Olympic Peninsula

The Olympic Peninsula is one of those places that you're never really done with, because there's simply too much to do there. From the beaches to the mountains to the only North American rainforest, it's a outdoors dream come true.

Excited about the approaching nice weather, I rented a pair of side-by-side houses and drove out with a bunch of friends. The houses are casual - maybe even well-loved and a bit worn-in - but comfortable and perfect for our group. They're on a lake (with rentable kayaks and canoes) and have a ton of games (pool, ping pong, darts, etc) already waiting, along with a fantastically huge hot tub, a fire pit, and a BBQ... of course.

Friday afternoon, we left early from work. In order to get to the peninsula, you can either drive down around the sound, or take the ferry across. We opted for the latter approach - it's easier and pretty, although the traffic at the ferry can pile up on a sunny Friday. Phil and I drove together and arrived at the house first. Everyone else trickled in, and we made dinner and played games.

Saturday we went hiking near Shi Shi Beach. After driving out and paying for a parking permit (you actually park on an Indian Reservation) we got out and started off. The hike begins through a forest that, with it being still spring, was a bit more muddy than expected. Most of us handled this well, not too worried about the dirt. When we finally made it out to the beach, the views are dramatic. Shi Shi is located near the northwestern most point of the continental US, and the ocean is gorgeous.

We walked down the beach a few miles, stopping to check out tide pools and play on the rock formations. Our pace was slow, but we had a great time. Very few people were on the beach, which was shocking for such a nice Saturday, so we only passed a few surfers who had camped out for the night. There were more than a few birds, including a couple of bald eagles which nest safely in the protected area. By the time we turned around and walked back to the cars, the sun was setting.

That evening, we chilled out at the house again, and the guys cooked a fantastic meal (really) while the girls lazily hung out in the hot tub (with wine and appetizers!) Sunday morning we woke up, cleaned, and began disbanding. Many of us drove up to Hurricane Ridge in the Olympic National Park on our way back, and took a quick hike around the base of the ridge trail. If you've never been to Hurricane Ridge, go. It's a great hike for views, and it isn't very strenuous.

Phil and I also drove up to Port Townsend, stopping for ice cream and a walk before finding our way back.