Day 49 - Port Angeles-Sequim, WA

Got up to another beautiful sunny day - 19 degrees. After skyping with Michèle and family, we walked back to the beach we had been last night. These are tidal flats and KOA owns an area where campers can dig their own clams. You can rent the rakes from them as well. Had we known this, we might just had tried to get ourselves some clams to steam ... oh well ... Did chat with a couple of ladies who were doing just that. They are allowed 40 clams each daily. The rest of their group had walked up to the water's edge (see photo) to find cockles. They are good in clam chowder. They also mentioned a clam - gooey duck (I don't know the spelling but it sounded like that). These are gigantic clams with very long necks and they require a different technique for harvesting. Would love to see those.
We get back to the RV and finally leave around 10 am. This is a very productive area for oysters and shellfish. We stop at a Seafood Market and pick up a couple of bowls of clam chowder for lunch.
Driving along the Willapa Bay, mud flats go out as far as the eyes can see. Lots of clamdiggers. It's Sunday, remember.
The Town of Raymond - photographed their Welcome sign. It was so neat. As you drove into town, these wrought-iron cut outs were everywhere. Deer and family in the tall grass, a family grouping playing ball. Birds here and there. These cut outs were just so fantastic. Very original and very creative. There was one of two oxens (life size) pulling logs and being led by a man who is holding a whip, all these as wrought-iron cut-outs. Just amazing.
We took a secondary road in Raymond which was taking us to a coastal road but we decided the extra mileage was not worth it so we turned back after a few miles and got back on the 101.
We see a lot of clear-cut along the road - Weyerhaeuser - but also a lot of reforestation, some of it a few years old. Nice to see. In one instance, signs advised us that the trees had been blown down by hurricane force winds and that timber salvage had begun immediately after the storm. I think it was 2009.
Chohalis River, Montesano, Satsop, Elma. Rest Area - had our clam chowder (with Vermont baked oyster crackers!!) - it was delicious.
Back on the road, McCleary. People out driving in their vintage cars. Little Creek Casino.
We see mountains ahead, covered with snow (photo) - it's the Olympic Mountains. They are something to behold. We hadn't seen that kind of mountain in a very long time....brought back memories of weeks past.
Entering Hood Canal Watershed (photo). We stopped for an apple break and lo and behold we saw a couple of eagles flying, one actually landed at the very top of a very tall pine but he was too far for Ross to get a good photo.
Olympic National Forest, Quilcene River, Quilcene, Discovery Bay, Gardiner, Blyn, Sequim Bay.
We decide to ask the GPS where we could fidn a Safeway as we needed a few extra food supplies and she nicely complied..in Sequim.
At 4h30, we had arrived at our KOA campground and got a nice spot with sun and shade. Got a couple of loads of laundry done while we sipped our beer and nibbled chips. Got Ross's hair cut. After dinner was eaten and dishes done, we both had our showers.
It will be early to bed tonight as we need to get up really early tomorrow morning. We are taking the 8h20 ferry from Port Angeles to Victoria.
This is our last day of the first part of this incredible road trip we have been on. Starting tomorrow, we will be visiting with friends in Victoria and then in Surrey, BC.
Next Saturday, we embark on a 1-week cruise to Alaska with the 5 couples that constitute our Anniversary Gang. If it is possible on the ship, I will try and let you know what we are up to. However, if not, then the blog will start again on or around June 23, when we head home.
Note: Unable to upload photos. Will try again some other time.