More of Olympic National Park

The trees are covered with moss - thick stringly moss - and they are huge!

Sitka Spruce, western hemlock and western red cedar, measuring 25 feet around, towering 300 feet in the air.

Spruce Burl Forest

Lake Crescent

624 feet deep - known for its azure waters - glacier carved -

We camped on the western shore on our 2nd night - $12!!!!

Snow covered peak in the distance is Mt. Storm King

We never did adjust to the three hour time change - so by 5:30 we would quietly depart the campsite (as quietly as you can with a diesel ...)

He makes the best eggs!!!

Breakfast might be at a scenic pull-off or picnic area ... and it was usually a little cool in the morning. 

We only used a sleeping bag the first few nights.

An early morning walk to the Sol Duc Falls was beautiful.  The evidence of a Roosevelt Elk was all along the trail ... but he eluded us.

The smoke is actually mist rising in the morning sunlight - the mist was so heavy that after standing on the bridge you were wet  - and the light was just right to create a rainbow.

Then a splurge - second breakfast at the Sol Duc Hot Springs Resort - a nice little restaurant overlooking the hot springs.  Then we went in the hot springs - it was so nice and relaxing.  The pools are filled with water from the hot springs daily.  Each pool is a different temperature - the hottest was 104 degrees.  An added bonus - showers in the changing rooms!!!

Ahhhhhh ....

Everything seems to be larger than life - check out this slug - called a "banana slug" - it was about three inches long:

The Pacific Ocean

Rivers carry fallen trees to the ocean where they wash up on the shore.  The beaches are strewn with logs - some of which are huge ...

High tides can be dangerous as the waves can toss these logs around - that would be cool to see!!!

So much of the coastline to explore, but not enough time :(

Trails along the beach that are accessible only at low tide ... each beach different from the one before ...

... time to head on ...

Back on the road - Mt. Rainier would peak through spots along the road - how amazing!

and then Mt. St. Helens ... just not enough time!!!