Olympic Nat Park - Neah Bay - Cresent Lake (17)

Our goal today was simply to explore the Olympic Peninsula. We started by visiting the Olympic National Park Visitor Center and watching their 25 minute park presentation.

From the visitor center, we drove the 34 mile round trip up Hurricane Ridge Road.

The road winds it's way along the spine of the Olympic Mountains to the Hurricane Ridge Visitor Center. The mountain vistas are breathtaking.

Carolyn and I have been astounded at the size and sheer beauty of the firs and evergreens in this area.

Mount Olympus as seen from Hurricane Ridge.

Fireweed decorates the road at every turn. I have found this weed to grow all over the northwest. It seems a shame to call it a weed!

Our next goal was Neah Bay at the northwestern tip of the Olympic Peninsula.

Makah Indian Totems at Neah Bay

We actually drove to Cape Flattery, where the road comes to an end. This is the northwestern most point in the Continental US. The Cape was covered in fog upon our arrival.

Neah Bay, Washington

You can see Cape Flattery in the distant fog bank.

We found this blue hydrangea growing alongside the road. I have never seen one so blue.

Our return trip ran through the Olympic Park and along side the beautiful Lake Cresent.

Tomorrow we will drive to Federal Way, Washington, where we will take a day to wash our clothes and have our car serviced. To date we have driven nearly 5,000 miles.

The fool doth think he is wise, but the wise man knows himself to be a fool. ~William Shakespeare~