I recently changed my cover photo, for the first time since we had the ability to make one, and found myself lost in the photos of our epic vacation this summer. We saw so many new places in such a short time that it has taken me months to process it all.
The cover photo comes from our last long stop of the trip- Forks, Washington. Located the farthest North and west you can be in the US before entering Canada, it served the dual purpose of seeing a part of the country we may never get a chance to visit again, and doing something special for my daughter since it was her last trip with the family before starting her independent life. If you're asking yourself why it would be special for my teenage daughter, google the town and you'll see...
I'll get to the tourism part of the town in a later post, for now I'll show you exactly why it's a spectacular place to visit even if you're not into Vampires and Werewolves.
Second Beach, La Push-
This is where we spent the majority of our time, mostly due to it's wild and dangerous beauty, but also because it is a rock hound's dream and my daughter- in addition to being a Twilight fan- is an avid rock collector.
Here's a small sample of the rocks she gathered in this magical place (and these are actually second rate compared to the ones she selected to take with her when she moved to SC).
For myself, I could simply sit here for hours on end and not grow bored.
I spent the first part of my childhood on Long Island and spent many summer days at the beach, I lived in Florida for a number of years and did the same, I even spent a number of weeks in a Condo right on Myrtle Beach, and as lovely as those places were, none compare to this.
There is something about the rocks I think, that lends to the fierce beauty of this place that sandy beaches just don't have.
Looking at these now I can almost feel the spray of salt water as the wind whips my hair around my face.
The second day brought grey and gloom, but unlike I usually feel about the absence of color, here it simply transformed the place into a compelling, mysterious world. One could imagine a pirate ship sailing around the island.
We learned later that blue skies in this area are actually a rarity. Those with any knowledge of the Twilight series will recall that the reason the Cullens chose this place was for its abundance of rain and clouds.
And the driftwood. My God, the driftwood. It would be apt to call them drift trees.
There was a sign in the parking area that I unfortunately did not get a photo of, because on the sign was a warning for people enjoying the beach to be mindful of what is tumbling in the waves. You would not want to be standing too close when one of these came rolling in.
Obviously we did not take careful heed of this warning...ha!
I had been walking along the shore thinking too myself that the water itself was a living organism,
and then this happened to confirm such thoughts. Don't eat me ocean!
I should also point out the deep dark woods. And it really was deep and dark. Another thing that is noticeably absent at all of the other beaches I've been to in my life- a forest lining it's shores.
And not just any forest...
...a rain forest! The Hoh rain forest to be precise.
And as the water appeared alive, I was also struck with how like bones the driftwood was, carcasses of redwoods washed up on the shore.
A truly fantastical, magical, astonishingly beautiful place that I would recommend everyone visit at least once in their lifetime.
Hope you enjoyed the first leg of my Forks Washington tour, stay tuned to check out First and Third Beach, Mora Campground, the Quillayute River and more!
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Wow, I have never seen rocks with so many colors at a beach! Great post!
I never had until then either! Thanks Mark :)
Beautiful shots and video of some of my favorite country in the world. My first forestry job was up on the Olympic Peninsula, it is quite a place. The kids are braver than me. I've lived near this coast for years, and STILL haven't' fully swam in the ocean. Too dang cold for this bird. And wild, I think you could end up over in Japan on some current-driven days.
Looking forward to more posts from your classic journey. I'm just now catching up. Been off here a lot. The visit to see Paul must have been a blast. He seems such a wise and giving soul, and his place is exactly as I'd imagined it. So cool to see the original painting from Reborn too.
Nothing like a road trip, and that one was surely an epic and exciting one. On to more posts from the drive across the continent.
You wouldn't catch my husband getting in that ocean for the same reason- he hates cold water. I did swim a little when we were in California, but I have to say that far North was a bit cold even for me.
Visiting Paul was awesome, he was exactly the man I knew he'd be. It's crazy and wonderful how you can develop a deep connection with someone without ever having 'met' them.
