Hwy 101, as it meanders around and occasionally hugs the Washington coastline takes us to our last stop during our road trip through the Olympic Peninsula not too long ago. I have shared our OP trips on GoRVing’s blog up until this one. This one, I’ve been saving for J5MM.
Here is a map I designed detailing our road trip in visual detail with our three stops:
My first post for GoRVing shared our experiences at the Waterfront at Potlatch . . .
and then we continued on to: Grayland Beach State Park . . .
Today, I share with you a story about our adventures and explorations at Kalaloch Beach State Park.
We arrived at our campsite at Kalaloch in the late-ish morning. The clouds rolled in overnight and hung around all day. Occasionally they would transform and allow a bit of blue to peek through, but we took the weather as it was. If you have ever visited the Olympic Peninsula along the coast, you know that the weather can change in the blink of an eye. One moment it’s nothing but blue skies and before you know it, the dark grey clouds creep in over the ocean’s horizon. You can see it coming.
After we found our site and set up camp, we did what we usually do when arriving in a new spot. We explored! Down to the beach we headed.
We also took a walk around the campground in general. There are some really nice spots with sweeping ocean views in the D loop as you can see.
But we weren’t complaining about our site at all and were very grateful for it. Here is a shot of my silver girl in her happy spot :)
And here is a view from the inside looking out, to where I was standing when I took the shot prior :)
The boys were still out exploring and I came back inside to fix something to eat. I whipped up some easy chocolate crepes for a late breakfast and while I was cooking those up, I had in the oven some savory drop biscuits we would enjoy later in the day while we were away.
We packed up the truck and headed down the road. What is really wonderful about visiting Kalaloch Beach State Park is the close proximity to all the beaches. The beaches here are numbered in sequence from south to north — Beach 1 – Beach 6. South Beach is at the far south end, Ruby Beach is at the far north, and Kalaloch Beach, where we are, is located between Beaches 2 and 3. So if you come, start at South Beach and work your way up the road. It can take a full day and will be one your most memorable days ever, I can guarantee it.
Beach 1
Beach 2
Beach 4 — this was our favorite. So much in fact, we returned in the early morning the next day to explore the tide pools (more to come in Part 2)
When we came back to camp, we noticed that a few spots down from us, the previous occupants had left! It was a beautiful ocean view site so we quickly packed up our silver girl and moved her on over. After we were settled, I made a delicious smoked salmon spread that we enjoyed before embarking on another trip down to the Kalaloch Beach.
If you have been following me along here on J5MM, you know how much my little dog means to me. I love him so much and with all my heart. He is always — ALWAYS on his harness because I fear losing him. Not that he would take off running and leave me intentionally but if he does happen to see something that catches his eye, I can see his instinct to chase. The thrill of the chase lives deep inside of this little dog and it comes out unexpectedly when we are walking along and a little bird decides to pop out of a nearby bush, or a chipmunk, or anything — even a leaf could buzz by and Oliver would be off. Maybe it’s the terrier in him. I don’t know. He even tries to chase B’s school bus as it drives away. So, with all that said, this little dog has lived on a harness his entire little life so far until this day.
This day, hubby convinced me, that for once, to let this little dog off his leash and let him run free. He begged me to do it. I could tell he felt sorry for Oliver. All this big open space surrounding him, beckoning him to come and run and be free.
I looked around, analyzed the entire beach for as many miles as I could see. No one was around. No animal was around. It was beach and ocean. That was it.
So I did it. I let him free . . . and held my breath . . .
I kept my eye on Oliver like a hawk and eventually, as we drew closer to camp, back went on his harness. What a feeling of happiness it was to let his little legs free and to allow him to run like that. We were all happy for Oliver :)
Back at camp, we started a fire — or should I say, B started a fire. He is getting very adept at building campfires. Hubby has been teaching him how since we started this Airstreaming adventure back in 2010. I am so proud of my boy and he, proud of himself!
And for dinner? Toas-tites! Melted ham and cheese Toas-tites are the best as are the sliced strawberry and chocolate chip variety. The combinations are endless and I couldn’t imagine being without this campfire treat from now on. The boys agree too.
Even Oliver enjoyed a smidge of a ham and cheese Toas-tite thanks to B :)
Day one of our visit to Kalaloch Beach State Park was full of memories we will cherish forever. The weather today was chilly, cloudy and sometimes drizzly, but here on the Olympic Peninsula you take each day as it comes. When the weather was as it was today, it creates a very romantic and cozy experience. We loved it.
When B and Ollie were safely tucked into their beds in the late evening, hubby and I had some alone time, outside, just the two of us. We chatted about our day and what to expect tomorrow. We watched the storm clouds roll in over the ocean ahead and we were mesmerized. What a beautiful day and even more beautiful night.
Tomorrow is a new day with new surprises I can wait to share with you — stay tuned for Part 2 coming very soon! I know you will love it.
Thank you for being here,
with all my heart,
Monica xx
:: Postus Scriptus ::
Recipes coming soon :) !!
