Olympia WA

Capitol building

Although we hadn't really planned on seeing Olympia WA, or even driving through it for that matter, over the six days while the Splinter was being repaired, we naturally explored it. Olympia reminded us Santa Cruz before the 1989 earthquake, or a more urban Arcadia with a split personality.

Seat of Government

 
It's a small city with less than 50k population.  It's also the capitol for the state of Washington and needless to say has it's share of governmental buildings/workers, legislators, lawyers, and lobbyists.

Port City

Much to our surprise we learned Olympia was the last port on Puget Sound. It's amazing how far south navigable waters go down the state.  In fact, Washington must have more coastline than at least most any other state in the nation, other than Alaska.

Port of Olympia

Large cranes for loading & unloading

Cultural Center

Olympia has a lively music and arts scene. Kurt Cobain lived there for some time and wrote several of his more famous songs there. It's full of interesting people, bookstores (9 independents in town) and music stores featuring either instruments or old LP records.

Books specializing in Activism & Peace

Peter heading across street to check out record store

Restaurants and Bars

It's not hard to find good places to eat or have a drink. Highly recommended is McMenamins Spar Café which are dotted throughout the Pac NW. The developer/owners remodel older buildings with lots of character and turn them into great hotels/restaurants/bars offering delicious food and lively entertainment.

McMenamins Cafe/Bar

McMenamins Wall Mural

Seafood is also a specialty of the area. The BEST are the local shellfish, especially oysters, clams and mussels.

Vintage Ambiance

The old buildings are a real treat and reminded us of how many wonderful old buildings were lost in Santa Cruz from quake damage.

Original Courthouse (?)

Theater

Newspaper

Murals are commonly found in paint, ceramics, or mixed media.

People Watching

The mix of people in town offers a wide range from buttoned down business and government workers to heavily tattooed transients and artists of all sorts.

Cricket and Baby Girl

City park for hanging out

Why not Olympia?

With prices *much* cheaper by California standards, what's there not to like about Olympia? In a word - the WEATHER, that is, if you like the sun. We met many people who had moved there from sunny climates and asked them how they had adjusted to the lack of sun. Most replied they actually liked the mostly overcast conditions or it was better than where they came from.

Olympia's a real gem, but you gotta not love the sun too much.

Mount Rainier

We decide to drive around Mount Rainier in a clockwise direction as Peter has been to the park before and knows we'll get the best view of the volcano.  We start our approach from the backside along the White River.

Just inside the Park

The river looks milky from ash and glacier milt

Around every bend in the road we start anticipating our first glimpse of the mountain as we know we are getting close, but the trees are too tall and thick to be able to see it. Then all at once it appears before us as if by magic. A little up the road, we find a clear view where an avalanche passed through last winter flattening the trees.

First view though the tree tops

From the top of an avalanche site

We take the road to Paradise and climb up so far we see patches of snow on the ground.  Yes - even in August.  Apparently it was a heavy snow year.

Snow in August

Photo opt

Wow - now that's a panorama

The views keep getting better and better - it's hard for either one of us to stop taking pictures.
We stop at a waterfall and dogs let us know they've had enough.
So we decide against going all the way to Paradise and head down the mountain back towards Olympia.

View toward Puget Sound

Peak w snow

Old touring bus @ Logmire Museum

On the way down we past the Osceola Mudflow (mud and hot ash mixed with melted snow, fallen trees and boulders) caused by a major eruption over 5000 years ago in which the summit and northeast face of Mount Rainier fell away in a massive landslide that rushed down the slopes all the way to Puget Sound covering the White River Valley with 600' of debris. Now with more populated areas surrounding Puget Sound, there is much concern about another such eruption. I for one would hate to be in its path and glad to be living in California with just earthquakes and fires.

Osceola Mudflow

Looks destructive close up

Hurricane Ridge, Olympic Park, WA

The people we've met in during our ordeal have been wonderful... the rangers and fellow campers at Grayland Beach, the tow truck driver at Jerry's, the Rainier Dodge folks, the college student working as a rep at Enterprise, and the staff at Red Lion.  Even the folks taking our cancellations have all been gracious and given us as many financial breaks as they could.  If you suffer a vehicle breakdown, Washington State's not a bad place to have it in.

After taking a day to regroup and cancel our reservations in both BC and the San Juan Islands, we decided to take advantage of what the area has to offer us.  Since many people have recommended we see Hurricane Ridge in Olympic National Park, we head up the eastern (sunnier) side of the Olympic peninsula along the Hood Channel.

Northern reach of Hood Channel

  Just before reaching Sequim, we stop at a small park to admire the view.

Kayaks landing ashore

We stop for lunch in Port Angeles and longingly look as we pass the Black Ball Ferry landing from which we were supposed to leave for BC the day before.

Port Angeles Ferry Terminal

Asian Fusion lunch bowl

We then enter Olympic National Park with Marti's handy lifetime Senior Pass (such a great deal!) and start the climb up to Hurricane Ridge with each view more spectacular than the one before.

Above timberline

Almost to the top

Once at the Hurricane Ridge Visitors' Center, we are treated to a truely magnificent view of the Olympic Mountain range.

Panorama of the Olympic Mountain Range

Carrie Glacier

We linger awhile at to drink in the views and take in the sites.

View from Visitors' Center

Black Tailed deer

We then head back to Olympia as the afternoon is getting late.

Marti + hounds in Jeep

Olympic Forest stream

Are we there yet? I'm soooo bored!

We are treated to some lovely views on the way back.

Gas station on Indian Reservation

Old rail cars make popular businesses

Classic NW cove

After settling the hounds down, we head downtown Olympia for dinner at the Oyster House where they serve fresh local clams and oysters (highly recommended by PM).

Sea gull checks out diners

Yum! Steamed clams

Olympia Harbor

All is well this evening in Olympia, the capitol of Washington.

Capitol Building