April 29  •  Last Morning On Spirit of Endeavour - Then on the Road Up the Olympic Peninsula Quick Link to: Dungeness Nature Preserve & Twanoh State Park April 30: Hurricane Ridge, Marymere Falls Trail, Elwha May 1: Deception Pass, Skagit Valley, Maritime Heritage Center, Seattle Return to Main Contents Flurry of activity through the locks and back to Seattle – packing, saying goodbye, and getting on the bus to SeaTac for rental car pickup. We headed through Tacoma and towards the Olympic Peninsula. Had lunch overlooking charming Gig Harbour, then drove under increasingly cloudy skies to Twanoh State Park for a nap and refreshing walk in the brisk air, then coffee in Hoodsport. Really strong rains forced us to abandon hike at Hamma Hamma (need get back there one day). Found guide book correct in predicting that rain shadow on north side would clear the rain, and did fun and windy hike at Dungeness Recreation Area. Thai dinner in Port Angeles. Return to Top of Page April 30  •  Headed straight up Hurricane Ridge – snow – clear skies again – and amazing mountain vistas. Very cold. Second – and delicious breakfast at Grannies west of Elwha, then rain forest (without the rain) hike in Olympic National Park – Marymere hike to falls. Olympic National Park Hurricane Ridge Marymere Falls Trail Elwha Interest in dam removal project at Elwha made me talk Deana into long drive back up into the mountains. Will be curious to return in the future and see how the valley looks. Learned that destroying the salmon run with the dam, effected or destroyed 137 species. Drove to Port Townsend to catch the ferry, but the line was so long, we decided to stay the night. So glad we did as we had one of the best meals ever at the Fountain Café, and enjoyed sleeping in the brothel now the Palace Hotel. Return to Top of Page May 1 Up early to catch the first ferry to Whidbey Island. Did some driving around farm and marsh land, and walked around Coupeville, then pottered above and below the bridges at Deception Pass. Enjoyed the rough water and soaring bald eagles as well as the amazing bridges. Tried to see some tulips in La Conner and the Skagit Valley, but too late. Back to Seattle to rest in hotel and pack. Skagit Valley Return to Top of Page Seattle's Maritime Heritage Center & Wooden Boat Museum Return to Main Contents  •  Return to Top of Page © 2006 Mangelsdorf Web Consulting, LLC  •  Contact MWC  •  Contact Rachel