Monday 25 September
We had seen the road system that allows for long queues down to the ferry so we set our alarm for a reasonably early start . When we drove away from the hotel ( which I had booked because it was close to the ferry) we realised we would have to drive around the back streets to reach a point where we could enter the road lane for the ferry ticket booth. Once we made it there we found a few cars ahead of us and then we stopped just short of the booth in the queue . … and we waited. The departure time came and went so I idly googled the ferry and found an alert Due to crew shortages they were having to substitute a much smaller ferry for their normal ferry and there would be a delay . We waited some more and eventually they started loading us on… Neil drove down the ramp to find disconcerted crew members trying to fit all the cars on with problems because a truck was occupying more than its share of the row. We did make it on but behind us they were stopped and the poor people were stuck waiting 50 minutes for the next ferry!
It was a quick 30 minute trip through drizzly rain . We went up to the passenger deck which was pretty empty for a little look.
When we disembarked there seemed to be plenty of people lined up waiting for the return ferry , we set off through the rain towards Olympic National Park. Olympic is a huge park and we had planned to just visit the Hurricane Ridge area which is on the highest peak with fabulous view and some nice trails. However there was a fire up there several weeks ago and the visitor center burned down. They had set up portaloos to service visitors but a couple of weeks ago they were all knocked down by vandals so the access to Hurricane ridge was closed! After visiting the visitor center ( and buying my collectable pin) we drove out to the Crescent Lake area and drove through some of the rainforest there . They get Sooooo much rain here that the moss grows on everything , tree trunks, branches and park signs are all covered in the think carpet of bright green moss. It’s very fantasy
The rain was persistent though so we decided to head back to Tacoma where we would spend the night . Along the way we stopped in at a shopping mall for a little more retail therapy , they had another Sierra store and Neil just loves them!
Eventually we arrived at the Silver Cloud Tacoma Waterfront hotel which is right on the sound. I’d booked us a very nice room for our final night with a lovely view over the water.
We drove a short way down the waterfront to have dinner at Ram Brewery and Grill. It was a very American dinner of burgers and fries . Delicious!
Tuesday 26 September
We had a very relaxed start thus morning on our last day, and were pleased to see clear skies and even a bit of sunshine . a good breakfast in the lounge and then we went for a walk along the waterfront to see the remains of one of the many timber mills that used to live the water here. Tacoma was the Lumber Capital of the world 100 years ago and they have some interesting information panels describing the industry that once dominated the area.
The stumps that once supported a mill are still standing in the bay and there is the remains of a huge saw that used to cut enormous old growth logs.
We went back and did the final pack before checking out and going for a drive around the bay to see the lighthouse at Brown Point. We had watched it flashing last night from our room and were interested to see the little light and its perfectly restored lighthouse keepers cottage .
From there we set off north to a huge mall near the Seattle Airport to while away an hour, Neil even managed to find one more shirt!
Thence to the airport and the long trek home. Our flight to Los Angeles was on time and now we’re sitting in the lounge waiting for our flight to Fiji and then Sydney.
It’s been a fabulous trip, a really big “scenery” trip and a milestone achievement hitting our 50 states tally . We’ve enjoyed it all , despite a few hitches and we’re already talking about our next trip to the USA. Stay tuned!