30, HOME FREE AND UNEMPLOYED
- Thread starter 4whtundra
- Start date
Olympia and beyond
Monday morning I dropped my buddy off at the airport. I was suppose to help a contractor at 1pm do some painting on his house, so to kill some time I headed back to Adam's house and helped his father-in-law move some manure around and some other work in the garden. His name is Josepe and is from Brasil, Portuguese is his native language and only knows a few words of english. Hi, good morning, thank you, good and friend. We worked very well together all morning until the job was done, before I took off he shook my hand with a "thank you good friend", that was success in my eyes. I took off to help the contractor. Well he flaked, I took the time that I was waiting for him and organized my camper and then took off towards Washington. Like a true road warrior I blasted up to North of Olympia in a matter of hours. I stayed at Potlatch campground just north of the Skokomish Indian Res.
I was anxious to get into the Olympic forest but when I woke up in the morning I realized I was not prepared at all to head out for a week or more. I had been having some issues with my camper being in the rainy north west. I either had a leak in the roof/walls or condensation or both, both was my thought. The wet environment had started to grow a little mold in the rear right corner of the camper. I'll get back to that later, I have to get my photos in order from that ordeal. The plan to take off on time out of Olympia did not work, I was up late the night before reading my new book "One Man's Wilderness", I hate reading but this one has caught my eye and I'm having a hard time putting it down. I will most definitely quote Richard Proenneke at some point. The night before (election day) I was out late gathering groceries, propane and fuel. There's an awesome feeling knowing that you're all fueled up and ready to tackle an adventure. I cooked cheese tortelinni and hot pepper sauce, I also had nice graded cheese for the topping. I made my way South on the 101 and took the 8 to the 12 to the 101 again. It sounds confusing but the 101 goes in a big loop around the Olympic Forest (almost a circle), these are the connecting roads. Around Aberdeen I was able to get my rig out on the beach for some cruising, there was a crazy bird lady there as well. I got up to the lower west corner of the OF (Olympic Forest) and my first night stayed at Willaby Creek campground on Quinault lake.
Monday morning I dropped my buddy off at the airport. I was suppose to help a contractor at 1pm do some painting on his house, so to kill some time I headed back to Adam's house and helped his father-in-law move some manure around and some other work in the garden. His name is Josepe and is from Brasil, Portuguese is his native language and only knows a few words of english. Hi, good morning, thank you, good and friend. We worked very well together all morning until the job was done, before I took off he shook my hand with a "thank you good friend", that was success in my eyes. I took off to help the contractor. Well he flaked, I took the time that I was waiting for him and organized my camper and then took off towards Washington. Like a true road warrior I blasted up to North of Olympia in a matter of hours. I stayed at Potlatch campground just north of the Skokomish Indian Res.
I was anxious to get into the Olympic forest but when I woke up in the morning I realized I was not prepared at all to head out for a week or more. I had been having some issues with my camper being in the rainy north west. I either had a leak in the roof/walls or condensation or both, both was my thought. The wet environment had started to grow a little mold in the rear right corner of the camper. I'll get back to that later, I have to get my photos in order from that ordeal. The plan to take off on time out of Olympia did not work, I was up late the night before reading my new book "One Man's Wilderness", I hate reading but this one has caught my eye and I'm having a hard time putting it down. I will most definitely quote Richard Proenneke at some point. The night before (election day) I was out late gathering groceries, propane and fuel. There's an awesome feeling knowing that you're all fueled up and ready to tackle an adventure. I cooked cheese tortelinni and hot pepper sauce, I also had nice graded cheese for the topping. I made my way South on the 101 and took the 8 to the 12 to the 101 again. It sounds confusing but the 101 goes in a big loop around the Olympic Forest (almost a circle), these are the connecting roads. Around Aberdeen I was able to get my rig out on the beach for some cruising, there was a crazy bird lady there as well. I got up to the lower west corner of the OF (Olympic Forest) and my first night stayed at Willaby Creek campground on Quinault lake.
Quinault rain forest
I woke up at the as* crack of dawn, I was staying at Willaby campground on the shores of Lake Quinault. I had crashed out early the night before attempting to get an early start this morning, for once it worked. I made coffee and had apple and cinnamon oatmeal, I had packed my bag the night before: banana, cliff bar, granola bar and some water. I grabbed my buck knife and headlamp as well, you never know. I did a nice little hike around the rainforest there, about 3-4 miles and then back on the shores of the lake. The rain forest there is unreal, waterfalls galore, cool looking plants and mushrooms, plus a ton of moss growing on everything. I was prairie dogging on the way back to camp so I stopped in the lodge to have a seat.
