Good morning Olympia! Don’t we all feel grand? Last night was a super treat. A nice italian dinner (complete with spumoni gelato for dessert) followed by a complete lights-out sleep that didn’t include a sleeping bag. The novelty!
Karen and I both woke up early to get some work done on our laptops. Once the kids awoke, I headed for the laundromat while Karen and the kids walked around Olympia and found a nice spot for breakfast. There seems to be a resurgence of old video games in Olympia. In the laundromat, I found these old games.
Galaga used to be my favorite.
At the very same time, on the other side of town, Julia and Kellan were being introduced to the table version of Ms. Pac Man.
Cleaned and fed (I took two showers, just because I could) we checked out of the hotel and set the GPS for the Pacific Ocean. Today’s destination is Cape Disappointment, WA, on the north side of the Columbia River delta, where Lewis and Clark discovered the sea. We drove around the Capitol and admired some of the views in Olympia before hopping on the 5.
Early morning work at the Port of Olympia.
The Washington State Capitol building.
The city of Olympia surrounds Budd Inlet, which connects to the Puget Sound.
This afternoon's relatively short drive (only 2 hours) showed us the working side of the Pacific Northwest. Evidence of the forest products industry was everywhere, from big logging trucks on the road to slashers for hire, clear cut areas to re-growth plantations, and factories processing timber into everything from dimensional lumber to pulp.
A company town in western Washington.
We also passed through small towns where the fishing and seafood were the primary industries. We saw oyster boats, piles of shells, private wharfs and large marinas, all with a working-class patina. The area reminded us a little bit of the Maine coast, but there was something about the way things were laid out here that made it seem a bit more earnest. I’m sure many a Mainer would disagree.
South Bend, WA claims to be the Oyster capital of the world.
We didn’t see any signs for Cape Disappointment State Park until we reached the small town of Ilwaco. Given how low profile the park had been on the drive in, this park was either going to be A.) a backwater worth of ignoring or B.): a hidden gem. We would soon find out.
O! The joy! Indeed.
Survey says: B. If you ask me, they are underselling this place with the name. We made it to the park in time to reserve one of the first-come first-served tent sites, which happens to be about 100 yards from the Pacific Ocean. It was a glorious moment to watch the kids kick their way through the shore break and put their feet into the Pacific for the first time.
Vermont kids in the Pacific.
Cape Disappointment is both a geographically and culturally significant area.
While we were out on the beach, the US Coast Guard was performing a training mission on the rocks below one of the park’s lighthouses. The drill involved a stranded person on the side of a cliff and a helicopter. The pilots took turns lowering and directing rescuers on a wire to the site. It was fascinating to watch how precisely the heli pilots were able to maneuver their craft. It was also reassuring to know that the USCG practiced how to respond to potential real-life situations like this one.
At first we thought this was a real rescue. But it turned out to be a drill. There is a USCG station at Cape Dissapointment.
After some time on the beach and at our campsite, we decided that if we could stay here an extra night, we would. Karen rode her bike to the park office and learned that there was exactly one tent site available tomorrow night. (We are beginning to think that this is a line that they give to every camper to make them feel special. ) Even though it will require a short site-to-site move, we are excited to spend the day here tomorrow, hiking, biking and playing on the beach.
Our campsite, nestled beneath the mossy boughs of Sitka Spruce.
Conditions are so dry that there is a burn ban in the entire state. That means no campfires. The show must go on!
On the beach until the sun goes down.
After another day here, we will be on our way to Hood River, OR.
We are now officially halfway through our trip.