Monday the 3rd. The Last

This was our last day in Tacoma. Abby and Meagan spent it watching Supernatural on my computer inside. Me, I finished the mural on the retaining wall.

We went out for supper, and got on the bus at 8:40. On my way home.

Sunday the 2nd

Last day up north on the way out we stopped at another part of the park called Sol Duc. they were supposed to have hot springs, and Abby and I were excited about it...turns out it wasn't what we were expecting. They were just man made pools filled with hot srip water, it was crowded as hell, and they wanted up to pay 11.50 to get in. Not so much. So we go on a bit of a hike instead. And eighth of a mile to Sol Duc Falls. There was a way down onto the rock in the river. I climbed over to the edge, leaned over and took a picture. I turned around and Abby had a scared look on her face and was motioning me to come back to the side. Lolz.

Abby

Signature!

Car ride home. Watched some more Supernatural after we were all showered and cleaned up. And a little packing before bed.

Saturday, August 1st

Today is our long awaited trip to the Hoh Rainforest. But firsth Ruth had to make a business stop at a place in the park. Crecsent Lake.

So we sat downon the beach, and next to us was a Japanese family. They had the two most adorable kids.

Nice log just off shore. I took off my shoes and sock and wadded out to it. The water was really nice. I wish that we actually had gotten to go swimming. but oh well.

We had to drive through Fork to get to the Hoh. If you don't already know about it Forks is where the Twilight books series takes place. They had a street named after it, two shops on main street for it, and a corner in the grocery store. Which is where we go our lunch to go.

The Hoh was SO beautiful! Not only is it one of the only diciduous rainforest in existence, but it is the only one above the equator. We were going to go camping, but time and equipment were an issue so we didn't.

I think this explains itself.

We foudn this moss covered stump like this. With the rock and grass growing out of it. Ta Da its a catapillar!

Next stop, the ocean. Ruth discovered that Abby and I had never seen an ocean, and she just could not let that slide. On the way back through Forks we HAD to get a picture of this sign. If you didn't know Edward is the main heart throb romatic intrest in the Twilight serries.

Rialto Beach. The Pacific Ocean.

Abby and I took off our shoes and got in far enough for the waves to come up over our feet. The ocean up here is a constant 45 degrees no matterr what, so we didn't stay in for very long. But now I can say that I've been in the Pacific Ocean.

Trade mark.

Friday the 31st

I may not have said this before, but totally disregard the date at the very top.
Today was spent at at place in the Olympic Penninsula National Park called Hurricane Ridge. One the way there we stopped at Ruth's office and met all of her park interns, most of them were about our age. We picked up some chinese food from the Safe Way in Port Angeles, and then headed up to Hurricane Ridge.

On our way out I saw the deer again. I think shes trying to hick-hike

After we got back we went down to the beach again. It was clearer durign the day. You really could see Canada.

It was really nice, so I got in the water for a bit. Not too long though, the water was really cold.

We found this really nice big rock. Great for climbing.

Got a few nice pictures.

And of course, my signature.

We went back up the house because people would be arrivign soon. Ruth had invited all of her interns over for dinner. She had bought 6 pizzas and a bunch of topppings, and we did a make your own pizza. Piled higih with sausage mushroom and an insane amount of cheese. It was a thing of beauty. But probably the best thing about it was that two of Ruth's interns were Japanese. Shoko and Marie (ma-ri-eh), and Abby and I spent most of our time talking to them. Both in english and japanese. After supper we all walked down to the beach, and then kind of on a impromptu hike thorugh that part of the park. The entire time Abby and I are askign questions and talking with Shoko and Marie. They said our pronunciation is very good.

To the night off when we all got back to the house there were sundae's involved. I don't think the day could've gone any better.

Thursday, July the 30th

Most of today was spent in the car driving to Meagan's Aunt Ruth's house. Up by Port Angeles and a small town called Joyce. Ruth is a park ranger so she lives practically in the middle of no where. But that just so happens to be no where that is near a beach on the Strait of Juan de Fuca. Up her drive way and down the road there is a nice rock beach. That, I am so told, on a clear day you can see clear to Canada.

Obviously from the pictures it was not clear. We were happy about that though. The day before it had topped out at 105 degrees. Bleh. But here we're more north, and near the water. It was a very comfortable 67 degrees. We were wearing pants, long sleeve shirts, and in Abby's case a hat.

Now we wanted to walk further down the beach, but the tide was coming in so our path was kind of blocked off. I tried to weasel our way further down by going into the trees a little bit. Got distracted though. We ran into an area with some fallen trees and live ones. I made Abby go pose again. Then we all just got pictures.

By the time we got out of the trees the fog had become thicker. It gave everything a mystical air.

Burritos for dinner with left over BBQ. Bed Time, I was surprisingly tired.

Due to traveling, packing....being busy and on a bus as well I will fininsh posting when I return home.

Monday the 27th and Tuesday the 28th

Today was also a Tacoma day. We went to the Glass Museum. Where they had a lot of pieces by Dale Chihuly, a local glass artist whos actually famous. And does tremendously huge work, like the bridge of glass. Which is not actually a bridge made of glass. Its a regular bridge with large works in it. Like this, you walk through a tunnel and the ceiling is glass and you can see through, its supposed to be like looking up through the ocean.

But first we had to park a ways away ffrom the museum. And I discovered that, even with his extensive injuries, Ron followed me all the way to Washington.

Turns out that you're not allowed to take pictures in the museum. So I won't have any pictures of the glass in the museum. They had an exhibit with glass art with inspiration taken from the Native American tribes in the area. All of them were gorgeous, one was imitating wood and bone...and it did look like wood and bone. There was also another exhibit about glass in general. the different ways of forging, molding, and cutting. How its colored, cut, and blown. Its not a very big museum, but they have something called, The Hot Shop. Which is a glass blowing studio built into the museum where they give demonstrations. We all sat in the heat and watched for about half an hour. Abby and meagna had to pull away from it. I wonder if there are any teaching studios in Iowa. ;)

After that meagan showed us ONE of Tacom's TEN libraries. Again very awesome. Supper. More Supernatural. Bed.

Tuesday the 28th

Happt Birthday Dad! Today was spent in Seattle. First stop, the Space Needle. O_o! Very high up! 605 feet up and I was weak in the knees. But the view was spectacular.

Next was Seattle's 10 story public library. Once again, amazing.

On the way back to the car we especially had some fun. And it was necessary, the high of today was 100. So we found a good fountain to play on the way back to the car.