I love, love, love this post – have been waiting for it since you started writing about this loop! We are definitely going to go here based on your inspiration so thank you! And now for the million questions! What time of year did you go? Did you have reservations? What loops/sites do you recommend? Did you come home through Port Angeles or back out the way you came? Love, LOVE, love you –
With much Aloha
Steph
HI Steph !! I’m so happy you liked this post :) We went in February believe it or not — it was during B’s mid-winter break. We were surprised how busy the campground was. We did not have reservations and just winged it but we lucked out as the people in the really nice spot next to us left so we took it over. I would definitely do a drive through of the D loop when you go (if you don’t have reservations) there are some very pretty spots there. We came back the way we came in — but, you can easily continue on through Port Towsnend and back through that way and it would really make for a beautiful trip.
I grew up in Hawaii so I love when you wish me Aloha — HUGS to you xoxox
I love, love, love this post – have been waiting for it since you started writing about this loop! We are definitely going to go here based on your inspiration so thank you! And now for the million questions! What time of year did you go? Did you have reservations? What loops/sites do you recommend? Did you come home through Port Angeles or back out the way you came? Love, LOVE, love you –
With much Aloha
Steph
Wonderful post, Monica. We are heading out in a few days for a 3-month trip to the PNW and can’t wait. I am glad you let the little guy go and am relieved that he returned. Years ago when we lived in Oregon, we had a Chesapeake Bay retriever who loved to swim. We let him go swimming in a high mountain lake on Mt. Jefferson and we couldn’t coax him out. A snow storm moved in and he just kept swimming. Finally after much coaxing and yelling, we had to leave or get stuck in the snow. It was a gut-wrenching decision, but we walked away with our three-year-old son and left him in the lake. Just as we were approaching the car, here came the dog wagging his tail. He missed us after all! WE had a happy ending.
Where did you find that great pedestal table? It’s a perfect solution for times when the dinette is down. We currently use a cute aluminum table that stores nicely in the closet, but the height on yours is quite nice.
Oh my heart, I was reading your comment to me hanging on every word. So happy to hear about your fur baby coming back. I couldn’t even imagine, I am so sorry you had to experience those feelings, ugh :( But GOOD NEWS in the end, thank goodness!
I’m glad you like that little table of mine — I got it at Ikea and it’s perfect and better yet was $20.00 !! Here is the link: http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/40242177/#/40242766 — it’s called the SVARTÅSEN and it’s a laptop stand, fully adjustable too. I love it and I know you will too.
Thank you so much for sharing your happy ending story with me xoxo
Best photos on the Web, however I find that my mouth waters all the time. ha ha
Loved your comments about going off the leash. My son and I have this discussion all the time. My 9 mo old golden doodle loves people, and I’m sure would take off with anyone, so I remain firm….I am sitting in the rain at Ft. Stevens St Park, but will suit up for some walking. Where did you get those sandwich things over the fire?
Hi Linda — I hope you’re having a nice time camping even though it’s raining :) Thank you for your sweet words about my pictures! That sandwich gadget is called a Toas-Tite and I love it. It’s a lot of fun to use and even better to eat. Here is a link for you: http://www.toastite.biz Thank you as always for being here — it means so much xoxo and Happy Camping !
INCREDIBLE photos and story. (Part 1 and 2) Thank you!
Thanks Meg! xoxo
Your photography is so delicious. I searched your blog for more info on your gear. I noticed you are a Canon girl but wonder what lenses you find most useful. The last photo in this post of ‘B’ by the fire is, well, flawless and it has inspired me to dust off my Nikon and ‘get out there.’
Any advice on lenses or other gear you recommend? Specifically what you use to shoot inside your Airstream as well as others you generally carry?
I am ‘all ears.’
Again, keep on keeping on…LOVE your eye candy emails.
Hi Carrie :) Thanks for the sweet words about my photography, means so much! I love talking about my camera. For the longest time, I would shoot with the Canon T2i (there is now a T4i I think?) and I loved it! I even secured some photography shoots with my photography with that camera and sold photos to Airstream. But then it started to get tattered and things started falling off (like the lens viewer). I had a big trip planned to Montana to possibly interview the film director of, “A River Runs Through It,” Patrick Markey. He along with Robert Redford directed that movie — anyways — there was no way I was going to show up with my old beat up camera so I took the plunge and bought the Canon 5d Mark III. It was a big learning curve for me but I feel I finally have the hang of it. I use the lens that came with it as my walkaround lens and for my food photography I couldn’t live without my 50mm 1.4 lens. It was only $100 and is my favorite lens ever. People complain on the internet that it’s made out of plastic and feels super cheap, but I have had it now for three years and it’s been a dream lens for me. I also refurbished a diaper bag and use that as my camera bag (much more stylish than some camera bags out there I have found — these small things matter to me, lol, I am a certified handbag addict). So there you go — probably way more of an answer you were expecting lol — hope it helped!! xoxo