Across the Water and Under the Haze

August 4-10, 2017
Brinnon, Washington

We've seen a lot of new places, and had a lot of new experiences since we hit the road. But none have made me as anxious as taking our house on the ferry. It's so big! And so's the ferry!!

What if we're late (reservations are required for our size), or we enter at the wrong place (recent ferry experience has proved entrances and exits can be challenging), or we don't fit (even though we've seen large trucks with trailers nearly twice our size getting off a ferry), what if, what if, what if????

Of course it isn't only easy, it's a great ride! We have zero traffic and end up sitting on the side of the road to kill some time so we don't arrive two hours early. The signage is aided by a real human who walks along the line of vehicles to ensure we're all where we're supposed to be. Even though I reserved for five feet under our actual length it's not a problem, and costs $20 less than the estimate. 

In the right line, at the right time. Ferry terminal, Coupeville, Washington.

We're really doing this!

Best of all - we load first and have front row (comfortable) seats for the ride. We don't even go to the passenger deck, just enjoy the views. Nothing to do with wondering if we could find our way back......

Front row.

Sweet view.

30 minutes fly by, and too soon we're pulling into Port Townsend.

That was fun! We can't wait to do it again :-)

Back on solid ground we're in familiar territory, having spent time here our first summer as fulltimers. But it looks very different under the still-smokey skies. 

I'd like to say it clears during our stay, but sadly we're under a thick haze for the whole week. 

Set up at Cove RV Park in Brinnon is easy after we survive the killer speed bumps at the entrance - seriously, these are the worst we've encountered. I have to inch the back-end over them with my foot on the brake to avoid pitching everything we own on the floor - arrrgghhh!

There's nothing in Brinnon, but the Hood Canal is one of the prettiest places we've been, and the rates for FHUs w/30 amp and open skies, make this a good place to spend a week before venturing back to Central Oregon for the madness that we know will be the Solar Eclipse. Every day we're here I say "Remember how beautiful this was without all the smoke and heat?"

Yes, it's also warmer than normal :-( 

Enough whining, let's go see what we can see!

Saturday finds us along the Duckabush River.

Some are more anxious for Fall than others.....

All dressed up for the forest festival.

The drive along the Duckabush River (from the native word do-hi-a-boos meaning reddish face for cliffs in the area) is pretty. When we cross the bridge and start heading up we leave the water behind. 

I don't know why I don't listen to that little voice in my head. The one screaming "Don't go up that narrow, steep, dirt, shelf road with nothing between you and imminent death!!" Because when I don't listen, the universe throws in more excitement like numerous ditches across the tiny path that pitch the Jeep at a 90-degree angle that.......okay, they're not much worse than the speed bumps in the park, but they are on the side of a mountain.....okay the mountain is only 600 feet tall....but, well, I'm not having fun.

Fortunately the only vehicle we pass comes by just as we find a small widening in the "road". Further up I find a larger one and get turned around. As soon as we're facing down again I'm fine. I'm so weird.

The one wide spot in the squirrel track we followed.

Back down where humans belong, we stop at the bridge to watch and listen to the rapids and riffles of the river.

Guess which side I prefer?

At first I think it's a bear :-)  Soon we hear her people splashing under the bridge.

Further down the road we see real wildlife. Sadly these are the first live raccoons we've seen in over a year. Far too many end up as road kill.

Sunday we head north to Sequim for a regrettable grooming appointment that gives us a not-so-fluffy dog. The highlight of the trip is a visit to Purple Haze Lavender Farms. The parking lot is full, but with enough space for everyone to spread out it's possible to spend time just enjoying the beautiful sights and smells.

Not happy with her nearly-nakedness.

The bright yellow helichrysum is harvested for essential oils and healing tinctures.

Rows of sachet and white spike lavender.

Everything lavender is available at the little shop. I come home with more lavender lemonade and a little sachet.

Bill's new glasses need adjusting, and Monday we drive an hour south to Shelton to get that done. So nice when you can walk-in and have something fixed for free with no wait. Small towns are the best.

A quick visit to the fish hatchery confirms what we've been seeing - there aren't (m)any fish in the rivers, and the lakes are surrounded by private property. 

Still, looking for "good spots" along the water gets us out on smokey afternoons, enjoying the scenery below the smoke-line. Tuesday we explore the Dosewallips Recreation area outside Brinnon. The name comes from a native myth about a man named Dos-wail-opsh who was turned into a mountain at the river's source. 

If this was fog I'd be loving it - the stinging smoke, not so much.

Looking down it's much prettier.

Most of the trees are draped in thick moss.

One of the prettiest little towns in the country is Port Townsend, Washington. Although I'm not a shopper anymore, I do love strolling this historic district. Bill and Tessa people-watch while I take my time looking at beautiful pottery and handmade textiles, smelling organic spice and tea blends, thumbing through classics and coloring books, and enjoying the century-old architecture.

Vintage detail.

For the tall and thin....

Oh...duck head!

All this and you can make your own custom blends.

Thursday is a lazy day at home. As much as we love this area, we're tired of the smoke and warmer temps, and ready to move on down the road. 

Friday we'll move inland where the forecast says things are looking better.