Washington - Olympic National Park

"You can shake the sand from your shoes, but not from your soul." - Unknown

I made the Olympic Peninsula Loop. It might not have been the official loop, but I drove a loop from Gig Harbor to Port Angeles, down the western coastline, and back to Gig Harbor through Aberdeen and Olympia. It was a full and exciting day of adventures.

I started my day in Port Angeles in the morning.

On this trip, it was my first experience with the coast, and I was excited to breathe in the fresh, salty air and be calmed by the crystal blue waters. Port Angeles did not disappoint. It was foggy when I arrived, and a few people were out and about. I knew I had a full day ahead of me, but I was happy to spend some time getting centered before I took in what the rest of the day had in store for me. I had a feeling it was going to be incredible.

I grabbed a sandwich and some coffee from a cute market in town and hit the road. I'm glad I did because that sandwich would taste delicious later in the day.

Welcome to Lake Crescent! It was just a short 17-mile drive from Port Angeles. This gorgeous little lake was packed full of breathtaking views. The water was a deep blue and as smooth as glass. I read that a lack of nitrogen in the water inhibits the growth of algae, allowing the water to be a beautiful blue color. I could imagine myself spending the afternoon kayaking here.

Just around a few curves was the lodge for this lake. As you would expect, it held more incredible views of the lake.

In the distance, there was a kayaker. He appeared to enjoy a peaceful ride on the lake, just as I had envisioned.

From Lake Crescent, I drove an hour to Rialto Beach. It was known for the Hole-In-The-Wall. It is a rocky arch leading to tide pools and many interesting ocean critters. It is supposedly located near the upper left corner of this picture.

The hike is just under two miles, but the critical information is that you can only get to it if the tide is out. Unfortunately for me, it was high tide. Instead, I enjoyed the beach and picked up some interesting rocks and driftwood before going.

The drive to Ruby Beach was under an hour, but there was no cell service when I left Rialto Beach to enter it into my navigation. I drove blind for a while, which is never good for me. I just crossed my fingers for a sign pointing me in the right direction or at least one bar on my phone so that I could get directions. Finally, after about 20 miles, one faint bar appeared, and I grabbed it! Luckily I was going in the correct direction.

As it turns out, I found my Hole-In-The-Wall on Ruby Beach without the two-mile hike on the sand.

Looking at the people in this picture, you can see how big these rocks are. I'm still amazed at the size of the trees washed up on the beach. It is hazardous. I can't imagine being in the water and seeing one of these coming at me.

An hour inland from Ruby Beach was Hoh Rain Forest. It was an enchanting place that I wish I could have camped in.

I could have gotten lost for hours in this stunning, enchanting forest. Everyone knows Seattle gets a lot of rain. They average 36 inches a year, but the rainforest receives as much as 14 feet of rain yearly! The fog and mist that is so prevalent in the area also contribute to another 30 inches of rain. This makes it the world's lushest rainforest and one of the wonders of Washington State.

While walking in the Hoh Rain Forest, I was reminded of a friend who always inspired me to find off-the-beaten-path places. I thought about not always following the path of others in my own life. Frequently, I would ask for guidance from several people before making a decision. Hell, it was practically a committee decision. Now I am more comfortable forging my path in my way. It is my life, after all. I am feeling more self-confident and self-assured and learning to trust my intuition.

As much as I hated to leave, I had one more stop on my list before sunset.

I couldn't have planned my last stop at Kalaloch Beach better. It was roughly a 50-minute drive but seemed much shorter as I took in all the scenery around me. These unusual trees were everywhere on my walk down to the beach.

I arrived about thirty minutes before sunset. It couldn't have been more perfect. Plus, I had the entire beach to myself.

I stacked the rocks to make this cairn reminding myself I was on the right path in my life and felt balanced for the first time in a while.

As I watched the sunset, I thought to myself how grateful I was to be here at this very moment. How grateful I am to be on this journey. I am taking none of it for granted. My greatest fear is not remembering every detail and every feeling I had as I experienced these incredible moments.

It was the perfect ending to the perfect day from sunrise to sunset.

Stay Wild 🌿