I was back to base camp around 9:30, packed my things and took off.
I woke up at the as* crack of dawn, I was staying at Willaby campground on the shores of Lake Quinault. I had crashed out early the night before attempting to get an early start this morning, for once it worked. I made coffee and had apple and cinnamon oatmeal, I had packed my bag the night before: banana, cliff bar, granola bar and some water. I grabbed my buck knife and headlamp as well, you never know. I did a nice little hike around the rainforest there, about 3-4 miles and then back on the shores of the lake. The rain forest there is unreal, waterfalls galore, cool looking plants and mushrooms, plus a ton of moss growing on everything. I was prairie dogging on the way back to camp so I stopped in the lodge to have a seat.
I was back to base camp around 9:30, packed my things and took off.
The Hoh
After I left the lake I headed north on the 101 for only a little while and then took the Clearwater road which by-passes the 101. After taking the scenic route I got back on 101 and headed into Forks. I found that you need a "discovery pass" which will allow you to park at the scenic spots and campgrounds in Washington. After stopping at an outfitters I headed for the South Hoh campground which sits on the Hoh river. I got a great little campsite next to the river with no neighbors.
View attachment 131586
After I left the lake I headed north on the 101 for only a little while and then took the Clearwater road which by-passes the 101. After taking the scenic route I got back on 101 and headed into Forks. I found that you need a "discovery pass" which will allow you to park at the scenic spots and campgrounds in Washington. After stopping at an outfitters I headed for the South Hoh campground which sits on the Hoh river. I got a great little campsite next to the river with no neighbors.
View attachment 131586
Railvan
Adventurer
Welcome to Bellingham. There are a few Expo types around town and lots of them in Western Washington. Many of them are also on NWOS: http://www.nwoverland.org/
If you are in B'ham and need anything for fixing up your camper, stop by Hardware Sales and say hi. I work there.
Sounds like you're having an awesome trip!
Regards,
Brian
Brian,
Thanks for the welcome message. I was in MT. Baker last night and it was snowing like crazy but am back in Bellingham for the next couple days. The friend that I am staying with recommended Hardware Sales to me as well so I will stop in tomorrow, hopefully you're working. Take care.
Thanks for the welcome message. I was in MT. Baker last night and it was snowing like crazy but am back in Bellingham for the next couple days. The friend that I am staying with recommended Hardware Sales to me as well so I will stop in tomorrow, hopefully you're working. Take care.
washington taco
Explorer
I have been following this thread since the start. As Brian stated plenty of Overlanders in the area. While in B ham check out Boundry Bay Brewery.
Mike
Mike
oldpro46er
New member
Have followed your adventures and wish I were there with you...just finished hiking the 46 high peaks in Adirondacks...waiting for snow (skiing, etc.)...happy Thanksgiving!
Railvan
Adventurer
If you're still around Friday or Saturday, I'll be back at work after Thanksgiving day off. Stop by and ask any of the HWS employees to page me on the radio. Be happy to meet you. I have friends who live in Glacier, and the weather forecast was a bit off the mark. I heard it was snowing today MUCH lower than predicted! That happens around here as the weather forecast is often just a general idea of how wet or cold it will actually be! November is the wettest and windiest month, so you're getting a little sample of the worst we have.
Are you going to get another tattoo on the way home with an arrow pointing south on the other arm? :^)
Brian
Are you going to get another tattoo on the way home with an arrow pointing south on the other arm? :^)
Brian
46er,
When I talked to you this past summer about the high peaks you inspired me to start as soon as I could. I will start this coming January and hike my #1 (out of 46) highest peaks in NY. I'm very much looking forward to see you when I return for Christmas, there will be more time than ever for catching up. Keeping on doing what you do to inspire us all.
Brian,
I'm heading to Seattle on Friday but I will try to stop in to say hello. Regarding the tattoo, for most of the time my arm is at my side so the needle is correct as to pointing to the North side of my body, unless I raise my hand it will be wrong. This is the only half as* logic answer I could come up with to you question
LA Push & Ozette Lake
I had an itch that had to be scratched, I had to make it to the most Northwest point in the lower 48. The direction for the morning was north. Even though I knew it wasn't going to happen on this day I was excited for the trip there. Just outside the Hoh was another campsite I wanted to check out, it was called cottonwood campground. I was skeptic about this one since it was closer to the 101 than the Hoh and it was hunting season. To my pleasant surprise it was awesome! It was a nice little nook besides the river, had a vault toilet and a couple people staying there already. Also at the very end of the road is the river, well it is a couple forks of a creek draining into the main river and with 4WD you can cross the creek onto a higher part of the river, there was a bunch of good ol' boys out there fishing with a fire and having a good old time on a Sunday. I mobbed around a little and took some pictures then headed back to the 101.
