Now, this is not a trip report that I would expect anyone would enjoy who doesn’t know us personally. Because it was a short trip, with dear friends, but nothing amazing happened. Of course, there are some pictures, but again, nothing that would have much interest to someone who expects dazzling photographs or scintillating documentation regarding a 9-day world class adventure. That did not happen on this trip.
What happened was fun, friendship, lots of laughs, beautiful scenery, and a memory that I can re-visit when I can no longer get my old body into a travel trailer.
So, do come along if you would like. I love to share my wonderful life with each and every one of you. But don’t hold it against me if you are bored to tears from day 2!
Monday, August 7,2023 – Dosewallips State Park (SP), site 86 – Brinnon, Washington
Great site – lots of room between trailers.
Every other first day of a trailer trip in our 32 years of trailering has been different from this one. Normally, we get as early a start as we can. (Usually about 10:00 am.) Today however, Andy had a gig at the Angel of the Winds casino from 11:00 am to 3:00 pm. So, after playing for a 4-hour gig, carting his piano equipment out to the car as quickly as possible (through the casino security area), and then us driving home in our Prius as quickly as possible, we were able to climb in our truck and leave home by about 4:05 pm. Then a quick 5-minute drive to the trailer storage area to batten down the inside of the trailer, hook up the trailer to the truck, and be on our way. To our amazement, we beat our expected 5:00 pm departure time by 15-minutes. So, at 4:45 pm we were able to hit the road.
Luckily for us our guardian angels must have been being extremely diligent, because although we did encounter some slowdowns through Everett, we got to the Edmonds ferry dock by about 5:45 pm. In time to get in line for the 6:15 pm crossing. And to our surprise and delight, the boat was only about half full, so no waiting for the next ferry for this grateful couple.
Then smooth sailing for the 30-minute crossing and on to camp which only took about an hour. We reached our destination while there was still light, it wasn’t raining or snowing, it was warm enough to not need even a light jacket, and with good friends Craig and Marsha as our welcoming committee.
After we got all set up, Marsha provided us with some lovely snacks to tide us over until breakfast. I had enjoyed some flatbread pizza at the casino for lunch, but Mr. C. had only had time for a bite. So, while we were on the ferry ride, we had a bit of fried chicken that I had also purchased at the casino. But by 8:30 pm after getting the trailer ready for habitation, we were both a bit peckish. So, Marsha’s nibbles were much appreciated. Then it was a safe arrival drink, get caught up with each other’s lives for a short bit, and off to bed.
Tuesday, August 8, 2023 – Dosewallips State Park
After a good night’s sleep, we woke to some clouds, but it was still very warm. What a difference from our spring trip where our furnace ran 24/7. In fact, all the windows stayed wide open all night, and our wonderful Fantastic Fan, which can either gently blow air into the trailer or remove air from within the trailer was still happily doing its thing.
After breakfast, we joined Marsha and Craig for more coffee and a discussion of what we should do later in the day to move our bodies. It is ever so easy while camping to find that your bottom has become permanently attached to your camp chair. So, it behooves one to make a special effort to resist the temptation to become a slug. So, we decided to visit a couple of close-by areas that featured short, scenic walks.
Our first destination was Seal Rock National Forest which is located on the shore at the mouth of Dabob Bay. Just a very short walk with interpretive signs here and there explaining what exactly it was that we were seeing. Then another short walk down to the beach where there were several large rocks close to the water that were conveniently placed to accommodate 4 butts.
We stayed there for about 30 minutes just enjoying the shade provided by overhanging trees, and of course the waves lapping at the shore. Then it was off to Falls View to take another short walk to see the 300-foot drop of water. Which at this time of year, actually was just a drop of water. I’m sure in the spring the falls would be spectacular. But at this time of year, it is barely a trickle. It was still fun to see because the trail is right along a cliff edge. For me, having obviously been a buzzard in a former life, I love heights. But for some, the shear wall that you can’t really see while you are standing in the fenced area viewing the falls might be a bit intimidating. I loved it!
Marsha, Craig, and me at the falls.
Then it was back to camp. Andy decided to take a hike, Craig did some practicing on his trumpet and some exercise, and Marsha and I did some jazzercize outside our trailer. I’m not sure our neighbors enjoyed seeing two older women throwing their bodies around, but at our ages, who cares what people think!
