Summer Vacation Trip - Day 11

Olympic NP - Day 3! We both woke up at 0530 and ate breakfast at the hotel but didn’t leave the room until 0730. I'd actually asked to extend our stay for another night in the Econo Lodge so we left most of our stuff behind.  We initially drove to some nearby stables (Red Hawk) to try to set up horseback riding but they were closed. I left phone message, trying to set something up before we left the area, and we instead decided to head towards Olympic National Park. It was overcast again, with a forecast for rain, and we drove up to Hurricane Ridge through thick fog and low clouds. Fortunately, the temps were still comfortable (mid 50s). We were pleasantly surprised to see a group of Olympic Marmots and large herd of mule deer near the Visitors Center on top of the ridge (elevation about one mile above sea level). We explored the Visitors Center, bought some souvenirs (1020) and walked a bit together. However, Mollie decided that she wanted to stay in the car while I walked around the local trails alone. There were some spectacular views of the snowcapped mountains to the south (I could see them occasionally when they emerged from the mist). To the north, I could see the San Juans and Vancouver Island sometimes and there was even a bit of sun now and then. Most of the path was paved but I soon found a longer trail (gravel, dirt) that climbed even higher. Had a close encounter with fearless deer there (wow!) and took the trail as far as I could, mindful that Mollie was waiting for the next activity, and clambered over a snow field to reach the car. By then, the parking lot was packed with people so we headed back down the mountain. It occurred to me several times that would be so great to be able to drive out of town after work each day and enjoy this place. We both started to scheme about future options... We drove back into Port Angeles and got some gas (1320). After finding a place to park near the wharf, we visited to the Feiro Marine Life Center (1330). We got to touch huge starfish, California Sea Cucumbers and sea urchins. The staff was very nice and we had the place almost completely to ourselves. After walking around a bit on the City Pier, we drove out to Ediz Hook to view the harbor and look for wildlife. We saw more sneaky seals through our binoculars and Mollie was almost sure she saw (and photographed) a tufted puffin. We next got lunch at Little Caesars (1510) and ate our pizza in the car as we drove east towards our "headquarters" in Sequim (pronounced "Squim"). The weather improved a lot and we decided to stop at another cool place to walk and look for wildlife: Dungeness Spit (Eileen had told me this was a "don't miss" place). The trail in the National Wildlife Refuge started out in the trees but quickly opened up to a beautiful vista that looked out on the Salish Sea and across to Canada - we walked along the long, sandy peninsula, enjoying the views of the Victoria (BC) skyline and watching waves that rolled across the beach like a barrel or tube. The tide was coming in so we only ventured half way out before turning around. The sun was shining by then and we decided not to end the visit after the hike was done. Instead, we drove along the coast all the way back to town, looking out on the interesting scenery to our north (i.e., Whidbey Island). The best thoughts of all were that we’d be there by the following evening. Before returning to the hotel, I took Mollie to the John Wayne Marina in Sequim and, after an hour of waiting and repositioning, found her some more wild animals (highlight was a sea otter!). We ate dinner (snacks) at the Econo Lodge. Mollie wrote post cards in the evening and we watched TV. Mollie continued exchanging texts with her school friend, Rano, who was staying with her grandparents 60 miles to the south - perhaps we can visit with them before we leave! We went to bed at 2230.