seniors walking across america: DAY 13 - KALALOCK & QUEETS, WASHINGTON

QUEETS IS AN QUINAULT INDIAN VILLAGE ON THE BANKS OF THE QUEETS RIVER...PERHAPS 300 POPULATION. THEY OFFERED ME TO KEEP SPIA FOR THE NIGHT, BUT WE MOVED ON SOUTH.

VILLAGE OF QUEETS IS DIRECTLY ON THE RIVER...VERY MODERN...THIS VIEW FROM THE QUEETS RIVER BRIDGE ABOVE THE VILLAGE

QUEETS RIVER FROM THE QUEETS RIVER BRIDGE ON US 101

A NURSERY STUMP...OFTEN ONE FINDS AN OLD STUMP PLAYING "MOTHER" TO A NUMBER OF NEW GROWTH TREES...AT LEAST THREE TREES ARE ROOTED IN "MOM"

THIS IS ON QUINAULT INDIAN PROPERTY AND IS DIRECTLY ON THE PACIFIC OCEAN...POSSIBLE SUMMER RETREAT

MANY FOREST TREES DEVELOP "BURLS", A CANCEROUS TYPE GROWTH...THIS TREE HAD AT LEAST FOUR BURLS. BURLS ARE DESIRED FOR MANUFACTURING BEAUTIFUL BOWLS AND OTHER WOOD IMPLEMENTS

THESE RAIN FOREST FERNS ARE AT LEAST 6 FEET TALL

KALALOCH SERVICES. A SMALL VILLAGE ON US 101. US FOREST RANGERS OFFICES ARE ACROSS THE STREET. ONE US RANGER VOLUNTEER, ERNEST, GAVE ME A RIDE FOR 2 MILES ON MY EARLY MORNING WALK. LATER MET ERNEST AND WIFE DOLORES DOING HOUSECLEANING CHORES AT THE OLYMPIC NATIONAL PARK CAMPGROUND WHERE SPIA STAYED. THANKS ERNEST AND DOLORES...YOUR CAMPGROUND IS SPOTLESS AND BEAUTIFUL.

PLEASE "CLICK" TO ENLARGE THIS PIC...AWESOME WHAT A CEDAR TREE MEANS TO THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST INDIANS...IHELPED THE LA PUSH TRIBE BUILD ONE OF THEIR OCEAN-GOING CEDAR DOUG OUT CANOES WHICH THEY "PADDLED" ALL THE WAY TO SEATTLE FOR THE 1962 SEATTLE WORLD'S FAIR.

JUST SO YOU KNOW WHERE WE ARE

THERE ARE ACTUALLY TWO SUCH "BIG CEDAR TREES" ALONG THIS STRETCH OF OLYMPIC NATIONAL FOREST...THIS IS THE "SOUTHERN" ONE.

THIS IS TH "BIG CEDAR TREE"...ESTIMATE IT TO BE 6 FEET DIAMETER.

WALKING US 101 ALONG THE PACIFIC OCEAN ONE COMES ACROSS MANY STREAMS EMPTYING DIRECTLY INTO THE OCEAN SURF

TSUNAMIES ARE A REAL THREAT ALONG THE WASHINGTON COAST. A "SUBDUCTION" ZONE RUNS NORTH-SOUTH ABOUT 50 MILE OFF SHORE...EXACTLY LIKE THE ONE OFF INDONESIA WHICH CAUSED THE MASSIVE DEATHS A COUPLE YEARS AGO...COUPLED WITH THE "CLAY" SOIL IN THE PACIFIC NORTH WEST, A SUBDUCTION ZONE QUAKE OF 6.5 OR ABOVE COULD BE CATASTROPHIC...EVEN AS FAR AS PORTLAND, SEATTLE, AND VANCOUVER, B.C., CANADA. EVERY ROADWAY HAS "TSUNAMI" ESCAPE ROUTES TO HIGH GROUND.

A BEAUTIFULLY SCULPTED TREE STANDING ON THE 50 FOOT BLUFF IN FRONT OF SPIA AT THE OLYMPIC NATIONAL FOREST CAMPGROUND AT KALALOCH, WASHINGTON.

Arriving at Kalaloch, parked SPIA in space 29 D in the Olympic National Forest Campground. There is no charge - at least in Winter season. Heated bathrooms are available together with ample potable (drinkable) water and RV Dump (drain out Black and Grey Waste) facilities.

Ernest and his Wife, Dolores, both in their early 70's, are U.S. Government Park Volunteers. Took a moment to chat with them and thank them for their continued effort. Their Campground is spic and span, beautiful, and maintained to a "T". Besides, Ernest gave me a ride - in a US Government Pickup Truck, no less - during my early morning walk back to SPIA. Thank you, Ernest.

Upon returning to SPIA, continued walking South on US 101 to the Indian Village of Queets, some 5 miles away...two miles short of the Campground, the "Mich's" husband and wife living in La Push, Washington, stopped, taking me all the way to SPIA's parking space in the Campground...thanks, guys

Then drove SPIA to Queets, where we bought gas (used 3.5 gallons), and drove on another 5 miles and parked. Walked back to Queets and return to SPIA....2 miles short of SPIA, another couple stopped and offered me a ride. Antone and Joy Luscier have a wood-cutting business at their home half way between Kalaloch and Queets and offered a "deal" to anyone stopping by next Summer. Antone and Joy drove me 5 miles South on US 101 from SPIA, where I proceeded to "climb" a couple prodigious hills...heading back to SPIA.

Along came a beautiful Deep Blue Racing Machine with the word " P O L I C E" written from front to back...without question, the most beautiful Police Car I have ever seen. A young handsome fellow leaned out the Drivers window..."WHATCHADO'N"...I hesitated...he repeated..."WHAT ARE YOU DOING OUT HERE?"

Walking Across America...

Walking...where ???

Across America...here comes a car...find a safe pull-off and I'll chat with you.

He sped off, Christmas lights a blazing...did a quick "U" and came back to me

Hi, I'm Bruce Maynard...and I'm walking to Key West...handing him my Card and reached my hand to shake...

I'm Officer Kyle Frank of the Quilliute Indian Tribe...and...takingmyhand...you are WALKING to where

Key West (and I told Officer Kyle my story, handing him our Business Card)

My Motor Home is...

Yes we know where it is

And we will go to Lake Quinault this afternoon...

MORE SMALL TALK...what a handsome young guy !!!

He took off South. A few minutes later he whizzed by going North...I waved...he flicked on his Christmas Tree Lights and disappeared into the foggy mist up US 101...think we made a follower.

Returning to SPIA, drove to Lake Quinault...with every intention of taking a room at the Lodge I have visited many times during my last 60 years or so...one time for dinner with Cri. They offered me a room for $69.00 (station attendant said rates are $150.00 per night). I cannot afford even $69.00.

So, I turned around and returned to US 101 North. I was looking for a Cedar Shake Mill - a place where they turn Cedar Trees into Shakes for Roofs on Homes. Found what I was looking for and turned in. Philip met me, said they were finished for the day, but started again at 6 am and I could park my Motor Home (SPIA) next to his Office til morning...

I did and now look forward to a restful night.

Have included two (2) DAYS of activities in this Blog. It is now 5.26 pm, Wednesday, January 26. I have NOT uploaded today's pics, but will try to do so tomorrow.

Verizon has 3 bars for Lake Quinault...Yippe

A glass of Pinot Grigio in hand...one glass already down...and then a comfy sleep under my 4 duvets. Only thing missing is a warm bod to share them with me.