View of our trailer from the ridge behind us while Andy was on his hike.
Then another gathering at Craig and Marsha’s trailer in their comfy camp chairs until about 4:30, at which time I decided it was time to go back to our trailer and start making the pasta dish I was serving for dinner.
Someone had a sense of humor when they built this bridge!
Then it was happy hour, dinner, conversation, and bed at about 10:00 pm for me. Whenever it was that Mr. C. came to bed, I was not a witness. All I know is that at some point during the night I woke up and it was raining lightly, and Mr. C. was next to me in bed. Not a bad combination.
Wednesday, August 9, 2023 – Dosewallips State Park
Woke up early (about 6:00 am) and tried to go back to sleep. Not happening. So, when Andy got up at about 6:30 am, I lay in bed until after he had his shower. I was still fighting the urge to get up when the smell of coffee lifted me right out of bed the way Snuffles, the floating, treat loving dog did in the cartoon series Quick Draw McGraw. So, now I’m awake, but only barely.
But there is just something about that morning cup that gets me going. And since Marsha was providing the main part of breakfast, I decided to start writing this trip report. And that’s just where you find me at this point. To be continued.
Just got back from enjoying a wonderful repast. A delicious frittata, plus fruit supplied by Marsha, and muffins and breakfast bread that I brought along for this trip. (We do not starve when we are on trailer trips. Actually, we eat like royalty!)
After breakfast Craig and Marsha decided to go for a bike ride, Andy for a hike, and me to catch up on email, Facebook, and this post.
One of my greatest pleasures is writing. And where some might find keeping a travel diary a chore, it brings me joy. Because my ability to bring up dates, places, events, and even people is becoming a challenge. Not that I am suffering from dementia (at least I don’t think I have that affliction yet), never-the-less, my memory is not as good as it was even a year ago. So, being able to re-live our trips in this manor is wonderful. And yes, I do go back and read about past adventures. And I’m sure as I grow older and less able to keep making memories, I will read about my past life even more frequently.
Well, it’s time to pause again. I realized this morning that I had not even cracked a book yesterday. Which for me is like forgetting to eat all day! So, you guessed it. I’m going to take my book outside and read until it’s time to either make lunch or take a nap. Whichever comes first, matters not!
After Andy’s hike and everyone was ready for another outing, we decided to take the road (and I use the term “road” loosely) up to the top of Mt. Walker which purportedly has magnificent views overlooking Quilcene Bay. Whereas it was sunny in camp, just as we were reaching the top of Mt. Walker, we became part of the cloud. So, needless to say, there was no view to be seen either at the North or South viewpoint. So, down we drove having seen a lot of trees, spent rhododendron flowers, bracken, and a lone dandelion.
Then a bit of relaxation, dinner, and an early to bed.
Thursday, August 10, 2023 – Dosewallips State Park
Well, not every morning while on the road are we lucky enough to view elk grazing on the grass just outside our trailer. But today was our lucky day. (We should have gone out and bought a lottery ticket! Which we never do, but you know what I mean.) Not only were the elk close enough to easily capture with my cell phone camera, but they also appeared to be in no hurry to make their way through camp.
Morning visitors. Not in the bit afraid of us. A couple of days later however, with several children running around, the elk did not stick around. Funny how that works.
Now I don’t know about you, but this is only the second time in 32 years of trailering that elk have graced us with their presence in such an up close and personal way. Of course, we have seen elk on our way to and from campgrounds over the years. But never so close that I was considering naming each of the ladies. And yes, they were all cows. And without doubt, there have been elk in other campgrounds we have visited. But they were obviously too shy to reveal themselves. So, today’s visit was a rare treat for us. And speaking of treats……
Today was the day we were going to drive up to Sequim to visit our good friends Pete and Anne. They had moved to Sequim from the Seattle area a couple of years previously and were eager for us to come for a visit. So, while camping in the area, we contacted them before leaving to see if they were up for a visit. They said yes, and a plan was made.
So, at 9:00 am we left camp for our 10:00 am arrival time.