I was also curious about a small town I saw on my map out by the coast called La Push, it is a small indian res sitting right on the water. I headed north on the 101 then took the 110 West and forked at La Push road into the town. It was a quaint little town nothing like some other indian res' I've been through. You can drive right up to the beach where there is a couple parking lots in different locations. The second I got out of my truck I saw a sea lion blasting out of the water with a huge fish in its mouth, nature at its greatest! I spent an hour or two walking the beaches, the driftwood should be called drifttrees, it makes one ponder the brute force of mother nature herself.
It was getting later in the day, I had thought about spending the night at the cottonwood spot but restlessness kept me driving. I got back out to the 101 and passed through Forks one more time and made a left on Burnt Mountain Road (AKA 113), the 113 turns into the 112 and forks a ways up the road, east goes towards Port Angeles, West towards Neah Bay, west it was. It was later in the day at this point, I had seen a couple signs for a campsite so I took a left turn onto Ozette Lake road. What I thought was going to be a couple mins turned into about 40 minutes, I got to the site at dark. To my surprise there were a bunch of campers there, another surprise was FREE CAMPING!!!! WOOHOO!!! I was stoked and got a site right by the lake, it was a chilly night filled with Waylon and a good dinner. In the morning I will head to the Cape.
I had an itch that had to be scratched, I had to make it to the most Northwest point in the lower 48. The direction for the morning was north. Even though I knew it wasn't going to happen on this day I was excited for the trip there. Just outside the Hoh was another campsite I wanted to check out, it was called cottonwood campground. I was skeptic about this one since it was closer to the 101 than the Hoh and it was hunting season. To my pleasant surprise it was awesome! It was a nice little nook besides the river, had a vault toilet and a couple people staying there already. Also at the very end of the road is the river, well it is a couple forks of a creek draining into the main river and with 4WD you can cross the creek onto a higher part of the river, there was a bunch of good ol' boys out there fishing with a fire and having a good old time on a Sunday. I mobbed around a little and took some pictures then headed back to the 101.
I was also curious about a small town I saw on my map out by the coast called La Push, it is a small indian res sitting right on the water. I headed north on the 101 then took the 110 West and forked at La Push road into the town. It was a quaint little town nothing like some other indian res' I've been through. You can drive right up to the beach where there is a couple parking lots in different locations. The second I got out of my truck I saw a sea lion blasting out of the water with a huge fish in its mouth, nature at its greatest! I spent an hour or two walking the beaches, the driftwood should be called drifttrees, it makes one ponder the brute force of mother nature herself.
It was getting later in the day, I had thought about spending the night at the cottonwood spot but restlessness kept me driving. I got back out to the 101 and passed through Forks one more time and made a left on Burnt Mountain Road (AKA 113), the 113 turns into the 112 and forks a ways up the road, east goes towards Port Angeles, West towards Neah Bay, west it was. It was later in the day at this point, I had seen a couple signs for a campsite so I took a left turn onto Ozette Lake road. What I thought was going to be a couple mins turned into about 40 minutes, I got to the site at dark. To my surprise there were a bunch of campers there, another surprise was FREE CAMPING!!!! WOOHOO!!! I was stoked and got a site right by the lake, it was a chilly night filled with Waylon and a good dinner. In the morning I will head to the Cape.
hidesrider
New member
I think I have seen your truck at Island brewery in Carpinteria, Calif. Nice write up. I am captivated.
czenkov
Adventurer
Great tour of the PNW. You missed an opportunity north of Hood River in Washington called Everybody's Brewing. If you get back that way, stop in, good beer and food. I have toured Oregon extensively and Washington somewhat. Every stop you mention IPA's. If you are a true hop-head you must stop in Yakima at the Hops Museum - and buy the brewers game - pretty cheesey but fun. The circa 1980's video makes the trip. When you hit the western edge of Idaho you will find good beer stops from Spokane on over to Pocatello Idaho. If you get the chance and stop in SLC reach out and I will show you some decent IPA. Enjoyed the reading. Thanks.