Looking for the NW Mini GTG

[Getupngo]

Okay, ladies! I will be leaving next week for my volunteer gig on San Juan Island. Finally! I remember WickedLady said she was interested in meeting up in the Olympia area before an earlier trip that didn't happen. As I recall there is another Washington member who expressed an interest in meeting up as well, plus I'd like to meet another who lives closer to Anacortes, where I'll be loading onto the ferry.

Sorry I cannot remember everyone's names. Brain flatulence.

[Forestgal]

Janice, check out the Get Together section of the forum & look for the Bandon, OR GTG. It's the middle of August. If it were earlier I might have considered it, but that's too close to the beginning of school for me. I know it'll be fun, and hopefully us SW folks will be able to put something together some day.

I may be up in your neck of the woods this summer. If I decide to spend time in the PNW I'll let you know.

Laura -- and Jed

[Getupngo]

Forestgal, where'bouts are you? My itinerary is: Homeland ID, Baker City OR, Vancouver, WA, Olympia WA and finally Anacortes.

I'll be back in Utah (probably) in August.

[WickedLady]

Maybe it was Almost There as she lives in the Vancouver area. I look forward to meeting up with you at last.

[Forestgal]

Forestgal, where'bouts are you? My itinerary is: Homeland ID, Baker City OR, Vancouver, WA, Olympia WA and finally Anacortes.

I'll be back in Utah (probably) in August.

I'm thinking about going to the Sequim/Port Townsend area. Not sure yet, but if I go it'll be in July-August.

[kdmac]

I have been doing some real soul-searching these last few months and decided that the more I stay to myself the better I like it. I read the post just for the fun of seeing where people are and what fun they are having..but am turning over a new leaf of keeping my opinions to myself...ever notice how no one usually cares what you think?
But! I just couldn't keep my fingers silent...

I am not sure if "Getupngo" has been to San Juan Island and environs before and I wanted to say say how magnificent a place that is. The islands are enchanting, each small inlet and cove looks like something out of a fairy-tale. Glacial rock smoothed, forested and plants dripping down to the beach, just unbelievalby beautiful. I grew up in the area back in the days before all the "granola bars" took over. Back when you could sail up there and see no one for the entire summer, you could choose your own island to explore and have it all to your own. The views of the Cascades and Mt Baker are so close you can touch them. The wildlife is endless, killer-whales, humpback whales, sea-lions and harbor seal, otters, eagles and herons, king fishers, on and on. The San Juans lie in a "rain shadow" of the Olympic mountain range, so it is drier and warmer in the summer. It is filled with tourists in the summer but if you can find a 'favorite quiet place" with a pair of binoculars you will see sealife and mountain scenery up close and personal.

Forestgal: Please understand the spirit in which this is written. I don't know if you have friends in Sequim and or Port Angeles, but I would like to recommend that you visit those places, drive up to Hurricane Ridege but then ferry over to the other side and explore the San Juans and up into Mt Baker area and North Cascades Highway over to the arid Winthrop Valley, magnificent!. It is far more beautiufl than the peninsula. The Olympic penisula is beautiful for the people that have homes on the beach of the bluffs above it. but as a traveler you will see very little of the beauty...you will drive through farmland for 90 percent of your trip. You will rarely even set you sightes on the Olympic mountains as they aren't visible for most of the highway. There is only one "one" place to get up into the Olympics and that is Hurricane Ridge...a drive to Mt Baker is far more mind-blowing and you can look over from there and see ALL of the Olympics...Dececption Pass, the San Juans North Cascades Loop,,,,far more magnificent thant he lovely farmland of the Penisula...as far as seeing rainforest...it is easy to see that same kind of forestation on your way up the mountain highways of the Cascades...its' wet up there just as much in the winter...I have seen it countless places.

I aways said that Mt Rainer is a trophy, sitting high and admirably over the most beautiful state in the Union. I have traveled all of it for 50 years, and the Cascades, the San Juans and the basalt cliffs with wetland wildlife reserves of the arid eastern side of the state are thriling to see. Wheresas for the "visitor to Washington" The Olympic peninsula is not the best roadtrip due to the fact that you are at the base of those magnificent mountains too close to see them, and the shorline and water views are far and few.

I can hardly contain my enthusiasm for the beauty of those places therefore couldn't keep my fingers still

[kdmac]

Oh, BTW, forgot to mention my best choices for meeting up around Olympia and Anacortes.

