Traveling Time

We left Heceta Head and Washburne Campground on Friday morning.  My eyes were brimming with tears of joy and sadness all at once as the fog lifted from the beaches and across the headlands in front of us.  A last morning of incredible beauty was a perfect goodbye for wonderful memories and fine friends!

Tillamook Cheese Factory made us a great breakfast before we began our tour there.  We only purchased 'just a little bit' of cheese.  Next stop Fort Clatsop at Lewis and Clark Nat. Pk.  This one had been on my list since our trip out in 2011.  I especially enjoyed the Chinook and Clatsop history and artifacts that were on display since my experience as a docent at the Chinook Plankhouse in Ridgefield, WA.  So amazing to see the replica of the Fort, actually had a wooden floor and fireplaces!
We crossed the mighty Columbia River into Washington.  The River is so very, very wide!

Today we left the Ilwaco, WA area and headed north along the Willapa Bay National Wildlife Refuge. The Bay area is absolutely spectacular!  Near the top of my list for beauty.  All we could talk of was a kayak to get out on it!  Put that on the list!

Our snack break as we entered Olympic National Park just happened to be opposite a Trailhead pull-off.  We had seen glimpses of the ocean and the Trail was headed that direction.  Better check that out.  Little did we know that it was also the Spruce Burl Trail.  The spruces here had huge burls of unknown
causes.  Look at this.

Notice the burl in the tree above the beach too!  What a welcome to the southwestern end of the Park!
We found a campsite at Heart O' the Hills and enjoyed a Forest Walk among huge trees.  Off to the Whidbey Island Ferry in the morning!       Traveling time is FUN!

The Light shines at Heceta and we give tours now!

June started off with a schedule goof that put us working 6 days out of 7.  We were so wiped out that we didn't even attend the Re-Lighting Ceremony on June 8.  I was sick for all of our 3 days off.  When we returned to work there was a general panic about getting everyone trained to start giving tours that began the day after the re-lighting.  It has been a true work week!  I've done about 5 tours now and my voice no longer trembles and I remember more and more of what I want to say.  I almost enjoyed giving my last tour!  Terry has found it easy and fun from his first tour on.  Here are some pics of the changes.

No luck loading rest of pics!

I've been having computer problems.  So I'll just do a catch-up.

We have only 3 work days left and will be very sad to leave this beautiful area and our new friends, but it is on to new horizons.  The good thing about our change in workdays for June is that we finish work on Weds. and will leave here Friday to travel up the coast of Oregon, across the Columbia River into Washington with a long awaited visit to Lewis and Clark NP.  Then on up to Olympic NP and then a ferry ride from Port Townsend to Whidbey Island and Rt.20 which will take us all the way to North Cascades NP.

This should be a bit of fun!  I'll post the new Lighthouse photos later.

Happy Summer--relax, read, and play!