Matt, July 7, Good Bye Portland, Goodbye Oregon

AFter nine long days in Portland, it was time to leave. Our new campground was called Qinault River Inn. It wasn't really a campground it was more like a motel. They only had five camping spots, but they were next to the Quinault River. After we got there we drove to the Quinault Information Station. At the station we parked the car and hiked the Rain Forest Nature Trail Loop. Then we hiked to see the World's largest Sitka Spruce. After that we drove home and went to bed.

Leah, July 7, Leaving Portland

Today was a travel day. We traveled for 5 hours. It didn't seem like it took that long but it did.

We stopped traveling at 4. The campsite wasn't really a camp site, it was a motel with 5 R.V. spaces next to it. Some campsite.

Mom and dad decided that we would go on a hike after we got set up. We went on the nature hike. We saw the largest Sitka Spruce in the world on a different hike. We didn't see much on the Nature walk.

When we got back Matt and I entertained ourselves for a while. Then mom and dad decided that we should go down to the river. So we did. Matt and I were trying to see who could throw the farther. Matt won. So we headed back and had dinner. After dinner we watched Labriynth. I though it was really weird. After the movie we went to bed.

Craig July 7th

We had plans to get up early and head out of Portland by 7:00am, but it was not to be. A very late night prior kept us in the sack a little later than expected. We had a great time meeting Dave and his wife at thier new bar and even won a few bucks in his poker machines. Thanks Dave!

I had to take care of some maintenance items that were overdue before we could leave. The Jeep had lost its brake lights earlier in the week and I fixed that with a new fuse. But why did the fuse blow? Time will tell, or maybe it won’t, who knows. I couldn’t find anything else wrong. I fixed a few other minor issues and we were finally ready.

Today we would move up to Quinault on the edge of Olympic National Park. It was a quick shot up I5 south of Seattle and then west to the coast. It put us on the road for about 5 hours including stops but the time passed quickly.












We arrived at our campground, the Quinault River Inn and quickly set up. They have 5 RV sites and we are the only ones here. The park is nice and well kept. It sits on the banks of the Quinault River. To bad we will leave first thing in the morning, a little fishing would have been fun. Maybe we will get a chance later in the trip.











Once we were settled, we drove over to south side of Lake Quinault. Quinault is home to 6 world record size trees. We saw the worlds largest Sitka Spruce which is 17.5' thick. Quinault is the southern most point of the temperate rainforest that exists in the park and makes for ideal growing conditions. The world record Douglas Fir is a staggering 302’ tall.
























We returned to the RV a little weary from the short night and the travel. Renee and I sat outside in the loungers under a clear sky and a warm sun. We both were asleep within minutes with the light breeze and 68* temperature while the kids entertained themselves inside. This is the first chance I have had to grab a quick siesta this entire trip. We have kept so busy moving from place to place and seeing the sights, there hasn’t been any time. I sure enjoyed the opportunity.

Tomorrow we will head up to the Hoh Rainforest, maybe stopping in Kalaloch on the coast along the way, before stopping for the next two nights in the town of Forks.