Sunday, August 23, 2015

Our Last Weekend on the OlyPen

Can you use local terms when you've only been in an area for a month? I think so. And besides OlyPen is such a cool word (Olympic Peninsula).

Although some specific stops were planned ahead, much of what we did "up here" was decided after we arrived. Like our time in Port Ludlow which turned out to be one of our favorites.

With no expectations of success, Saturday morning we decided to check out two more lakes.

Lake Anderson is a very pretty little spot with a Day Use Area, horse trails, and poisonous algae.

Even more effective than No Trespassing
One of three lakes in the area monitored for toxic blue-green algae, Lake Anderson had been closed for two weeks when we arrived.

The last spot was Teal Lake. Not knowing what sign would greet us here, we were very happy to see

We'd love to, thank you
A public lake, maintained and well-loved by the local fly-fishing club, Teal Lake is beautiful. With only about 50 yards of shore access, and a nice, small dock, the lake is in a very natural and quiet setting. We had it all to ourselves for a couple hours.

The perfect spot for Bill to practice fly-fishing (he's just bought the rod and other goodies), and me to play with the camera. And Tessa to soak her face in all the rain-wet bushes!








The previous day's rain gave me a chance to try some different close-ups.



 


Bill got a few bites and all was right with the world again :-)

I forgot to get ferry tickets for Sunday, and with the Jefferson County Fair over the weekend, it was fully booked for the whole day :-(  We'll have to do Whidbey Island next time.

Instead we took in more of Port Townsend, including the large boat yard. Something else we've never done, hadn't planned to do, and thoroughly enjoyed.








The variety was amazing. Most of the ones we could get close to were being worked on, but there were dozens more that looked like they had been there a long time. They were all very large and we could see ourselves on a different kind of adventure. Maybe with a crew.

Port Townsend has some of the most beautiful old buildings, and I especially loved the big clock tower.  We found our waterfront spot for lunch and headed back home.



We ended our stay in Port Ludlow at Ludlow Falls. Just 200 yards behind our site, the small, multi-level falls run year-round due to the heavy moss that soaks up and releases the water along the creek above. A very beautiful place.




We love this area, and with the banana-belt weather conditions could see ourselves landing here someday. But for now it's off to see and do more that we've not seen and done before!

13 comments:

  1. We loved the area too. I could easily live in Port Townsend, I love the creative, hippie vibe. Ultimately we decided it was too far from our families in San Diego and Roseburg to make the list. At least I know I can always visit!

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    1. Love that vibe too! There were street musicians and artists and all those groovy old buildings - I could definitely enjoy the area :-) We don't know where our boys will all end up eventually so we try not to make that a consideration for permanence, but with that new grandson.......we'll see :-)

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  2. We love Port Townsend, too. Sorry you missed Whidbey, but honestly, August in WA? Ew. Too many vacationers, too hot (although cooling) and too much road construction. JMHO. You have loads of time to return, spring or fall is my recommendation. :) Love the macro shots.

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    1. After a lifetime of summers in SoCal, WA has been pretty wonderful :-) We've only run into crowds twice (and the full ferry), and compared to freeway construction in CA year-round, your home state has very little! We would love to be here in Spring and Fall for sure though - and we will be!!

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  3. Love those places where we “decide after we arrive” and find great surprises. Nice job on the close ups. I love pictures of raindrops. But then I love water in any form. Although humidity is my least favorite. Don’t you just hate having to make reservations for things like campgrounds and ferries. What an ending at Ludlow Falls if that was just behind my site, it might be hard to tear me away to see anything else.

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    1. Thanks, I had a fun time finding "subjects" at the lake :-) The falls are a destination in the area so there were people there most of the time, making them less appealing during much of the day. We loved our time there though and were lucky to have it to ourselves for quite awhile. They have several very good information plaques on the trail as well as benches in spots for enjoying the water at different levels. With Ezra's arrival and our first real rain, it turned out to be a very special stop!

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  4. Thanks for sharing the area. Many bloggers have enjoyed the OlyPen (oh, ya, very cool word). We need to see it ourselves! Glad Bill got some fishing in and even a few bites:) You photos are great Jodee! The close ups are wonderful:) Super camera work! What a spectacular site with that beautiful waterfall...sweet! I can't wait to get my hands on that adorable Tessa!!

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    1. Thanks Pam :-)) You will love the variety and the mountains to play in. I'll have to keep an eye on you, once Tessa starts giving you hugs you'll be a goner!

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  5. Port Townsend is always one of our favorites, too. So glad you've had such a wonderful time on the Olympic Peninsula. It's a place we fall in love with over and over again -- so much so, that we've spent the past five summers in the area. :-) Terrific waterfall shots, and a most adorable pic of Tessa.

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    1. I could definitely see heading here every summer - even with the smoke this week it has been so much nicer here than anywhere else we've looked at. Thanks Laurel, means a lot from a favorite photographer :-)))

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    2. I especially liked the pics of Tessa, the dragonfly and the pinecone. Good for Bill trying out his thoughtfully chosen birthday present! Boats look so different when they are out of the water, don't they?

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    3. Thanks Debbie. I am amazed at how much boat there is Under the water! And some are so heavy I don't know how they float....

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  6. Well OlyPen is a new one on me but I like the look, and sound, of it. But then I like all of that area.

    Trying to catch up and I'm sure you're long gone from here.

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