Oh, what a lovely time we spent with these two incredible people. Talented, smart, thoughtful, caring individuals full of joie de vivre. We viewed all the wonderful things they had done to the property they bought. A huge amount of fencing to protect their extensive gardens from deer. Re-doing the split-log siding on their house. Generally making upgrades to meet their needs and desires. And then we had lunch. Grilled steak, home grown and dug up that morning potatoes cooked on the grill, green beans just harvested, and freshly picked grilled zucchini. Amazing. Just a perfect way to better get to know folks with whom we hope to become even closer in the near future.
Then back in our truck for the ride back to camp. Then a bit of reading, walking, and dinner with Craig and Marsha at a local café.
Then back to camp for a couple rousing rounds of Yahtzee (first time for me). Fun game. Then back to our trailer for a bit of reading before lights out. All in all, a fantastic day.
I love seeing the world. But I still feel that the Pacific NW is the best place on earth to live. We are well and truly blessed.
Friday, August 11, 2023 – Dosewallips State Park
Well, today was a special day. Marsha’s birthday. So, a day to celebrate!
After a quiet day of short walks and bicycle riding for some, we headed out for a walk through the Whitney Gardens and Nursery in Brinnon.
These amazing and beautiful gardens were established in 1955. A majestic seven-acre garden at the foot of the Olympic Mountains. Rare trees, ponds, and a stunning array of rhododendron hybrids and species. Also, an abundance of azaleas, magnolias, maples, conifers, kalmias, camelias, perennials, shrubs, and ground covers. Well worth the visit if you are in the area.
Andy and Craig at Whitney Gardens
Then on to the Port Townsend Vineyards in (you guessed it) beautiful Port Townsend. (Fancy name, right!) Anyway, we were there to hear a small jazz trio and of course sample a bit of the liquid offerings.
Mr. C., Craig, and Marsha had known the guitar/harmonica/vocalist Chuck Easton for decades. So, it was nice for them to re-connect a bit. And we all found the music very listenable. But we didn’t stay for their full performance because we had reservations at Silverwater Cafe at 5:30 pm which we did not want to miss. And boy am I glad we were able to get a last-minute reservation because the food and service were both outstanding.
Marsha’s sister had eaten at the restaurant just a couple of weeks earlier so on her recommendation, we went in expecting a wonderful meal and were not disappointed.
After a wonderful celebratory dinner, it was back to camp and a bit of reading until our pillows left us no choice but to give in to their beckoning call.
Saturday, August 12, 2023 – Rest A While RV Park, Hoodsport, WA – site waterfront 22
Just a bit too close together for us. (We are the Creekside behind the maroon truck.) But the canal was just across from us, so that made the site OK. Craig and Marsha were next to us too. That made the whole time at this private campground better than OK!
The canal looking south.
Hood Canal looking north.
After 5 nights at Dosewallips SP, it was time to move to our new location further down 101. Since we were within an hour’s drive of Hoodsport, we were in no hurry to de-camp. So, after a leisurely breakfast, and another visitation from a couple of elk, we were on our way by about high noon.
After an uneventful but scenic drive of about 22 miles, we were in camp. (Far from some of the exhaustive drives between camps we have experienced in the past.)
We had never before had the pleasure of camping at the Rest A While RV Park. And although we were right on Hood Canal, the sites were so close I could have yelled out our kitchen window and asked to borrow a bit of sugar from Marsha, without ever leaving the privacy of our own trailer. To say the sites were cozy would be an understatement. They were, if I remember correctly, the narrowest RV sites we had experienced in 32 years of trailer travel. But the sites had full hookups, which after 5 nights without dumping grey or black water, were very much appreciated. So, immediately after setting up camp, we made good use of the full hook-up facilities. Then it was stay in camp, read, write, and generally let lethargy be our guiding force.
Sunday, August 13, 2023 – Rest A While RV Park
Woke to sunny skies and the promise of another hot day. The temperatures here are actually warmer than Seattle or our neck of the woods. Which to me seems backwards. We are on the peninsula for goodness’ sake. And right on the water. But it’s hot. Not just a little bit hot, but about 88-degrees. But with the air-conditioner blasting away, no problems. And just like on Camano Island, it cools way down at night. So, no need to run the air all night. Just open the windows and let mother nature cool everything down.
