On our recent dog-friendly hiking and camping adventure to Cape Disappointment, Cape Flattery and Deception Pass, we three dogs, Huxley, Brychwyn and I, achieved an amazing geographic feat. There was mischief in many places on our road trip but a few of these places put together represent a unique dog travel triumph. Do any of you topographically wise canines (humans, felines, etc.) know what we did?
Typist: Wilhelm On our recent dog-friendly hiking and camping adventure to Cape Disappointment, Cape Flattery and Deception Pass, we three dogs, Huxley, Brychwyn and I, achieved an amazing geographic feat. There was mischief in many places on our road trip but a few of these places put together represent a unique dog travel triumph. Do any of you topographically wise canines (humans, felines, etc.) know what we did? If you need some hints, click on the photos to read about and see more about our beautiful Olympic Peninsula and beyond tour. We will tell you the solution to what wonderful global triumph we accomplished on Wednesday but we want you to guess! Depending on how many of you know what super cool earthly thing our mischievous photos above represent, we will commend the first commenter with the correct answer or all of the commenters factually observing our travels when we share the solution to our geographic mystery on Wednesday. So, genius canine (human, feline, etc.) friends, tell us what on earth we did!
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Disappointment, Flattery, Deception, Part 3: Three Dogs, Two Perfect Sunsets and One More Lighthouse9/7/2013
The drive from Neah Bay to Port Angeles on the Straight of Juan de Fuca Scenic Byway is the most beautiful drive I have done all summer. My dad used to love driving this road and now I understand why. I wish we hadn't been racing daylight, because we could have stopped for some pictures but I wanted to get into town and find somewhere for us to stay before it got very late. We had been camping for five nights and still had a long weekend of camping ahead so I thought the dogs and I deserved one night in a motel. I considered stopping and looking for somewhere to stay in Port Angeles but I was so enjoying the top-down drive we kept going. I know there are a lot of dog-friendly lodging options in Sequim because we stayed there last summer. But when we got there I thought "we stayed here last summer. Boring!" We were just 30 minutes from Port Townsend, which also has a lot of pet-friendly lodging, and there was still a low sun in the sky. In retrospect, arriving in Port Townsend for one of the most spectacular sunsets and moon rises I have ever seen was an excellent choice. However, when the dogs and I were done relishing the scenery and playing, I found myself searching for somewhere to sleep and eat in a tiny town at 9PM with very bad reception on my smart phone.
Park and saw the fourth and final lighthouse of this trip, the Point Wilson Lighthouse. We bid farewell to the Olympic Peninsula on the ferry north towards Whidbey Island. We drove from the south end of Whidbey Island to the north end and met some of the friends we were going to camp with over the weekend at Deception Pass State Park. Once again, we arrived with just enough time to stroll to the beach and enjoy a beautiful, golden sunset. I honestly don't like Deception Pass State Park. It is noisy, over-crowded and dirty. But this is our second annual trip camping there with friends and we would camp anywhere in order to spend time with this awesome group of people (who call our campsite "the petting zoo.") Plus this year a Cascadian Nomads Granny came and brought Auntie Lucie and Uncle Morgan so 'R' Blood on the Tracks Boys couldn't have been happier. We had some nice beach time, a great seven mile hike from our campground on Whidbey Island, across the Deception Pass bridge to Rosario Beach and back. Another fabulous thing that happened on the end of this road trip is that Wilhelm celebrated his 6th birthday. There you have it! All the drama of an awesome road trip from the not at all disappointing Cape Disappointment to the gratifying cliffs of Cape Flattery to duplicity of a crowded but fun Deception Pass. Plus historic lighthouses, fabulous kites, a gorgeous lake, epic hikes, giant trees, fascinating art, breathtaking sunsets and, last but not least, really adorable dogs. Thank you for joining us; we hope you enjoyed the vicarious tour of some pure Cascadian experiences. *We are not providing a link to the Port Townsend motel we stayed in even though the staff was friendly and it was quite nice. When we got to our room, Ithe motel information folder and their official pet policy stated that they only allowed a "maximum of two dogs under 50lbs." I did tell the front desk staff I had three dogs. My room was next to the front desk and she saw us come and go. She even came out in the morning and told me stories of her childhood desire to have a collie. So perhaps, in an effort to fill rooms, they will stray from their written pet policy. My experience has been that when motels have a wishy-washy pet-policy, it can either benefit a pet traveler, like it did us, OR it can be a nightmare for a pet traveler, like randomly added extra cleaning fees. If you are planning a trip to Port Townsend and really, really must know the motel we stayed in, please contact me, and I will tell you. It was nice and I would recommend it but I would caution you be very clear about your traveling pet needs and possibly get their pet policy/fees in writing before your arrival. Disappointment, Flattery, Deception, Part 2: Three Dogs, Two Hikes and A Glacial Carved Lake9/6/2013
we met up with the last part of the Rain Forest Nature Trail, winding along the lake shore back to our campground. It was so sunny and warm, we decided it was a perfect time to cool of with a swim in the lake. Except Huxley. He waded in and just cooled off his feet. I gave him a good massage and helped him with some stretches as a reward for carrying his pack, with our first aid kit and the dogs water, so very far. The beach just down the hill from our campsite had a nice deadhead in the lakes shallows that I tied the dogs to and they could safely swim with me, or rest on the shore, all the while respecting the National Forests leash law. After such a wonderful day of hiking and beach fun, the wet and tired dogs curled up by the campfire. The next day, we packed up and hit the road again. With the top down and doggles on, we continued west and then north on highway 101. After stopping to check out a big cedar tree and enjoying a meal on the dog-friendly deck of the By the Bay Cafe in Sekiu, Washington, we went as far northwest as we could possibly go to Cape Flattery. The lovely dog-friendly Cape Flattery trail to the northwestern most point of the contiguous United States, that theMakah Tribe shares with the public with purchase of a $10 permit (that is good for the entire calendar year,) was crowded but picturesque. This was a significantly shorter hike than the previous days trek through the Olympic National Forest but it was fun and beautiful. Most of the trail is an elevated plank boardwalk and it is very close quarters with the crowds of people and other dogs. I would not recommend this hike if your dog is not comfortable on strange surfaces, is reactive or shy. I have heard that the trail is much less crowded in the winter months, so perhaps that would be a better time to try it with a reactive or shy dog. My favorite part, of course, was seeing yet another lighthouse and the dogs loved sniffing the breezes at every viewpoint. Flattery? Okay. We'll take it! And don't miss "Disappointment, Flattery, Deception, Part 3" tomorrow. |
Cascadian Nomads
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