Where is it that you live again? I feel like you told me a long time ago, I knew it was out west. Montana? Say it's Montana because we hope to spend some time there next year :-)
Your hubs is a smart man. Getting in the Pacific up in the north is a chilly endeavor. I live over in western Oregon. So a far cry from Montana. Though I spent a bit of time over that way when I worked in the woods. What part are you headed for? That is one of the most beautiful places around, all that Big Sky country. Used to ski there too...STEEP mountains and deep powder to get lost in. Oh the joys.
I don't know why I thought Montana, I knew it was out west :) But western Oregon?? I'm sorry I didn't realize that before, we drove the whole length of 101 on that trip! Beautiful, I still plan to do a post on it.
Quite alright. I'm not exactly 'out there' on the Internet. Slowly, slowly getting there. It's actually kind of amazing I'm on here at all. Some people just take awhile. SOME day I may even put pictures of me on here. We can always hope (maybe).
The 101 coast route is amazing, think it's considered the roughest or wildest coastline in the world. Though I'm sure there are others. What's so cool, is that most of it is public. Very unusual in the world of today. I look forward to you post...though if you're like me, you have OODLES of photos to go through. Well, hope you have a most vundebar Halloween. Dressing up? Cheers.
Those polished rocks are amazing, I would need a wheelbarrow to visit that beach. Those drift trees all the way up to the tree line, that must have been a raging sea the day those got thrown up there! I'm glad the photos are still coming from that journey, these make me want to go explore the NW now, I've never been up there very far.
I know it, we gathered up a few bags full, but we couldn't go wild because we were already brushing up against the weight limit in Hidalgo, haha, I will always feel fondly for that Hyundai :)
And I know!! That is definitely a sea that you shouldn't turn your back to!
you are lucky to find such pretty stones , over here we could get fined for taking stones from a beach !
Fined for taking rocks? Jeeze!!
yes , trick is not to get caught x
What gorgeous stones! I watched a video once where a YouTuber was sent some beautiful La Push pebbles by one of her viewers, and since then I've been interested in visiting. It looks like an amazing place. One day, maybe...
It is incredible, if you ever get the chance definitely go!
It is a truly incredible place; thanks for sharing your photos and video clips! We try to make it out there at least once a year (it's about a 2 1/2 hour drive from here) just because it seems to refresh the spirit.
You are quite right, it is not like other beaches or coastlines. It is truly wild in a way you just don't have anywhere else. You can stand on that beach — if you take the time to walk about a mile to the right, from the parking lot — and get to a place where you can truly experience what this place was like, before there were humans; Planet Earth, untouched.
And yes, the rocks are amazing!
Bright Blessings!
Lucky you! I'm in NY so that's not a trip I'll be likely to make again soon- have you camped at Mora?
Late spring to early fall we camp at Mora; and when we have the (now adult) kids with us for a family camp-out.
Otherwise we take the more genteel route and rent a cabin at the Quileute Resort complex in La Push.
I loved the campground, absolutely beautiful, but I do have to say that showering is an issue. One I found at all of the campgrounds in the west- we don't have coin operated showers on this coast as far as I know, definitely not in NY. I can see taking the genteel route when we start traveling without kids in tow!
Awesome pics!
Honestly they took themselves. Hard to get crappy pics in that place!
It can be done!
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Thank you!!
Riding the waves that's so nice perfect day to enjoy and nice photos too you have shared :)
:-)
Amazing photography....
Just beautiful scenery.....!!!!
Thank you! I know, it's gorgeous there! :)
Fab job :-)
Thanks :0)
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Those are splendid looking rocks! You know, I used to be a huge rock collector, up until my collection became too much that it took on a huge percentage of the house!
Gotta love a rampaging ocean! I could hear the waves now mmmmm... I'm glad Zoey was able to take a trip with the whole fam before she left. Memories that would last lifetimes for sure!
Haha!! My daughter was on par with that level of collecting too, though fortunately she has a huge closet! I did a post on fossils once right? If not, then that's another kind of rock we have jars and jars of here :)
The waves are glorious, especially as you'll see in my post about the campground, that we could hear them as we were going to sleep- and the campground is in the middle of those woods so it was surreal!