Rolling Along With The Reynolds

Jim and Cindy's Adventure Blog traveling all over the USA

Tag: tide pools

Beach Day!

     The Kalaloch area offers a sampler of the variety of coastal habitat protected in Olympic National Park, from sandy beaches to rocky headlands. Olympic National Park protects over 65 miles of coastline. This safe haven also extends beyond the water’s edge. The marine environment and offshore islands are protected in partnership with three national wildlife refuges and the Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary. The Sanctuary extends 20-50 miles offshore and 135 miles north to south!

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         The Kalaloch (pronounced “Clay-lock”), specifically Beach 4, offered an expansive sandy beach. Getting down to the water from Hwy 101 road was quite a hike, but certainly worth every huff and puff. At the end of the trail, you encounter a bridge to get you over the creek, but you must still climb over the rock formations (knotted ropes bolted into the rocks helped scaling the walls). 
        We intentionally timed our arrival to coincide with low tide. I took the GoPro down to the water with me, and shot some footage underwater – so cool to see little fish, sea stars, sea urchins and sea anemones. 

Beach Day pics (album 46)

 

        Warning signs are abundant, and rightly so; there’s lots down here that can put oneself in a fatal situation. “Beach Logs and Riptides Kill! Powerful waves can roll and tumble logs. Do not play on beach logs, especially when the tide is high. Riptides are also dangerous. Swim at your own risk“.  It didn’t hold several surfers back however. They came down the trail at the same time we did, assessed the waters and took off to dress into their wetsuits. They were already in the water before we finished our short hike down the beach to the tide pools. The dramatic surf was one to keep an eye on while out on the rocks/tidal pools. Strong undertows and currents were already forming as high tide was coming in to peak in six hours. It’s no joke to be cautious out there.

 

 

Beach Day pics (album 46)

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A Jaunt on the Route Less Traveled

Impressive Vistas. Rugged Coastlines. Driving the Washington State Route 112 is spectacular along this 61-mile National Scenic Byway that takes you on the northern edge of the Olympic Peninsula coastline. The Strait connects the Pacific Ocean with Puget Sound. 22 miles to the North across the water, you can see Canada’s Vancouver Island.  The coastal communities are interesting and each one unique; Joyce, Clallam Bay, Sekiu, Neah Bay/Cape Flattery (home of the Makah Reservation). 
Pictured above is the Trailhead; a beautifully lush cedar-planked boardwalk leading to a magnificent view of the Tahoosh Island Lighthouse. We spotted Puffins, and other shorebirds making nests on the cliffside while seals were happily swimming in the rough waters below. Brightly colored orange starfish were seen too hanging onto the sides of rocks right at the pounding waterline. A Paradise.
      

Cape Flattery pics (Album 37)

Took a short detour down to Shi Shi Beach

Still within the Makah Reservation, we drove south along the coastline to stop off at Hobuck Beach and Shi Shi Beach to get up close to the water and discovered all kinds of life teeming in the tide pools. The rock shapes created by the tides were artistically beautiful unto themselves.  I could’ve stayed and play all day here.   

Pics of the Tide Pool Beaches (part of album 37)

Lake Crescent

For a different route coming home, we decided to take Hwy 113 and loop around the 101 to hug the southern shores of Lake Crescent. That was a hard decision to make, as the trip westward was so scenic, but this route certainly did not disappoint either. 

This lake is 12 miles long, and the deep, clear, turquoise waters are no lie. Stunning! We stopped at the Marymere Falls trail, and saw the quaint national park lodge/cabin that was built in 1916, highlighted by grazing deer out in the wildflower pasture.

To wrap up the full day, we landed in Port Angeles to have dinner and view an amazing sunset, admiring the skies and the ships cruising along in the Strait.

Full Album of the Day in the NW point of WA (album 37)