HAPPY FATHER'S DAY

June 16, 2013  

Washington wildflowers

       
 We didn't get back until late last night, so I didn't get a chance to post.  Today was another busy day of exploring this diverse and interesting area.  I love all the beautiful wildflowers growing along the side of the road here.  There are fields covered with white daisies and poppies.  And there are lots of flowers  and blooming shrubs that I don't know the names of.     

* * * * * * * * * *

In the morning we went to the local farmer's market.  There were lots of local artisans and crafts people there.  This lady was spinning wool.  She makes hats and headbands from the fur of dogs and if you gather the wool from your own dog, she'll spin it and make a hat for you from it.  Interesting....        After the craft fair we went to visit one of the local lavender farms.  There are many of them in the area.  The plants thrive in the very moderate climate here.   There are acres of beautiful shrub like plants with a very pleasing scent.  We are just a few weeks early for their full bloom of purple.  We left there and went to check out a popular area for bird enthusiasts along the Dungeness River.  There's an old train tressel bridge there and they've turned miles of old train tracks into paved bike paths.  We saw lots of birds, bikers and a couple of beagles.                                                      

Sequim Sunday market

In the evening we went south a bit to a town called Port Townsend.  It's an old port city and they have maintained their main street in all its Victorian splendor.  Nearly every building on main street was still in pristine condition with plaques dating them around the 1880's and placing the main street on the National Register of Historic places.  It was very impressive.  This town is an active fishing port and also has the ferry that goes to Seattle and Whidbey Island across Puget Sound.  

Port Townsend Victorian building

Port Townsend lighthouse

Today we drove back to Hurricane Ridge in Olympic National Park.  We were 

there the other day, but it was cloudy then.  Since it was clearer today, we decided 

to go back and see if the views were different.  We were able to see a much

more expansive view of the entire mountain range today.  We saw several

deer along the drive up.  

This is a picture of the lighthouse at Port Townsend.  The lighthouse in the picture was built in 1913.  It sits out on a lower point than most.  After we took pictures, we sat and watched several big cruise ships pass by, as well as some huge trans-ocean commercial ships.  The ships enter Puget Sound and sail down to Seattle.

Hurricane Ridge

After the drive up the mountain, we decided to go check out a tide pool area.  This picture was taken at Tongue Point just west of Port Angeles.  Once again, it was a beautiful place to spend some time.  Steve went down and explored the tide pools while Hillary and I sat on a bluff and just enjoyed the scenery.  

Tongue Point - Port Angeles, Washington

Tomorrow we are scheduled to go on a whale watching trip.  We're hoping to spot some Orca (killer whales) out in the Puget Sound.