From Victoria into Washington

We finally got an internet connection! First one since Canada. So it's time to catch up.

Our last full day in Victoria we again biked around this great little town. Of course, this was the day of the local Gay Pride parade. I expected a small quiet march of a few dozen folks. Would you believe thousands in the parade and more thousands spectating? All (almost) very tasteful without too much flaunting of transgender behavior and not very much public display of affection. All in all, a helluva show.

The parade was several blocks long.

This was about as rowdy as the Gay Pride parade got.

 

 

As a parting gift from Victoria, this river otter and her two youngsters showed up on the dock below us the day we left.

 

Time for another expensive ferry ride. I've almost grown blasé about entrusting my home to a floating hole in the water. Tight turns, snuggling up to a semi, ramps that jiggle under the weight of my rig? No problem. Telling the truth, or even remembering what forbidden fruits or meats are in the refrigerator? Maybe a little sweating and stammering there. We ended up eating half a dozen Southeast Asian leechee rather than have them confiscated.

We headed back to the Escapee's RV park in Chimacum and spent a few days just kicking back. Well, they had a couple of pool tables and a squad of geriatric pool sharks. We also fell a little bit for Fort Townsend, located on the northeast corner of the Olympic Peninsula. Definitely on the list for long term summer settle-down spot should we ever get to that phase.

Not often you see a sailboat blocking the street.

A former co-worker, Rick Marsh, was once a park ranger in the Olympic National Park and often told about the temperate rain forest. I had to see it. Well worth it. Like the rest of the peninsula, it's cool during the day and nearly cold at night. Oh, did I mention that Washington is undergoing it's annual July-August drought? Sunshine, very few clouds, nice. We're on our way to see the redwoods and sequoias but they'll have to be pretty spectacular to beat the moss draped monster we saw Hoh River area. Throw in a close-up of a bull-elk just for fun.

Typical windshield view

 

 

These trees are all in a row. Hundreds of years ago, a tree fell, gathered moss and nurtured all these trees with its remains.

 

This tree is just typical, nothing special. The lady is something special.

Moss covered most of the large trees

Isn't he a beauty?

Just that close

Just now we're right at the southwestern edge of Washington state, getting ready to tour Highway 101 along the Oregon Coast. Spent the day touring Fort Clatsop, where Lewis and Clark wintered in 1805. Nice reproduction, especially the woodworker who invited me to use a drawshave, first time I've done any woodworking in years.