Wednesday, it was back on the road heading up the western side of the Olympic Peninsula. Clouds covered the sky and raindrops covered the windscreen. Other than topping up the gas tank, we made only one major stop on our way north. That stop was at Ruby Beach where hillside trees framed the surf below.
Our destination for the night was Sol Duc Hot Springs resort in Olympic National Park. There’s no TV out here, no wifi and no cell phone coverage. My kind of place!
We arrived just in time for lunch. In the lodge restaurant, we each ordered, yes, another bowl of clam chowder. After a short delay, we checked into our cabin for the night (actually two nights)…
…clean, comfortable and perfect for a well-deserved rest break.
Now, I normally love soaking in hot springs, but these didn’t interest me. I like the ones in the middle of nowhere, surrounded by nature. Soaking in concrete tubs of hot water like these are like just soaking in concrete tubs of hot water. Dianne loved them, however, and spent several hours simmering in the hot, sulfuric water.
On Thursday, we finally got to put on our hiking boots and hit the trail. Our objective was Sol Duc Falls, a seven-mile roundtrip hike from the lodge parking lot. It would be a loop trip, the first three+ miles being on the Lover’s Lane Trail where we brought nary a pet, weapon or vehicle.
The route took us through the forest, with towering trees and thick undergrowth blocking the view of everything but towering trees and thick undergrowth.
Somebody with a chainsaw made sure the trail was clear of fallen logs, many of which displayed mushrooms growing from their cut surfaces…
…and moss draped tree limbs.
At about the three mile point, we reached Lover’s Lane Falls.
We shot a few photos…
…and crossed a few log bridges as we proceeded on to our ultimate goal…
…Sol Duc Falls.
A long, three-mile slog through the forest led us back to the lodge…
…where I had a non-seafood (steak) dinner with wine and absolutely no clam chowder!
