11/27, Thanksgiving Day. Rained all day.
Edmonds ferry. Restroom stop at Blyn. Christmas lights already strung at the south of Sequim Bay.
Stopped for a short hike in the rain to Second Beach.
A bit muddy. The trees are knarly. In this light mist and rain, I could imagin vampires hiding here.
Surprised to see we were not alone braving the wet weather, some young kids too. Maybe because it's a holiday.
The beach is very pretty. Found a large buoy (?) among the drift logs.
Checked into the only lodging option in La Push, a trible community.
Paid a bit more for ocean view.
It turns out all rooms face the ocean. But only on 2nd floor you can see the ocean.
The price is carrying your luggage up the stairs.
It has a deck to admire the view, and a kitchen with pots and pans.
My partner cooked a goose last night, so we are having the goose instead of a turkey.
Check-in time is 4pm, which means soon after, it was getting dark. But too early for dinner.
Went walking around the coast, and tried crabbing at the boat docks.
I had this ill-conceived idea of tying goose bones to the net.
It still smelled and tasted very good. But no crab!
Being a holiday weekend, the parking place filled up quickly. Everyone was carrying large cooler boxes up the stairs. When we returned empty handed, had to park far away. Thankfully, it was no longer raining. Heated up the goose, brussel sprouts, red cabbage, fried baby potatoes. A very tasty dinner.
After dinner, walked off some calorie along the beach. Clouds were dissipating. Even saw some stars.
11/28 Friday. Blue sky.
Walked along the waterfront for sunrise, even though this is the wrong side.
The color is still good.
Drove around to Rialto Beach at the north side of Quillayute River. On the way, pass a field of open burn.
Smokey.
It's always very pretty. Rialto Beach is in the national park boundary.
The latter part of the drive is also inside of the park, and looks much better (larger trees, more pristine).
Today, Hurricane Ridge road is open. park condition website publishes its status every morning after 8am.
No uphill traffic from the gate at 4pm.
By the time we reached Hurricane Ridge, it was already past noon.
Had lunch by the car, and then in the car: very cold.
The snow level is surprisingly low.
Amazing view as always. No deer.
After lunch, I headed towards Klahhane Ridge, as always. Didn't bother with snowshoes.
I did put my spikes on at some point.
Very little snow on ridges.
Reached the ridge at 3pm, which gives me 1.5 hour to go back, so I thought.
My calculation is that I need to be back by 4:30pm, because the park closes the gate for up traffic at 4pm.
It takes ~30 minutes to reach Hurricane Ridge.
Great view of Vancouver Island and mountains to the north.
Sunset on my way back.
At 4:10, my Rocky Talkie was beeping and telling me that a ranger was writing us a ticket for staying past 4:15pm.
This is unexpected. I was rushing back. Speaking to the walkie talkie only slows my progress, plus the added stress.
Sure thing. By the time I reached the road, there's just 1 car. Even the ranger was gone.
He was waiting at the gate.
Apparently there were signs posted in the parking lot somewhere urging visitors to leave by 4:15, which I totally missed.
One other thing I tried today is my new Sony camera. However, I couldn't see the screen very well in bright daylight. My eyes are too old for the fine details on the digital display. A lesson: I need a view finder, if I were to use a camera.
Checked into Quality Inn downtown Port Angeles. It turns out to be a great choice. It has a kitchen! Also only a block north of Safeway, just above the Olympic Vision and fountain: the dead center of downtown, and a short walk to the harbor. Being up on the hill and 2nd floor, we have a partial view of the harbor.
Bought beer and chicken thigh. Tied the chicken to the crab net. In 10 minutes caught 4 red rock crabs. Too bad, that the railing is high, and during the minute of lifting the net, 2 escaped. I also lost the bucket into the water. Thankfully, the hotel has a large pot to keep our harvest. Cooked the crab in the same pot. Very tender.
11/29, Saturday, cloudy. Mt Townsend, my favorite hike on the east side of the peniunsular. Short and breathtaking view.
Unexpectedly, the cloudy sky brought some sunset-like color, looking towards sun.
Puget Sound, Baker, Rainier, Adams, Helens.
On the way out, met an old guy carrying his skis up. There's no snow, except the last 100 feet or so from the top ridge.
A couple of families at the TH, cutting trees. Kids.
Once back in town, I walked down Laurel Street stairs.
At the bottom of the stairs is a large Christmas tree, the Conrad Dyar Memorial Fountain (no water), and 3 large murals.
There's a small street fair going.
5pm is the lighting ceremory of this Christmas tree.
I had a few minutes, so walked about, saw a heron at the harbor, and the busy ice skating ring. An art studio, some stores.
At 5pm, or rather a couple of minutes later, the light was on the Christmas tree.
Then kids lined up to take photos with Santa.
Dropped the crab net at the very same spot, after tying the leftover chicken thigh that was sitting in the car since yesterday.
Took a walk around downtown before checking our harvest.
Lifted the net up, it was covered by red crabs. A couple more escaped while being lifted over the railing.
Counted ~1 dozen. All male. Um.. the 2 guys who escaped yesterday didn't warn their brothers!
We took 8, barely fit in the pot.
Rinsed them in the sink, cooked again in the same pot.
Ate maybe 4, and packed the rest to take home.
11/30, Sunday.
Walked to Dungeness Spit.
Saw 3 deer. Not many birds. Good view of Baker. The lighthouse at the tip of the spit seems newly remodeled.
About 2 dozen people here.
Got on the very next ferry, since it's still early.
Today, the ferry is much prettier in the sunshine. Baker and Rainier.
Back at home ~3pm.
