Trip Report
Thirty-seven Obsidians and five guests left the Shopko parking lot at 8:00 a.m., heading north on I-5 to Tacoma. It was a sunny day, stopping for lunch in Olympia and then on to Tacoma to the Tacoma Glass Museum for a tour, then some went to the Washington State History Museum while others toured the new Tacoma Air Museum. There was spectacular architecture and exhibits at all three locations. Everyone received a royal welcome at La Quinto Inn where we stayed.
Day 2. We left Tacoma at 8:00 a.m. heading west over the Narrows Bridge, stopping at the Blandan Gardens where we wandered through the lovely bonsai plants, ponds, etc. We learned where they collect their specimens and how they are moved to the gardens and how they are able to date each specimen. We found ourselves in Little Norway, or Poulsbo, by lunch time so all could enjoy the waterfront and park or seek food and shop elsewhere. Most found the bakeries before departure. Then it was on to Port Gamble with historic buildings, waterfront, a shell museum and general store. We crossed the Hood Canal Bridge on our way to Sequim for a two-night stay at Sequim Bay Lodge.
Day 3. The morning was spent at the Olympic National Forest at Hurricane Ridge Visitor Center, where Steve Acker (formerly from Eugene) gave an orientation talk, then we toured the center and headed up Hurricane Ridge. Gorgeous shirt-sleeve weather. Most went on a hike; everyone enjoyed the view. When we got back to Port Angeles a grocery stop was in order. Then we stopped at the Motel for lunch as picnic spots are very limited up there. Then on to Port Townsend where our step-on guide joined us. We toured a B&B that is open during the day for tours, and toured the Chief Officer's home at Fort Worden. Guide was very knowledgeable. Showing us many historic buildings and we went in one church where she shared more of the town's history. Everyone had about an hour in the downtown shops area before we headed back to Sequim.
Day 4. Leaving Sequim we headed west for Port Angeles, Lake Crescent, the general store, Post Office and Museum at Joyce and on to Neah Bay. We visited the Cultural Center and Museum, then went to the Community Center for an Indian-style salmon bake lunch. After lunch we went out to Cape Flatterly for many to make the hike out to the most westerly point of the U.S. Not an easy trek and it was warm. Then we back-tracked some to get on to the road towards Forks. We took a short reminiscent detour to LaPush for Ewart. Our lodging was in Forks for the night.
Day 5 found us leaving at 8:00 a.m. and heading for a grocery store and then on to the Hoh Rain Forest. Everyone took at least a mini walk to get the feel of the forest. Most took the three-quarter mile hike. Four of us unknowingly took the longer hike and delayed departure by 30 minutes. All were very supportive of the situation. The next thing we had to do was find a place to eat lunch. Finally along the banks of the Hoquim River we ate, watched the heron and geese and some disturbed the area where a wedding was to occur later that afternoon. Mt. Rainier, Mt. St. Helens and Mt. Hood were all visible during our ride home.
We had a very eventful ride over to where we connected with I-5 near Centralia and the south for home, arriving about 7:00 p.m. Our bus driver was Kurt Hand. Riders were Ewart, Neil & Rosemary Baldwin, Helen Barnard, Richard & Mary Bentsen, Patricia Bitner, Mary Lee Cheadle, Kent Christoferson, Mary Ann Cougill, Judy Dobell, Rosemary Etter, Clifford Everett, Margaret Fea, Bea Fontana, Dora Harris, Evelyn Hile, Mary Ann Holser, Marjorie Jackson, Ben & Pat Jeffries, Rosella Jones, Verna Kocken, Dot Leland, Dodie Leppman, Betty McGuire, Joyce Mixer, Maude Nilsen, Hal & Joyce Owen, Bill & Margaret Prentice, Virginia Prouty, June Smith, Bobbye Sorrels, Gene Thaxton, Millard Thomas, Cristy White, Vera Woolley and trip leaders Liz Reanier & Ray Jensen.