After a quiet morning we headed out for a couple of simple hikes. Our first adventure was on the Duckabush River, past the Interrorem Cabin, and a short interpretive hike in this wonderful 2nd growth forest. Then up the road for a bit of a hike to Murhut Falls. Because the trail was a bit much for me, I stayed with the truck while Marsha, Craig, and Andy hit the trail. I walked the road we had driven up so that I too got some exercise. Then it was back into camp for a bit of lunch.
After lunch we decided to visit the Hoodsport Winery which specializes in fruit wines. After paying an exorbitant price for a wild blackberry wine, we headed up to Lake Cushman.
I had never seen this lake and for Craig and Marsha it was a visit to an area of the state where Craig’s parents had lived for about 20 years after their retirement. Then Craig and Marsha took a dip in the lake while we viewed the lake and surrounding mountains from the comfort of our comfy camp chairs.
Then back to camp to prep for dinner, eat too much food, and sit by the water until it was almost dark. Another wonderful day in paradise.
Monday, August 14, 2023 – Rest A While RV Park
Some nights are just easier than others. Last night’s sleep was not pleasant. Not because it was too warm, or I didn’t feel well, or there was something on my mind. Oh no, nothing that simple. From about mid-calf down, my legs and feet were itchy and on fire. I don’t know what species of pest found my legs to be tasty targets, but something got me good and proper. I tried both anti-itch products we had on hand before going to bed. But an hour later I was still miserable, and the products hadn’t helped a bit. So, I got out of bed and slathered the area with my face lotion, and that helped a bit. I was able to get to sleep. However, after about 2 hours, I was awake again and slathering on more lotion. Then back to bed for another quick 2-hour “rest”. So, was I refreshed in the morning? Not a chance. But I made it through the day without a nap. I only mention that, because the other three members of our party (names withheld to protect the guilty) all gave in and spent a bit of time in the arms of Morpheus.
Craig with his mighty bug zapper. And yes, bugs go up in a blaze of glory when caught. But the zapper is not very effective when it comes to no-seeums. (These insidious little bugs must have a real name. But I have never liked them well enough to become that familiar with their real name!)
Well, I would love to say that today was exciting and amazing. But I can’t. We did try to find a beach where we could sit in the shade while contemplating life and why there are some who would still vote for Trump, but no perfect place presented itself. So, we stopped for a beverage and a small lunch at the Hama Hama Oyster Saloon. But even eating our lunch in a shady spot, it was so hot we just wanted to go back to camp and the comfort of our air-conditioned trailers.
When it was time for dinner, we grilled some prawns and assorted veggies, and called it an early night.
Tuesday, August 15, 2023 – Rest A While RV Park
Slept really well and even though the outside temperature never dipped under 70, we slept in comfort with only our Fantastic Fan providing a lovely breeze from above. No need for the air-conditioner to be its noisy self all night.
Then it was get up, shower, fix breakfast, and prepare the trailer for not only departure, but a thorough cleaning of its unmentionable elimination system. (The grey water and black water tanks.)
Usually this is not such an onerous task. But this is our last trailer trip of the year, so we needed to REALLY clean the tanks in preparation for the winterization process. Now this is never a pleasant task. But it was already beastly hot, so we just wanted it to be done so we could be on our way home.
After cleaning, saying our goodbyes to Craig and Marsha, our wonderful travel companions for this trip, we left camp at 10:50 am. Made good time getting home. But boy was it a workout schlepping all of our perishables, toiletries, pillows, and other essentials from the trailer to our house. Oh, once we got things in the truck, getting to our house was no problem. But because it was 3:45 in the afternoon and the temperature was over 90 degrees, and where we store our trailer is in the corking sun, we were beat by the time we unlocked our front door.
But the heat pump was happily doing it’s thing and our kitties were so very glad to see us.
After all the refrigerator and freezer items were tucked away, we pretty much gave up on making another run to the trailer to fetch all the remaining items that needed to be brought home.
There comes a time when it is wise to know when enough is enough. And we had reached that point. And of course, tomorrow was another day. But even if we were ready to be home, we agreed that we will be glad to be in our trailer again next spring. Because seeing all the great places you can visit while towing a trailer or driving an RV, is just so wonderful.
You have your own bed. Your own bathroom. Your own ice cream bars whenever the mood strikes! And what can ever be better than that!
Peace and love and happy camping to all.