Yep, it’s a rainforest alright!

We spent one night at Kalaloch Campground in Olympic National Park. And we woke up to pouring rain.

We knew we were camping in the rainforest. And we discovered after we made our plans that rain was predicted. But we were hopeful. In Sequim the microclimates are varied enough that predictions are often wrong. Nonetheless, in an area that gets well over 100 inches of rain each year, wet is predictable and wet is what we got.

Here’s a small waterfall running down to the beach from near the campground area. I didn’t take a lot of pictures. My camera’s not designed for underwater photography.

On the road again

We planned a trip on admittedly short notice. While still on the injured list, the vet reduced our dog’s “no walks!” orders, allowing us to take off camping in our last open window of time anywhere close to summer. And the day we planned the trip was sunny, warm, and flawless. A trip along Washington’s Pacific Coast? Perfect!

This was sunset on our first night out, at Kalaloch Campground in Olympic National Park, about three hours drive west and south of Sequim. Kalaloch (pronounced CLAY-lock) is one of the few dog-friendly units in Olympic Park, meaning our pooch could legally walk with us to the beach, down a short trail from the campground. It’s a beautiful, seemingly endless expanse of sand punctuated with driftwood logs. At night campers drift off to sleep with the sound of waves dashed endlessly on shore. Sweet!

Sequim Senior Center

The Sequim Senior Center is a buzz of activity. I found my way there a month or two ago when I had call to meet with a volunteer to untangle some healthcare insurance mysteries. While there I explored a little and discovered that in addition to exercise classes, art and games such as bridge, bingo, and pinochle they also offer tours. The Center offers daylong bus tours to scenic areas like Snoqualmie Falls, to sporting events, and even some of the larger shopping centers around Puget Sound.

A local benefactor has generously donated money and property to build a new senior center, first to purchase and initial 4.5 acres of land. Then he donated a coin collection and more recently gifted to the Center a mobile home community that he owned. Income from R. Leo Shipley’s donated business will benefit the Senior Center’s capital campaign.

A Scamp and her designer

Last month my husband had an opportunity sail in a Scamp sailboat on Port Townsend Bay. As a bonus he got to sail with its New Zealand designer John Welsford who was in town to assist with Scamp Camp build #4 at the Northwest Maritime Center. Welsford is shown above in the yellow life jacket. The other sailor is not my husband. My timing was off.

For those of you who’ve followed this blog for a while, the Scamp that my husband is building is moving ahead slowly but surely. She has gotten numerous coats of epoxy, many sandings, and lots of other unglamorous processes that are making her into a boat. Nothing cool or dramatic to show you beyond growing piles of empty resin cans and stuff like that.