Washington State
Mount St Helens – 11th June 2012
Two
years ago we drove right up to Mount St Helens but the weather was so awful we
couldn’t see a thing. Allen did get the
best photo of his life though and subsequently had it printed on his credit
card.
( Of Cold Lake, not Mt St.Helens )
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| Cold water Lake 2010 |
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| 2012 |
Mount St Helens erupted 30 years ago and blew the mountain out sideways killing 57
people, mostly from suffocation due to the hot ash.
This
time it was a glorious day and we not only got some wonderful photos but we
were able to listen to the Ranger’s talk on the Observation Deck. 
The
utter devastation was still apparent after all these years.
Whole
forests knocked flat as if from an Atom bomb.
It
was time to drive the long way back to civilization.
After
a bit of a search we found “Thousand
Trails RV Park” Chehalis. It was
a huge 300-acre Park with very private campsites in the middle of a
forest. It offered cabins, permanent RV
sites, Family Lodge, Pool and everything from walking trails to horse riding.
We had approximately 200 vacant sites to
choose from and as we pulled into one, we glanced at the sign next door “Ron & Kathy’s personal site”. Hey guys, you’re a long way from Kingaroy!
We
didn’t see many people walking but the squirrels and deer kept us company.
Tuesday 12th June 2012
Big
wash day. “Linda’s
Laundry” was going full speed ahead for approximately 3 hours. If it wasn’t nailed down I washed it.
Eagle Tree RV Park, Poulsbo
–
decided to investigate this one as it was in a great location, only 6 miles
from the Bainbridge Island Ferry, just what we need when we leave for the
Cruise. It cost $36 per night with coin
operated showers. A bit pricey for a site
right on a main road but it had plenty of trees and after a glass of wine we couldn’t
hear a thing.
Sequim (pronounced Skwim),
Washington
Our
friends Robert and Mary, who we met
RV-ing on our last trip, live in the beautiful town of Sequim.
It was wonderful catching up again and we spent a very enjoyable couple
of days exploring the neighbourhood.
From
their house they have magnificent views of the Olympic Mountain Range. On average Sequim gets 17 inches of rain a
year and has the perfect climate for growing Lavender. Hence an abundance of Lavender Farms in the
area. 
We
were lucky enough to accompany R & M and their two gorgeous Retrievers (Buster
& Toffee) to La Paw Spa. It
was our first time seeing a doggie water therapist in action and we both wondered
if it was too late for a career change! Toffee is not keen on water but she seemed
blissfully happy in Indy’s healing hands.
They floated around the pool totally
oblivious to anyone else in the room.
On
one of our jaunts we found “McAlmond
House” a Heritage Listed Property built in 1861, we were all drooling and wished
we could peek inside. Guess what ………it
was for Sale!!
Port Townsend perched on the tip of
the Quimper Peninsula
was a hive of activity. We loved all the
elegant Victorian buildings and even the Burger Bar had a style of its own.
It was once a bustling seaport and known as the “City of Dreams” as it hoped to be the biggest harbour on the West Coast.
The
four of us had dinner at Snug Harbour,
we ate Clam Chowder for starters and Halibut for our main meal. YUMBO.
Dungeness National
Wildlife Refuse. We had a great walk with the doggies along
the Spit and it was clear enough to see Mount Baker.
I
think our chatter disturbed a family of deer.
They were certainly interested in us.
We said goodbye to Robert and Mary but the good news is that we are meeting up next month for the Calgary Stampede.
 | ||||
| Sunset in Sequim |
It
was a touch of déjà vu as we rolled into Eagle
Tree RV Park again. Alpal sorted out the local Bus Timetable for
tomorrow. Tickets and luggage tags are
all printed. It’s going to be a BIG day.
Saturday 16th
June
We
woke to light drizzly rain and the promise of a wet day unfolding.
I
packed our suitcase, we locked up the RV and walked about l kilometer to the Bus Stop
carrying a bag, laptop and pulling a mega big suitcase on wheels. We must have looked so funny as nobody walks
along that road. It has no footpath and
you have to walk half on bitumen and half in the foliage.
Just
metres from the Bus Stop a vehicle pulled over and a nice young man got out and
asked if we wanted a lift. We explained
we were waiting for a bus to Bainbridge Island Ferry, the man looked confused
and said we were waiting on the wrong side of the road!!! AAARRRGGGGHHH Alpal’s ‘never fail’ sense of direction had
let him down badly.
This
gorgeous man turned his car around and drove us to the Ferry,
approximately 6 miles in the opposite direction.
His wife was sitting in the passenger seat and she was intrigued with
our stories of house-sitting and Aussie lifestyle.
When
we arrived at the Ferry we asked him what his name was. He
said, “Angel” and his wife was “Jenny”. Our
very own Guardian Angel.
Thanks
to Angel and Jenny we caught the Ferry to Seattle
and as we got off the boat an Ethiopian man called “Abdi” asked if we wanted a
lift. He was wearing a brown pin-striped
suit with oversize shoulder pads. He
asked us to follow him. I whispered to
Allen “Where is he taking us?” Abdi was
a good guy and drove us in his Lincoln Continental to the Golden Princess and there we caught sight of our ship.
Wow…Wow…Wow…it was ENORMOUS!!!!
Wow…Wow…Wow…it was ENORMOUS!!!!
End of 8th
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