Get Ready... Get Set... Wait...
Current Location: Site 9,
Eagle Wind RV,
Abbotsford, British Columbia
Dates: Nov 18-22, 2009
Services: E/W/S/WiFi; Cost: $34.97;
Nights: 4
My 8 months at Derby Reach are over, and it was quite an interesting
experience. With a great site on the Fraser River, I met a lot of
nice people, and had an interesting summer as camp host.
After flying back to Ontario for a week to see family, friends and
former co-workers, I'm back in BC doing a few last-minute errands
before heading south for the winter. Unfortunately, I've come down
with a cold so I will likely be here for a few more days to recuperate.
A Disappointing Start
Current Location: Site 15,
Bay View State Park, Burlington, Washington
Dates: Nov 22-23, 2009
Services: E/W; Cost: $27.00;
Nights: 1
Today has been one annoyance after another. Although I got off to
a good start, I was delayed for over half an hour at U.S. Customs,
who seemed to be worried that without a house or job to return to
in Canada, I would try to stay in the US indefinitely. Fortunately,
I was able to show that I had enough savings to support myself while
visiting, and intended to return to Canada next spring. Oddly, they
didn't seem interested in confiscating my cat food this time.
The weather in Washington isn't any better than in BC; it's pouring
rain most of the day, with some areas having minor flooding. I'm
told that when I'm on the other side of the Olympic Mountains, the
weather should improve.
Although this state park is called “Bay View”, it is a
disappointment. The camping area is away from the shore, and the only
view of Padilla Bay is a glimpse through the trees. The campsites are
small, and surprisingly expensive at $27 a night. I'm tempted to try
a non-serviced campsite tomorrow night; with the $6 I'd save, I could
afford to run the furnace and generator a bit, and still save money.
The Unrelenting Wind
Current Location: Site 9,
Fort Casey State Park, Keystone, Washington
Dates: Nov 23-24, 2009
Services: None; Cost: $21.00;
Nights: 1
This state park is located right next to the Keystone/Port Townsend
ferry, providing visitors with a convenient location to stay
overnight. Unfortunately, the open location on the harbour, plus the
lack of trees means that there is no windbreak; the near-constant
cold wind is rocking my trailer and causing the furnace to run
frequently.
In 1890, the US army took over this land for the construction of a
garrison to help protect the entrance to Puget Sound. Today, four
historic guns are on display, plus the remains of the garrison and
watch towers. Guided tours are available during the summer.
The half-hour ferry ride itself was smooth and uneventful; it is
large enough to carry transport trucks, so driving my trailer on and
off was easy, and it saved me a long drive around the Puget Sound via
Tacoma.
A gun post
The gun post, from the shore
Heavy guns
The main fort
A fallout shelter
The ferry arriving
Out Of The Cold And The Wind
Current Location: Site 80,
Sequim Bay State Park, Sequim, Washington
Dates: Nov 24-27, 2009
Services: None; Cost: $21.00;
Nights: 3
I had read that since Sequim (meaning “quiet waters”, and
pronounced “squim”) is in the shadow of the Olympic
Mountains, it gets noticeably less rain than areas to the east or
west. Sure enough, it has been warm (11°C) and only rained one
day of three during my stay here. For the first time in several
weeks, I've seen the moon at night, although the days are mostly cloudy.
Since I've been breaking my “stay at least two nights”
rule recently, I've decided to stay here for a few days and explore the
surrounding area. My campsite is on a cliff overlooking the bay, with
very few other campers at this time of year.
Snow and Water
Current Location: Site 35, Elwha Campground,
Olympic National Park, Washington
Dates: Nov 27-28, 2009
Services: None; Cost: Free;
Nights: 1
This campground is among trees in a valley at the north-center edge
of the park, and provides convenient access to several of the
waterfalls in the area. Although the days are still mild, the nights
are cooler and snow is starting to appear on the mountain tops.
Oddly, camping fees are not collected this time of year, so the few
of us who are here braving the cooler weather are only charged the
park admission fee ($15 for 7 days)!
Madison Falls
Trail to Marymere Falls
Marymere Falls
A New Use For Old Land
Current Location: Site 21, Salt Creek Recreation Area,
Joyce, Washington
Dates: Nov 28-29, 2009
Services: E/W; Cost: $24.00;
Nights: 1
Since I haven't had hookups for the past 4 nights, I've decided to
“recharge and refill” at a County Park. As with Fort
Casey State Park, this is a former US coastal defense system, with the
construction of two 16-inch gun stations completed in 1945. One
gun was fired several times for practice; the other was never used.
With the invention of the long-range missile, these guns were obsolete
as soon as they were built, and in 1949 they were demolished for the
scrap metal. Camp Hayden was declared to be surplus land, and part of
it was bought in 1958 by Clallam County to create a park.
Alone In The Rain
Current Location: Site 18, Sol Duc Campground,
Olympic National Park, Washington
Dates: Nov 29-30, 2009
Services: None; Cost: Free;
Nights: 1
Either the rain or the rough 12-mile road has scared away other
campers; I am the only person here tonight. This area has a hot
springs resort (closed this time of year), a small campground, and
access into several trails. A 1-mile trail leads through the
rainforest to the scenic Sol Duc Falls.
On The West Coast
Current Location: Site 37, Mora Campground,
Olympic National Park, Washington
Dates: Nov 30-Dec 2, 2009
Services: None; Cost: $12.00;
Nights: 2
Highway 101 has turned south and is following the Pacific shore,
instead of the Strait of Juan de Fuca. As at Sol Duc, there are no
other campers here, despite the sunny weather. The nights are getting
much cooler; I saw frost on the ground for the first time.
The main attractions here are the miles of beaches, and the strong
waves for surfing in the summer. This time of year, only a few
people are walking the beaches or watching the sun set.
