Craig July 10, Forks to Port Angeles

With our two days gone in Forks it was time to move a little further north and east around the peninsula. We have three nights ahead of us at the Port Angeles/Sequim KOA.

We were passing by the area called Sol Duc in the Olympic NP. and had heard they had hot springs. We thought that could be fun. We had also heard of a wonderful waterfall here. We found a spot for the RV on a turn out off to the side of highway 101. The roads leading up to the prior attractions in the park were not friendly to 60’ long vehicles and this would probably be the same way. So we parked early outside, just to avoid any problems, unhooked the Jeep and drove in.

We reached the trailhead parking lot and jumped out, ready to go the short distance up the trail to the waterfall. The kids are now equating “hike” with work, instead of fun. So we have to deal with a little attitude, which quickly passes once we get moving. The flat trail went under our feet quickly and the “work” turned to fun. We heard the roar of the waterfall and it soon came into view.

When we left the falls, Leah put her head down and raced back to the car well ahead of the rest of us. Matt, didn’t think he would make it back before dieing of malnutrition. We shared some snacks in the car to take the edge off, gaining a brief respite from the cries of hunger coming from the back seat. We headed back down the valley to the Sol Duc Lodge which we passed on the way in, to see the hot springs. We took a quick look around, hoping to find a place for lunch but found the main dining room closed. Our ravenous kids would have to wait.

After hooking the Jeep back up to the RV and pulling out some more snacks, we took off ready for the 45 minutes left in the trip to get to the campground. After rounding the first corner I felt an unusual clunk. I quickly checked the back up camera and saw the Jeep way off to the side where it shouldn’t be. I must have missed an attachment on the towbar, either that or something broke. Damn. I just know I am tearing stuff up with each new clunk. We are on a very curvy road with blind corners and no shoulder. I have no choice but to slowly work our way around a few until a safe turn out can be found. Its either that or become one with one of thousands of loaded logging trucks barreling down this road. (Now I know where all that wood comes from) We found something just big enough to get us clear of the road. I walked back to have a look and found all the towbar connections still hooked up. The problem came from one of the safety cables. The cables are coiled. One of the coils had grabbed hold of a locking lever on the towbar, preventing it from locking. This allowed the Jeep to travel back and forth like it was only on a rope. I repositioned the cable so it would happen again and locked the lever. Luckily, there was no damage either. Whew, did I dodge a bullet!

We hit the KOA and hooked up. We made good on our promise to not let our starving children die. But they had to have SEAFOOD! I’ll bet you could hear their cries of glee across the Strait of Juan de Fuca! We hit the Crabhouse next to the town pier. They had half of the place closed down as the air conditioning was not working. Did I mention the heat wave going on here? It is really hot! They sat us in the cool side. We could have sat outside next to the beach, but it was just too hot. We had delicious crabcakes, shrip and halibut. We even got the kids to admit that it was good. Can you imagine?!

We wandered around the pier for awhile in the heat before returning to the campground. The kids wanted to swim, so Renee took them to the pool. I was busy with some electrical issues on the RV. It seems the heat had us and all of our neighbors running their ac units until the breakers were popping on the main feed for our leg of the park. We all conserved a little after they reset the breaker and all was well for the rest of the evening.

Leah July 10, Sol Duc Falls

Today was yet another travel day. We stopped at Sol Duc and hiked a .8 mile trail that led to Sol Duc Falls. We had a late lunch early dinner.

On the way to the campground we stopped at Sol Duc. We hiked to Sol Duc Falls. It was very pretty.

Matt and I had water races. We each found a stick that we held over the river and then, on the count of three, we dropped them into the river. Whoever’s stick went the farthest, won.

When we got back to the motorhome we drove to the campground. When we got there, we set up and went to have our late lunch early dinner at a restaurant in Port Angeles. It was called the Crabhouse. We went to look at boats after we ate. The boats were located on the bay, right in front of the restaurant.

It got boiling hot, so we went back to the RV park and went swimming. Dad stayed home to blog, while we swam. Matt and I swam for ½ hour. When we got out and dried off, we went to play on the playground for awhile. Then we went mini-golfing. Mom won the first game that we played. Dad came right as we were on hole number nine, the last hole. So, we played another game, this time with dad instead of mom. Dad won the game. We returned the equipment and went back to the RV.

We had dessert when we got back to the RV. Then we made our beds and watched the movie “RV”. It was really late when the movie finished, so we went to bed.

Matt July 10, To Port Angeles

We drove to Port Angeles today. In the middle of the trip we stopped and drove the jeep to Sol duc.

In Sol duc we hiked the Sol duc waterfall trail. The trail was .8 mile and it lead to a waterfall. Leah and I raced sticks in it. Then we hiked back to the car and drove to the motorhome.

After we drove to the motorhome we went the rest of the way to Port Angeles. When we got to the campground it was four o’clock and we didn’t eat lunch. Then we went to the Crabhouse for a late lunch and an early dinner.

After dinner , then we went to look out over the straight of Juan de Fuca. Then we drove to the motorhome. At the RV Leah , mom and I went swimming for a while. After that we went mini golfing The first time we played Leah, mom and played and mom beat me by one and I beat Leah by two. The next game we played dad, Leah and I played. Dad won Leah got second and got last.