Summer Vacation Trip - Day 10

Olympic NP - Day 2! We actually slept late (0730) and barely had time to eat breakfast in the hotel before checking out (0800). I called the Rain Forest Horse Rides stable to set up ride but found out they had gone out of business. Since we had some “free time”, Mollie helped me make the decision about destinations. Since we only had a short time to enjoy the beach yesterday, she asked to return (but at a new spot). We were on the road at around 0845 and stopped to pick up a "Ocean Stewards" Junior Ranger book at the Hurricane Ridge NPS Visitors Center. We then took US-101 to WA-112 and drove all the way to the northwest corner of Washington state. It was a curvy, rough road but we had some spectacular views of the Strait of Juan de Fuca and Vancouver Island. When we reached the Makah Reservation, we got a "recreation permit" (1100) and then proceeded through the rather large reservation until we reached the parking lot for Shi Shi Beach Trail. We had to walk about half a mile to the trailhead but, despite misty weather (with a threat of rain), we ventured into the rain forest... It was really muddy for the nearly two miles (each way) to the northern border of Olympic National Park but the view at the end of the trail was worth the effort. There were pretty views down the coast, tons of salmonberries ripening, playful seals popping their heads above the water, a true feeling of remoteness. Mollie and I had a “trail tiff” and she headed back alone. I didn’t rush to catch her and we eventually met up at the trailhead (with help from some other hikers who told me where she’d be). We ate lunch (snacks) after we reached our car and drove a short distance to the Makah Fish Hatchery - we didn't get to see very much of interest (no fish) but had a nice walk. In the same area, we explored a park with native art (totem poles). Our next stop was the Cape Trail. Mollie decided to work on her Junior Ranger workbook while I walked out to Cape Flattery. This trail was much shorter (around a mile each way) but the view of the ocean was amazing. Lots of cool caves, a pretty lighthouse on an island, visible ocean currents, nesting cormorants and (I think) a sea lion pup on the rocks. Got lots of steps on our pedometers while we were in the area so we treated ourselves to some ice cream at 1980s prices, for some reason (1430). We then headed back to the east, stopping occasionally to look for whales, otters, seals and sea lions. We found a nice beach where we were able to skip rocks. While we were there, we ran into a local couple who lived in Neah Bay (on the Reservation) and had a good talk with them about life in the PNW. By the end of the day, we agreed that we were very glad that we ventured away from the busy tourist areas! On the way to our next hotel, we stopped in Port Angeles and ate a delicious (fancy) dinner at the Crab House (in the Red Lion Hotel) on the waterfront, finishing at 1930. Afterwards, we walked on the piers and then went to our hotel (an Econo Lodge) in the nearby town of Sequim. While checking into our room, we got directions from the clerk in the lobby for how to spot sea otters at the John Wayne Marina. Later, we watched TV and went to bed at 2230.