My first choice around Olympia is any of the following; Twanoh State Park , Potlactch State Park, Dosewalips State Parks, or Seal Rock State Park all on Hood Canal. The canal is vibrant and filled with wildlife...the elk often gather at Dosewallips state park. several of these parks are right on the water. But, just south of Olympia is Millersvania State Park which is a quiet park in the woods on a lake. I love the activity and wildlife on the Hood Canal parks, but they aren't as close as Millersvania.

Anacordes; I would do Decepetion Pass State Park. the natual beauty of that area is magnificent. If you go there you must walk out on the Deception Pass Bridge.
The park is set on Cranberry Lake, it is a freshwater lake with a small spit of land separating it from the Strait of Juan de Fuca. The tide rushes through the pass and it is something to see. there are two long beaches to walk on from the park; my favorite is the one that heads toward the bridge...watch for sea lions, otters and harbor seals they are ALWAYS there. Low-flying Navy A-6 fighter jets are an added pleasure

[Forestgal]

Thanks, KD, for sharing your thoughts and feelings about the area.

I was up that way last summer, staying in Long Beach for 6 days. I had the opportunity to travel around the Olympic Peninsula then and enjoyed it.

My hopes for this summer are more centered around whether or not spending an extended amount of time in that area would be something I'd like to do on a regular basis when I retire. There are a couple of RV places on the Sequim/ Port Townsend area that offer seasonal sites and I've thought that it might be a good place for me to spend summers. We'll see.

I may ask for your recommendations again as my plans for the summer firm up. For now it's fun to read about these places and dream a little.

Thanks again!

Laura

[Liz]

Thanks for those comments, kd. Wish I'd read them last year before traveling to the Olympic peninsula, but will keep them in mind for the next time I'm heading to the pnw.

[Getupngo]

Wow, KD. Thanks for the beautiful descriptions and recommendations. This will be my third trip to the island, and I'll look up some of those parks for my trips to and from the island. ForestGal, I'll be returning home after the end of May, so we won't cross paths. But I'll have time to explore some of the places KD described.

I wish I had seen the islands back in the days you describe. I'll be volunteering and living at American Camp. Love it there.

[kdmac]

Getupngo,
I would be glad to answer any questions you may have about anything in Washington, my family jokes that there is no road in the entire state that I haven't been down...road trips are my passion. And, I forgot to mention one of my most favorite places on earth; Mt Erie. extremely visible from Anacortes and the entire area up there. It is an abrupt granite peak that stands up above Anacortes, you can easily see it from I-5 and all environs for miles. It has radio and cell towers on it and it quite domed shaped. The view from up there is beyond most any you can drive to in the United States. Due to so many bridges it's hard to realize that Mt Erie is on Lopez Island same as Anacortes is. This mountain raises above a little lake that has a small island in it. I remember when I was a little girl my dad said, "Look, there is an island in a lake, on an island in the sound." which is exactly what the case is. You can see into Canada, reach out and touch Mt Baker, out to the Straits and to the beaches and islands below. When I lived on Camano Island I could see my road from up there. If you do go there you need to drive your car, the MH won't be able to manuever the curves of the road, or fit in the parking lot. When you get to the top you must walk through the trees out to the cliff, not just do the cement overlook that has been built...the real spectacular view is out just about 10 or 15 yards through the trees, over the smooth rock mounds down to the wonderful cliff that you can safely find a wonderful place to sit and see the view.

I have been there to the cliffs many times. I remember once having a powerful spiritual epiphany as I watched hang-gliders there perched on the cliffs edge ten feet from me. Gathering his courage and strength the fellow finally launched himself off the cliff. I watched as he spiraled gently down, around and around down and down to land in a predetermined pasture directly below....I then saw the bald eagles that frequent the cliffs with their wings fixed in a soar just rising up, and up and further up. I then compared that with what I just saw; man putting his faith nervously into his own trappings, his own design of vinyl chords, nylon webbing, aluminum frames which did nothing for him but allow him to spiral downward with no hope for any other outcome. But, the bald eagles with their massive wings, hollow, weightless bones, perfect feather configuration, all of which is designed by God would soar on the wind and climb higher and higher and higher....as though lifted by the breath of God. I have always remembered that few minutes in time. I will trush God's design, not mans...

[Colliemom]

kdmac,

I do agree with you about the San Juan Islands and the Cascades being beautiful. I was out in WA in the mid 1970's. Came across on U.S. 2 from ID and through the Cascades. Absolutely stunning scenery. My mom came from Duvall, west of Seattle in King County and I was with my aunt and uncle going back to the hometown. Both mom and my aunt were born out there. Mom was 3 when they moved to MI but she alwasy told me about seeing Mt. Rainer out of her bedroom window. And she too went back out there in the 80"s.

