Our trip to the peninsula was on a partly cloudy day. So much so, we at first thought to cancel and try another day, but am glad we didn't.
It was good to know that security is on alert this day. After departing I had asked one of the ferry workers if this was an every day event. His answer is they do check all the cars entering the ship, sporadically.
While this is a much smaller ferry on the return trip than the one we took in the morning, it gives a better view of the entrance into the monster's mouth.
We begin the trip with temporary tracks marking our progress as the ship plows through Puget Sound after leaving downtown Seattle.
The ferry ride gave me a good view of the "Space Needle" in Seattle. About the only way to get a better shot of the needle is on one of the many tourist float plane rides....and that just ain't gonna happen!
I can only imagine what Donna is thinking about as she stands near the rail and looks across the water, her future or just wishing she was home in Colville instead of being on this damn boat?
As luck would have it, the Coast Guard made our 1/2 trip to Bainbridge Island a one hour trip. Occasional the CG spot checks the crew's ability to stop the ferry mid-channel, unfurl a water hose and fight an imaginary fire.
The crew then unloads a zodiac to pick up a "pretend"
person who might be floating off the ship's bow. It was worth the extra 1/2 hour listening to all the alarms going off and watching the excitement as the crew runs through their procedures.
We arrived on the island, just a little behind schedule.
Donna always insists I take a photo of any entrance sign, I suppose because she fears I'll forget where we have been...always a possibility. This entrance right outside Port Angeles closes one hour before the visitor center 19 miles up a dead end road to Hurricane Ridge does, I thought that was odd.
At times we were socked in with fog while driving up the mountain. I drove slowly but was still surprised by a faint figure of a human riding their bike on the side of the road. Apparently, it is a popular route for bicyclists. Personally, I think they're crazy, but I would have no problem taking my bike up in the car, and riding it down...just saying.
We did do a little walking among the multi colored moss.
Don't do it babe...☺
It was interesting to stand above the fog bank and watch it engulf the forest below.
This is looking out towards the Pacific Ocean, still ten miles off in the distance.
This is what I believe is the Blue Glacier on top of Mt Olympus. At last count in 1983, there were 266 glaciers or permanent ice fields within the park. I'd assume, that with global warming, the figure is likely to be less today.
The visitors center on top of Hurricane Ridge at the end of a 19 mile drive up the mountain is open till 5 pm, whereas the visitors center in town closes at 4 pm. I only dwell on this because I would of thought, the one in town close the same time as the ridge center does. I drove down the mountain at 4:15 in hopes of securing a "shot glass" from the park only to find it closed...urgh!
Benji and Missy enjoy getting out of the car once in a while to explore.
Back home, we have a plethora of Whitetail deer, but here in the Olympic National Park... it is all about Blacktail deer.
We came down the mountain just as the sun is starting to come down on us.
In line at Port Townsend to take a ferry home, I can see the dogs starting to get excited that their day is almost done. "Are we home yet", "are we Home yet" they seem to be panting.
I began the trip with a vanishing trail, and end it with the same.
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