Saturday, July 24, 2010

Olympic National Park West, Costal

One park, several views.  Enjoy the costal and western part of Olympic. Side trip to the Hoh Rain Forest, the most north western town of Neah Bay and more.  TC...
                                            Dinobirdtree.
                                                               
                                        Seeing this Elk may be the highlight of my trip.  It was an amazing site to see him just step out of the Rain Forest and start grazing on the grass.   Clearly he knows he is protected as he did not flinch at all of the people staring at him in awe.  I for one was fascinated.
                                 Where am I going? Wherever I want to.  Have you not noticed how big I am?                                           
 
                           A relative relaxing in the cool of the sand.  Look closely. 
                                     Rialto Beach is just one of several beaches within the Olympic borders.  I was in total awe of the beauty and complete difference that they all have to the East Coast beaches I am used to seeing.
                                                              Drift Lion.
                                     This is a lady that I met in the campground who offered to walk the beach with me. She did not want to be identified.  Witness protection or something like that...   
                                      I call this getting the bird.
                                                   The Brain.
                                                             
                                                       Tide pool life.
                                               Star Fish.
                                              Hole In The Wall.
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Neah Bay is the furthest Northwest point of the United States.  It is about 13 miles across the bay from Canada.  I took a day trip to visit this quaint little fishing town that is home to the Makah Indians. They still provide a lively hood for their families from fishing.  A long practiced tradition.  The town is predominately Indian and they are quite proud of their pre Columbus history.
                               That's Canada in the background.
My fave....
What's that you say?
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Stay tuned for Twilight entry.  I was only a few miles from the town of
Forks that the book Twilight basically put on the map.  A few choice photos to follow...
I am currently in Glacier National Park in Montana and that entry to follow too.
Enjoy.  TC,,,
                                                                                
                                                         
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     

Tuesday, July 20, 2010

Olympic National Park, WA.

I was set to see the North Cascades National Park from Mt. Rainer when some friendly advice from a wonderful family camping next to me suggested Olympic instead.  I took their advice and was not sorry for it.  Olympic actually is  several parks in its 1441 square miles with three distinct ecosystems.  I saw all three; sub alpine forest, temperate forest and the beautiful rugged Pacific shore.  The park is so beautiful and unspoiled that the United Nations has declared it both an international  biosphere reserve and a World Heritage site.  Enjoy some pictures. TC...
                              I stopped to watch this young lady on the side of the  road.  She didn't seem to mind a bit.
                                    Quit staring, it's not polite.                             
                                                                 
                  This guy has a birdseye view.
                                   I love these little guys. 
                              See the deer?