aberdeen. It was a very nice quiet park with electric and water. 

We left the coast and the Olympic National Park and Forest but it has been an amazing trip.  So glad we did it!  

Now it is on to Mt Saint Helens. 

Adventures With Ruby

The day I got back from Yuma, we made a short trip to Multnomah Falls.  it was a beautiful day and the falls amazing. 

The next morning we set out for Astoria. We have reservations for July 14 at Camp Rilea

but this day was the 13th. We were hoping they had a spot but they didn't. The Fort Stevens State Park had a sign that they were full but Glenn checked with them anyway....they had a cancellation. So, we had a nice site for one night. Fort Stevens State Park is beautuful. 

Wish we could have stayed there the whole time. Definitely a park to go back to. While at the state park we saw the ship wreck of the Peter Iredale. 

We allowed Brindle to run off leash when no other dogs were around. He loved to run free. 

The next day we moved over to Camp Rilea. Basically it was a parking lot. But we enjoyed our stay. We visited Sunside Beach where Brindle got to run free and we could park right on the beach. 

One day we drove to Tillamock where the Tillamock Creamery is located. We tested the cheese and bought their ice cream.

The drive was beautiful. 

 

While in Astoria we celebrated Glenn's 71st birthday. We had dinner on the Columbia. 

We didn't visit the Coast Guard Museum nor the tall column because we had visited them some years back. But also, because I had planters fascitis in my left heel after power walking through the airport to get to my gate to Portland. It is getting better but still very painful to walk. 

Yesterday, July 17, it rained all day but we made the drive to Cape Disappointment. 

Today is a travel day but before we left the Astoria area we made one last visit to Fort Steven State Park. We wanted to view where the Columbia meets the Pacific. From the tower we could see Cape Disappointment across the bay.