33rd Annual International Kite Festival, Long Beach Washington
| Typist: Bethany After leaving Cape Disappointment, the dogs and I had no specific plans or lodging reservations for several days. All I knew was that we were staying on the Olympic Peninsula. After spending way longer at the International Kite Festival in Long Beach, Washington, than I thought we would as well as meeting so many very nice people who encouraged us to stay and enjoy more of the festival, we were tempted to continue enjoying the beach. But when the dogs and I left the festival to refill our water vessels, the road was calling. So, I put the top down, slid Brychwyn and Huxley's doggles on and followed highway 101 north to Lake Quinault. This beautiful glacial carved lake has been a favorite place of mine since I was a child. And, thankfully, it hasn't changed a bit! |  The dogs help set up camp at our Olympic National Forest campground on Lake Quinault. |
Sunset at Willaby Creek on Lake Quinault, Washington
 Huxley enjoying the sunset at Lake Quinault. |  Wilhelm always appreciates warm, rocky beaches. We arrived at the Willaby Creek campground with time to set-up camp before sunset. It was a weekday evening, so the campground was very quiet. After dinner, we walked down to the day use beach for the sunset and had the whole beach to ourselves. We had scored such a lovely, private campsite with a view of the lake, I decided we should stay here for two nights. |
Sunset at Lake Quinault behind Brychwyn.
 Enjoying a relaxing morning at camp, Willaby Creek Campground, Quinault National Forest | We got a great nights sleep next to the lapping shores of the lake, at this very quiet campground. In the morning, we had some play time at our campsite before heading out for a long hike. The trail head for the leashed dog-friendly Quinault National Recreation Area Rain Forest Nature Trail was just a few hundred yards from our campsite. What I thought would be a four or five mile hike turned into a seven mile hike. We followed the Rain Forest Nature Trail through the Cedar Bog to Cascade Falls then up and to Gatton Creek Falls. We had nice peek-a boo views of Lake Quinault from this high trail before we dropped back down towards the lake and the world's largest Sitka Spruce. On the way back to our campground we carefully trekked a mile on the road to the historic Lake Quinault Lodge where |
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.
 Big Cedar Tree in Olympic National Park |  Public Dock in Sekiu, Washington |
Flattery? Okay. We'll take it! And don't miss "Disappointment, Flattery, Deception, Part 3" tomorrow.
 | Thanks to Slimdoggy, Peggy's Pet Place and To Dog With Love for hosting the FitDog Friday blog hop. It's always a pleasure to share FitDog adventures and tips with all of the blogs linked below. |
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