... a day of all sorts...

***Miles travelled today: ...we didn't write it down as we had planned on going out again this evening... but didn't...

***Total Miles:

***States travelled through: still in Washington...

...so we decided to go off and do some more exploring today ... what else is new??? Well, we only have a few days left of exploring so we need to get as much in as possible!!!

We went back into Olympic National Park... to explore the mountains... there are three extremes to this National Park... the rain forests and the beaches and the mountains... it's amazing to see them all so closely together... well, we drove up Hurricane Ridge to the visitors centre at the top, where you can look out over the mountains, the tallest being Mount Olympus... all of which were covered in snow... unlike at Glacier National park there are no roads that take one through this park... the interior of the park can only be reached by foot... well, after taking numerous photos... of snow, snow and yet more snow... we made our way down, stopping at various points to admire the view... one is able to see right across to the main land, and in the distance see Mount Baker... you are supposed to be able to see all the way to Canada... however the fog and pollution is now preventing clear views!!!

We had read in the newspaper this morning that various Native American tribes were participating in an annual Tribal Canoe Journey... which comes to an end next week, when they arrive at Makah, which is the western tip of this peninsula... tribes from America paddle, as do tribes from Canada, and they meet up at Makah... we had read that they were due to come into Jamestown Beach early afternoon today... well, we found Jamestown beach, but unfortunately the weather had not been brilliant for them, and the undercurrent had been strong, so many of them had to be transported, having to come to shore at a less treacherous point... we were talking to a young guy who has taken part in the canoe journey for the past four years and he said that last year there were over 100 boats that had participated... he advised that the purpose of the journey was to keep their traditions and culture alive and to teach the younger generations about who they are as tribes.

We then went off in search of lavender fields... as there is a lavender festival in this valley tomorrow and over the weekend... so we took a few photos of fields covered in lavender... the smell was absolutely lovely...

...we had planned to go out to the point tonight to watch the sunset... although it was over a two hour drive we discovered... making it rather a long journey, so instead we needed to get all of our packing sorted out... which is what we have been doing... or rather, what Jay has been doing...

Having had our lovely car for the past 10 weeks, we have collected rather a lot... we've had a cooler bag, two 'dryfood' bags... a canvas bag full of books and magazines, a 'huge' toiletry bag... that never even made it's way into the suitcases... water bottle... flask... a bag full of cleaning stuff, car wash, laundry...etc... etc... need we go on... everything had it's place though... we have laughed when we have seen some of the boots on our journeys, and how untidily people travel!!! Jay even had 'in-car smellies' to make the car smell like caramel!!! (Oh... and of course my bag of maps, leaflets, booklets, brochures etc...) Well - Jay has done a brilliant job... and we now have three suitcases all packed up... and a pile of goodies for the housekeeping person tomorrow!!!

We will be off early tomorrow morning in order to get the car to the car rental at the airport by lunch time... and then we are off to explore Seattle!!!

It seems really strange to be giving the car up... it has been a great asset to our journey... thanks for the upgrade Dierdre!!! I can't actually believe that 10 weeks ago tonight we were sitting at our hotel in Boston, all psyched up and ready for our trip... and what an amazing trip it has been!!!

...just a final note... Jan, thank you for the e-mail... Jan, the lady we met earlier this week has said that we could put her web site as a link... so we have added it above...