DOUGLAS FIR AT SUN-RISE ALONG US 101 NEAR LAKE CRESCENT, WASHINGTON
MOSS EATS EVERYTHING...SIMPLY NOTHIN IS SPARED
OLYMPIC FOREST HAS MANY ATTRACTIONS ALONG US 101
SOMETIMES WALKERS ARE THE ATTRACTIONS..NICE ANIMAL
WHITEST SHEEP I EVER SAW...NOT AT ALL AFRAID OR SKITTISH
BUS STOP...GUESS THESE KIDS ARE ALL READY GROWN UP
US 101 NEARING FORKS, WASHINGTON
SOL DUC RIVER WITH TRIBUTARY STREAM ON LEFT...OFF US 101 BRIDGE
RIVETS...THE WAY BRIDGES USED TO BE BUILT...AIRPLANES STILL ARE
THIS HILL HAS A "MOHAWK" CUT...WHEN TREES ARE CUT THESE DAYS, THEY ARE "CLEAR CUT"; I.E., EVERYTHING IS CUT DOWN AND REMOVED. WITHIN ONE YEAR NEW "SEEDLINGS" (ABOUT 10" - 12 " HIGH) ARE PLANTED TO RENEW THE FOREST...CREATING THE MOHAWK LOOK.
ENTERING FORKS, WASHINGTON FROM THE NORTH ON US 101
POLICE STATION...BELIEVE "BELLA'S" DAD WORKS HERE
"TWILIGHT" SHOP...SO DARK INSIDE, DON'T KNOW HOW ANYONE CAN SEE WHAT THEY ARE BUYING...BUT THE STORE IS CRAMMED FULL OF "TWILIGHT" CLOTHING.
LA PUSH, WASHINGTON...FIGURING IN THE "TWILIGHT" STORY, IS 15 MILES WEST OF FORKS...HARBOR ENTRANCE IS TO THE RIGHT PAST THOSE HAYSTACK ROCKS...50 YEARS AGO, DAD, MOTHER AND I CAME HERE TO SALMON FISH...NOT MANY SALMON LEFT THESE DAYS...GOOD "PERCH" ARE CAUGHT IN THE SURF...USED TO HAVE THEM SERVED UP FOR BREAKFAST...YUM
YES, LA PUSH SURF IS HIGH ENOUGH FOR SURFING...BUT, MAN IS IT COLDDAY 10 – FORKS, WASHINGTON & LA PUSH, WASHINGTON
We are spending the night at LA PUSH, WASHINGTON, on the Pacific Ocean North West Coast…there is NO Internet service here…La Push is 15 miles West of FORKS, WASHINGTON, the home of “TWILIGHT” of international acclaim. I asked the Lady at the Forks Information Bureau what She thought of “Twilight”…she replied…”look at the registration book…72,000 people signed that book last year…before “Twilight”, Forks was not even on the map…now folks from around the World think Forks if the Best.”…
Since a wee babe, I have been coming to Forks and La Push….Parents were great Salmon Fishermen and La Push was a Salmon Hot Spot. Mother said my first time out in the Pacific Ocean was in a 16 foot outboard…carried in an Apple Box with a Blanket. Makes me shudder when I see the breakers crashing ashore here on the La Push Beach.
But then, “Twilight” was played out partially in La Push, so I came late this afternoon. Wish I had NOT. It is very commercialized and my initial contract was a bit aloof and condescending. Anyway, took a spot for SPIA and here we are about 100 feet from the actual breakers pounding the sandy beach.
Cannot upload pics until tomorrow in Forks.
Was up at 4:30 am today, parked on the West Shore of Lake Crescent. Had usual b’fast and got dressed, ready to hit the road at 5:30 am. Took one look out…was pitch Black. I was going nowhere until daylight.
At 7:30, enough light was about that I drove SPIA onto US 101 to the top of the long hill I climbed before dark last night (or rather, 1.5 hours worth of climbing…and did NOT reach the top…and walking back to SPIA. Not wanting to climb that beast again this morning, drove SPIA to the top, parked, and walked back DOWN for about 2 miles and returned…no ride for me this morning…was drizzling with overcast and COLD.
Drove SPIA out for 5 miles and parked. Walked back to previous parking spot and was about 3 miles out when Jason stopped and offered me a ride…took him up on it. Jason drove me back to SPIA, but did not stop; He drove another 5 miles West on US 101 and let me out. I walked back to SPIA.
Then, drove SPIA out US 101 another 10 miles and parked. Made a nice lunch…Chicken Noodle Soup and Peanut Butter Sandwich (to test the scalp – which has NOT reoccurred at all since leaving home) and a glass of Wine.
Then walked back 5 miles to the previous turn-around spot. Walked BACK to SPIA for about 2 miles when along came Larry Wilcox in his spiffy new SUV. Larry was a chatty fellow about to leave Forks for a new life in Libby, Montana, where he will be a lawman. Larry took me 5 miles beyond SPIA and let me out.
I then walked BACK to SPIA, and drove to Forks. Stopped in to ask about “Twilight”, and drove around town to take photos of the Hot Spots. Decided to spend the night at La Push, so drove the 15 miles out here to the Pacific Ocean and at least have electrical hookup for the Mini…no water, because of freezing night time temperatures, so cannot fill SPIA’s water tank.
But, what the heck…got a few gallon jugs and am not hurting.
DAILY REPORT: Walked a total of 20 miles today. Jason and Larry combined drove me about 15 miles – which I would have had to walk if they did not come along.
SEE YOUR IMPACT: Credit 20 miles at $0.02 per mile = “$0.40 for the day.
Photos will be uploaded tomorrow. / OK…is now 5:00 am “tomorrow” & raining like crazy…waves crashing with loud “booms” onto the blacked-out beach in front of SPIA.
Plan to return to Forks; walk the final 5 miles into Forks, and then start out on the 120-plus mile leg where there is NOTHING except Rain Forest…will be a very interesting bit of walking…which should take about 5 days. Questionalble if I can post the Blog for lack of electricity and Internet Service...is really desolate out there in the Rain Forest...
Will not be able to generate electricity as we will need all our gasoline to run SPIA…dare not run out…even though we do have three gallons extra in Jerry-jugs. SO, just wear extra sweater and socks to keep warm…thank goodness we have SPIA…just imagine attempting to set up a tent…there is not a single dry spot to be found, with nearly everything not paved over is swimming under water.
SAM is going to have to wait a bit longer before She gets into the Walk and Roll act.
Day started out with a drizzle. Ended with Sun peeking through the overcast.
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