We continued our drive up the Olympic Peninsula. So many beautiful sights. Not much traffic, which we love. At times we seemed to be on the road all by ourselves. Coming in the off season made our trip much more enjoyable. I am sure in the Summer the highway is much busier.
This is Juan De Fuca. It is connected to the Puget Sound. This scenery reminded me so much of Alaska, so if you cannot get up into Alaska, you might like this trip up the Olympic Peninsula. This view actually looked exactly like the view we had in Wasilla, Alaska from our motel and just two blocks down the street was Sarah Palin’s house.
Just to prove we were there together we did a selfie! I look at this picture and think, “Wow, is my man handsome!”
We drove out the northeast tip of Washington and found this little town This fish character was in town also, wearing athletic shoes. Here she is wearing skates.
A little town far from nowhere. Of course we drove around it. Not much there and it was hilly, but they sure do have a beautiful view from any of those houses.
Views like this. I could live here. It’s cool and mountainous and there’s water. Everything I love.
On we drove. If you are a hiker, there are all kinds of trails to take in these woods.
Then we came to Port Angeles. A beautiful town right on the water.
Views like this all over town.
But t was getting late and we had miles to go before we slept so we drove on.
Past little general stores. We stopped in and this store had everything one would need. Since it is probably the nearest store for some people, it’s a good thing they do.
Past things like this. People are wonderful to provide us with these things to see.
We saw a lot of these signs all over. I was pleasantly surprised. And that is all the politics I will talk about!
We reached our destination for the next two days, Port Townsend. Who wouldn’t love a town that has bunting across its streets?
And gorgeous Victorian houses everywhere.
And whimsical things like this. Shoe forms used as yard art.
I couldn’t get enough of these houses.
Then I met this man on the street while we were shopping. He had what was called a
“free speech corner,” where signs of all different political persuasions, religious beliefs and no beliefs were written on boards for all to read. I thought you could pay to write your own sign, so I was going to do it, but when I got to him, I found out he wrote them all. I talked to him for a while. He was really interesting. We talked about Jesus and free speech and why do people get so angry with each other when they disagree. He had a sign I really liked, but because I know it would probably insult people, I won’t put it here on my blog, but you can find it on my Facebook page. We are in a time in our country where free speech is being squelched and I believe we need to guard each other’s speech, whether we agree with each other or not, because to lose our free speech would be a tragedy.
Of course I shopped and we stopped in at this perfectly darling little garden store. It was set right in a corner and was tiny inside, but packed with lots of wonderful things. I bought a calendar and a rooster towel. We shopped in several other stores. There was a great bookstore and a store with outdoorsy clothes that I loved and bought some Christmas gifts. I could have stayed in this town another day or two, but we only a few more days before we were to get back on the train, so after two days we set off for Mount Rainier.
David had reserved two nights at this lodge.
It was a typical lodge with a fire in the fireplace and big comfy chairs to sit on with antlers and deer heads on the wall. Sorry for the deer. David said this was the quietest place we had ever stayed in. And it was true. You didn’t hear many people talking. Of course that might be because there were just six rooms filled the first night. Off season, you know.
After a good night’s sleep we drove to Mount Rainier.
They were working on the roads.
Through more tunnels.
Fall foliage in all its beauty. Up, up we went. Out my window, it was straight down. We have driven up Mount Rainier two times before, but always during the Summer. This was a whole different experience. Very little traffic.
Fog in the mountains.
There’s David right by a cliff again. He flirts with danger.
Past mountain streams.
It was getting chillier the farther up we went.
Past glacier fed rivers.
Up, up. My ears were popping.
Yes, we were down there.
Then we were high enough that there was snow! They were expecting from one to five inches that night. Probably a good thing we drove up when we did. We might not have made it up another day.
It looked like a Christmas card.
Made me so glad we have snow in Indiana. I love snow.
Always on the look out for bears, but we saw none this trip.
There’s that handsome man again.
I would love to have a house on a mountain facing the sea. With a field of horses and five dogs and all the chickens I want.
Which reminds me we saw this Road sign.
Down the mountain once again we ate at this restaurant.
Everything had bears on it. The napkins, the walls, etc. The food was very good. We also ate at this lodge during our stay.
There was only one other couple eating there. The food was good, but I think the server was new or just very nervous. But he did a good job.
We ate at one other place at the foot of Mount Rainer at another lodge where we had the best blackberry cobbler and ice cream. We also had chili and chicken and rice soup. They know how to cook in Washington.
But, vacations must come to an end and we had to drive up to Seattle to meet the train heading east. We stayed in the town of Snohomish. David and I both want to come back there with our car because they had such wonderful antique stores. We couldn’t take all we wanted to buy back on the train.
Our final day was spent in Seattle where we found a yarn shop where I bought more yarn for more socks. Then we ate at a Cheesecake Factory before we headed to turn in our rental car and get to the train station. My next post will be about riding and eating on the train and taking a shower on the train. Bye.