Then we took the ferry from Anecortes to Vancouver through the San Juan's. A very beautiful area indeed. Would like to see it all again. Course as you said, back then it was as "developed" as it is now.

Enjoy your travels this summer. I know you are pretty content where you are now, but have plans to eventually move on.

[retiredhappy]

I grew up in the Seattle area (Burien) and had a view of Mt. Rainier from my bedroom window. At the time I was just too young to really appreciate the beauty. I agree that Washington is a beautiful, green state. I left in my early 20's because I just couldn't stand the constant gray, drizzly weather anymore. Moved to So Calif for the sunshine. It wasn't even that it rained a lot, it was the day after day of dreary, gray weather that depressed me. But when the sun shone, you couldn't find a more beautiful place. That said, I really love the desert. You have to look a little harder to see the beauty but its there. A sunset in red rock country is gorgeous.

[jemek]

ME ME ME.....I am north of Anacortes...near Bellingham..just on the outskirts.

I have to agree with what kdmac says...there is tons of places to visit. We personally have not done the Olympic side of the state yet...I have to say much of the reason..we live the West side of the cascades...as retiredhappy..says...it is quite gray and cloudy on this side...so when we venture out we usually head to the east side...Winthrop, Leavenworth, Lake Chelan....

We do like going out to Whidbey Island...Deception Pass. We make that trip at least one weekend during the summer, we do not stay at the State Park, my husband is retired military so we stay at the Naval AIr Station..they have a nice campground...being upgraded and overhauled this winter.

Do keep in touch and if you plan a trip up to Mt Baker...most likely there will still be snow and in May that will be too early to Artist Point Hike, as that does not open til mid summer (depending on the spring snow storms).

[kdmac]

Yes, I have lived my entire 58 years in Washington and can remember the gray drizzly weather of my childhood. It has been interesting that a noticable change has taken place in the last 20, or more years; less drizzle, less snow pack and more dry. I feel odd admitting that I am absolutely loving this Oregon winter weather. Howling 60 mph winds...like right now today. Rain coming in sideways in sheets like a wet gray Aurora Borealis. I can enjoy it because I know I will soon hook up and head to the Canyonlands of Utah then on down to Arizona...but this wild beautiful place has been so mushfun to explore.

While I was writing this post the Tsunami warining siren went on. It is the first time since I have been here in mid December...I figured if it's serious and not just a drill the park managers will come knocking...or I will see the road start filling with cars. I opened my door so I could hear it full blast, what an ominous sound that is. I looked out over the bay and figured although it would be a most violent and fearful way to go, I could soon be standing face-to-face with my Maker. I have read these Tsunami warning towers signage and they state that tests will occur and if the blast remains steady after a few minutes then it's serious....couldn't remember how many minutes, seemed to keep on going..but finallly quit.

My parents lived at the ocean for many years, they were right on the beach in Westport Washingoton....their tsunami route took them up "one" single road that turned into a dirt logging road in the nearby hills....all of the locals had just that one road...it had a "locked steel gate" to keep people out..like most logging roads do to keep the bad south American cartel growers out. Anyway, the Tsunami warning blast goes off and it's serious, all emergency TV and radio are stating take evacuation action NOW!.The road soon became grid locked with hundreds of cars, they were pulling off the sides to allow othes to get up higher, people were out on foot running up the hill. The key had been entrusted to the residents of a house up there near the gate.....they were on vacation, not home, no key!!!...OOOOPPPPSSSS. Very poor planning on the part of the evacuation folks...needless to say, that was remedied in short-order. BTW, that tsunami never materialized.

That reminds me of the seriousness of ocean beach danger awareness. I see people out on these extremely dangerous beaches, wrong time of tide and rarely if ever looking out at the surf. just looking down for rocks and fun things, they have their children with them. Some of these folks let themselves wander over the to the base of massive cliffs and have no idea the danger they are putting themselves in. Since mid December there have been four deaths attributed to "Sneakers". These Oregon beaches are extremely beautiful and so inviting...If you visit this or any ocean beaches please remember to only go when tide is out, and don't walk on the very edge of the surf, stay up higher, and keep a watch on the surf, when a sneaker comes in it's obvious, twice the size of the regular, it's generally two or more waves that combined...I sit and watch the surf for hours with my binocs looking at wildlife etc. I see the cycles of waved action...a surging of massive waves then subside a bit then another surge of massive, it just repeats.

Well, there you have Kathy's Bbeach safety 101. just sayin.