Sunday - Day Two - Washington Trip

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Sunday was Easter in Aberdeen. Stacey had brought along easter bags filled with candies and other goodies. Sofi was, (as always) pretty excited to find her bag in the shower.

On our way to the Locharie, we visited in Westport on the ocean. This was another experiment in disapointment. First of all while driving to Westport there was a sign for "All You Can Eat Oyster feed", I vowed to stop on our return (the road is one way out and back there is no loop). Westport was having their annual crab feed, but when we arrived they were out of crab. We walked around the shops but they were pretty unimpressive.

On the way back we stopped at the Oyster feed, and everything was big fat cooked oysters. Fried, baked and a oyster chowder. I love fresh oysters on the half shell but can't stand them cooked. I didnt know everything was cooked oysters, until I had already paid, so I got my plate of food, walked outside and threw it in the trash.

We made our way on to Lake Quinault. As we drove I was a bit taken back by the clearcut of the trees by the logging industry. I am by no means a militant "tree hugger", however I was shocked by the destruction and the ugly site of the barren land. It reminded me of scene out of Dr. Suess's book, The Lorax. After spending several days amongst the trees, I was awe struck by the amount of biomass, the sheer growth of plant life is incredible, but the sight of a clearcut was never anything less than a eye sore. Witnessing some of the managed forest sections that had been clearcut and replanted, and the quick recovery they made (within 10 years very solid substantial growth) I could see the argument of managed resources. However given the number of areas I saw cut (quite some time ago) with no replanting it seems the natural tendency is to cut and move on, rather than replant. You can even see immediately just outside the national forest there is a clearcut. Probably most significantly is that managed forests are not the same as old growth forests, they have a much different feel, something is missing in the uniform tree farms where the crop is lumber not wilderness.

We arrived at the official entrace to Olympic National Forest, I never did see an official sign for Olympic Park, and we were surprised at the non-chalant nature, no entrance kiosk, or fees or rangers etc. Just come on and enjoy!

Our room was not quite ready and so we drove around Lake Quinalt and walked up to a small waterfall adjacent to the road.

We arrived at Lochaerie Resort which sits right on Lake Quinalt. The resort has a series of cabin's that nestle among the trees and are set on a small bluff over looking the lake. Some of the cabin's are accessible directly from the parking area, others are down a small path and some natural steps. The scenery was so serene and the lake unbelievably beautiful.

We stayed in the cabin known as Colonel Bob, which sat just above the small beach area where several canoes were tied up. With all of the trees and the small hill we could barely make out adjacent cabins. And the view of the lake from the balcony was amazing.

That afternoon we rode up the west side of the Quinault river to a riverside walk through the Quinalt rainforest. Since it was off season the ranger station was clsoed and we saw nary another sole on our walk.

Everything was incredibly green, with great gobs of moss hanging off of the trees. Near the end of the rain forest walk you pass by an old abandoned homestead. Sofi climbed up on top of an old rusted out truck.

In the early evening we got in one of the canoes and went out on Quinalt Lake the clouds and the setting sun were beautiful.

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