Years ago, Lona and I and one of her teammates went to the Olympic Game Farm and I loved it.  This year we had a bit of time before the ferry ride home and so I talked John into going to the farm. This year, we had to purchase bread at the farm instead of being able to bring our own but we could through more than once.  John slowly drove past the first gate into the pen with the llamas and yaks. With my camera in hand, we rolled down the window as we approached the first small group of llamas, with bread in our hands, the van was on a slow creep through the heard.  With strict instructions not to stop we kept moving, ever so slowly. The small yaks and llamas barely moved.  The next pen had us passing bears, some were stationary and a couple had caught on that if they waved, they had bread thrown at them.  The biggest pen of all, had elk, and buffaloes and a tiny type of deer.  As soon as we drove through, we were met by a large elk looking for a handout. As soon as the buffaloes figured out we had food they headed towards the car and at one point was keeping a good little trot with its head almost in the window.  Flash backs of reminders to stay away from the bison at Yellowstone Park flashed through my mind, and yet I still put my hand out with bread to have it licked by the rough tongue of a buffalo. They tried to stick their head in but it wouldn't fit through the window. When we came out the other end, I begged John to go around again.  We would have gone a third time, but we had to catch the ferry home. 
















 

When ever I would hear about Sequim and the lavender, I imagined fields and fields of lavender like the tulip fields in Skagit County. I imagined driving from one field to another, with the scent of lavender on the breeze.  There is a driving route but I had envisioned miles and miles of fields in a row.  Instead there are a few lavender farms and the lavender festival this year was canceled. One of the places had a little shop open that I could browse through.  There was a display garden at the front with limited viewing and a inviting view of more fields.  It is an activity to place on my list for another year. Explore Sequim during the Lavender festival.







 

We made our way towards Sol Duc Falls and turned off onto the Deer Lake Trail.  Too far down the trail to turn back but not far enough to continue on we realized that we forgot our water bottles.  What were we thinking when we left them in the car.  The truth, we weren't thinking however there is a reason why we hike with the 10 essentials. In our 10 essential bag we have a water filter and bag.  We have never had an opportunity until now to use it.  I think we've carried the 10 essentials for at least 10 years if not more and this was the first time we've pulled out the water filter.  We loaded up at the creek, tested it out and continued.  Heck we were headed towards Deer Lake, there would be water.  And there was.  After crossing a couple of wooden walk ways, we headed deep into the old growth fir trees on a stony trail that lead higher and higher onto the mountain. There were a few designated campsites along the way that at any other year would be full. This year they were closed. The trail kept climbing unitl it didn't and there was the lake. We wandered around to the left planning on looping around the lake. And in the meadow on the far end of the lake were deer.  I didn't expect it.  How many lakes are named after animals that you never even see the animal?  Too man.  Bear lake, no bears, moose lake, no moose and so I didn't really expect to see deer, yet there they were bedding down in the lush tall grassy meadow.  They kept their eyes on us though the weren't quite ready to leave their spot. I took photos while on the path as we passed them.  Around the lake we went and back down the hill to the car, just as it decided to start with a little sprinkle.









 

This wasn't on my itinerary to begin with but it was so worth it. There were so many different hikes and options.  Some were closed due to repairs for roads, others were inaccessible due to the pandemic.  This one however was open and there is a legend surrounding this mountain and Crescent Lake below.  I also read that there was a killer view so of course those helped tip the favor towards this hike. Starting off at the Ranger Station, we crossed the road through a culvert and veered left at the giant tree onto the Mount Storm King Trail.  Moss covered trees lining the soft dirt track.  After more than a few switch backs a view started to appear teasingly through the trees. The clouds would swirl revealing a bit more only to swoop in again. Our last little peak of the lake brought us to a small rise and the end of the maintained trail and yet we could see that a trail did indeed continue past the boundary. Hike at your own risk.  With an invitation like that how could we not risk it?  It wasn't too much farther on that we came upon the ropes.  This was a series of ropes tied around trees allowing the hiker to grasp on while making your way up or down a steep, loose scrabbly dirt path. One slip and its over the lip of the trail into the trees below.  Eyeing the well used and hopefully well knotted rope we made our way up to the overlook point.  It offered a view but there was more to the trail and I was compelled to not settle with just the overlook.  I wanted the summit. Instead of the taking the left we chose the path to the right.  It was promising until just out of view of the overlook and then it became even steeper with rope that I would normally call string.  We scrambled a bit but it became steeper and the rope well it became thinner.  So sadly we turned around, but this trail still calls me asking me to find the end.  Next summer? Maybe?







 

The weekend away at the Olympic Peninsula had us reminiscing about all the things we have done together in the last 25 years.  The family activities, the way we raised our kid, what we thought about when we married.  Then came the dreams for the future, the fears, the hopes, the uncertainty.  We wandered along one trail and then another still with this thread of conversation. We thought a lot about the future of our kids.  Would they be happy, will they find someone to love? Will they ever want to come see us? What kind of expectations or lack of would we have for them? In the end, there was no answer really to any questions for the future. However, we could find rest and peace because we know we didn't need to figure anything out.  And so one of these trails that found us discussing these deep topics was the trail to Marymere Falls.  It is a short trail with two view points of the falls, a lower one and if you want to climb a bit, a higher view point from above.  It was short and sweet and popular with other tourists like ourselves.

I walked along the beach listening as the waves giggled along the rocky shore. Each time the water streamed into the ocean, it pulled the small pebbles with them and they tumbled along with a plinking sound that to me sounded like laughter. I smiled as I continued on my way making for an arch at the north end of the beach. My husband was left near the parking lot enjoying the sun with hi eyes closed.  Our 25th wedding anniversary and we were spending it van camping. We had always talked about going on a bigger trip for our 25th but this hasn't been a typical year and so we decided to explore an area closer to home. And so on this beautiful summer day we explored part of the Olympic Peninsula that was accessible to the public and I walked where the pebbles laughed and I smiled because even with a pandemic I am still married to the love of my life.


 

Turning onto a narrow one lane forest service road just passed the Glacier Ranger station, we wound our way through old growth trees and pockets of sunshine. Eight miles and many jarring potholes later we found ourselves at the packed parking lot for the Mount Baker Summit and Heliotrope Ridge trail head. Shouldering our packs we headed into the mist. The quiet surrounded us as we trudged along each lost in our own thoughts. Occasionally we would pass a group going up or coming down. The ones descending often had summitted  earlier that morning since the weather had been good for climbing. The precarious creek crossing 1 1/2 miles in usually has us hunting for suitable foot placement. The we climb as bit or head straight across depending upon the water level and this day was no exception to that. Earlier in the day we headed straight across but by afternoon we chose our steps with a bit more care since the water level had risen a bit. Towards the end of the trail we started to hear the ear piecing whistles of the resident marmots. We made our way up to the ridge over looking Coleman Glacier when at my feet came a whistle loud and high enough to break glass.  The furry little beast hustled off into the brush. I dropped my pack and threw myself onto my belly as I crawled after the rodent with my camera posed to start snapping photos.  It was my chance to get a close of the critter. He skittered over the edge of the ridge, hoping from boulder to boulder until he reached to the edge of the glacier.  What I didn't realize was how many there were out and about ready for their spring time romps among the strewn boulders.  They provided entertainment for the groups of hikers all along the ridge.  Eating a picnic lunch we returned home, happy and a bit weary.