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2017 West Coast Road Trip
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  • 2017 West Coast Road Trip

    Ruby Beach bald eagle and turn around

    8 августа 2017 г., Соединенные Штаты ⋅ 🌫 16 °C

    We picked a rock in the distance as the place to turn around. As we arrived we saw a bald eagle perched on a single tree. He swooped down to inspect us and settled on a tree upon the bluff.

    There were good tide pools and caves and we jumped from rock to rock and timed our leaps over the small creeks and retreating waves.Читать далее

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  • 2017 West Coast Road Trip

    Ruby Beach walk back and dinner

    8 августа 2017 г., Соединенные Штаты ⋅ 🌫 15 °C

    We spent the walk back talking about what we would do when we got home to Brookline. A sign that our vacation was starting to wind down.

    Our legs were heavy and we were tired. I didn't a picture of poor Franklin trying to leap back from the island perch and windmilling his arms before landing in the creek. Just wet feet and another reason to go back.

    It was so late I just cooked us dinner right there in the parking lot. The upside of the van lifestyle we will miss.    Читать далее

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  • 2017 West Coast Road Trip

    Magical drive back from Ruby Beach

    8 августа 2017 г., Соединенные Штаты ⋅ 🌫 17 °C

    No pictures here but a drive to remember coming back from the beach. The moon was full and we were listening to A Wrinkle In Time. As the road moved in and out of the forest groves we switched from the glistening river to dark caves where no moonlight could penetrate. Over and over, bright twilight / midnight black. I could see bats swooping in front of the van and the road just went on and on for miles. Unforgettable!Читать далее

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  • 2017 West Coast Road Trip

    Leaving Hoh, Port Angeles and Smoke

    9 августа 2017 г., Соединенные Штаты ⋅ 🌫 23 °C

    We got the big breakfast the next morning on the way north and east to Port Angeles. This drive was the first time we became aware of the smoke and haze from fires that had been burning up in BC. Apparently people in Seattle have been really suffering. For us, it obscured the view a bit - but we didn't seem to suffer any ill effects otherwise.

    We headed right to Heart o' the Hills campground and snagged a pretty little spot.

    Then we went to Port Angles and found a local game shop and bought a couple new games (Cowpoker and a Dr. Who themed dice game). We played while we did a final load of laundry.

    After that we went downtown to another game store, stopping first for pizza. We bought a new Magic game called "Archenemy". We wanted to watch a movie before bed so we went to a coffee shop for wifi and played on a far too small table.

    Back at the camp we watched Terminator 2. We haven't seen Terminator 1 yet because as a bad guy is too scary!    Читать далее

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  • 2017 West Coast Road Trip

    Settling in at Fort Worden

    10 августа 2017 г., Соединенные Штаты ⋅ ☀️ 18 °C

    We got to Fort Worden in the afternoon having stopped off in the quaint and prosperous town of Port Townsend. We had a camping spot way out at the tip of the campground loop with a bunker and the sound just a few steps away over the dune. The kids had a great time exploring the bunker while I made dinner. We are in the van because of the sting winds - one of only a few times on the whole trip when we ate indoors.Читать далее

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  • 2017 West Coast Road Trip

    Charging the batteries

    11 августа 2017 г., Соединенные Штаты ⋅ ☀️ 19 °C

    We checked out the nice little artillery museum and learned about the history of the fort. I read on the sign that An Officer and a Gentleman was filmed here. That's why it looks so familiar - Mayonnaise! I loves me some good Lou Gossett Jr. hazing!

    We walked up a path to the top of the main bluff where there were a series of bunkers that dated from the 19th and 20th centuries.    Читать далее

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  • 2017 West Coast Road Trip

    Fort Flagler kites

    11 августа 2017 г., Соединенные Штаты ⋅ 🌙 15 °C

    While google maps said we were 2 miles from our next campsite, in fact if was a 30 minute drive around to Fort Flagler - the second of the three forts that formed the defense of the sound.

    It was a pretty drive and Fort Flagler seemed just as well cared for as Fort Worden - though more remote. No bistros in the old buildings. There was a nice view of Port Townsend across the water and you can see the sandy outcropping where we'd camped the night before.

    We went to the little store and bought a couple kites. Franklin's black diamond flew well but Samantha's butterfly seemed to enjoy nosediving into the ground as much as flying.

    The wind died down as the sun moved lower so the kids played checkers while I made our last meal (rice and eggs) right there by the water.    Читать далее

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  • 2017 West Coast Road Trip

    Last night in the van

    11 августа 2017 г., Соединенные Штаты ⋅ ☀️ 16 °C

    We had a very nice campsite up in the woods away from the winds. I began to pull everything out of the van to get ready to pack. We found the "pee cup" - something we never used. Samantha's rating on the idea is quite clear. I joked that the whole concept could be covered in an essay called "The Princess and the Pee". "Not funny dad!" (but with a giggle) was the response.

    Franklin played some souvenirs he bought at the Artillery Museum and made us a fire. The kids helped out with the packing for a bit and then finished watching a movie. By bedtime we were all tired and went to bed together for the last time in the van.    Читать далее

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  • 2017 West Coast Road Trip
    2

    Off to the airport

    12 августа 2017 г., Соединенные Штаты ⋅ ☁️ 16 °C

    We woke up early and made the 2 hour drive to the Escape Campervan office near the airport. Checking was easy and there were no issues at all.

    It took us a while to unpack/repack for the cab ride over to the airport. There was a spot at the van office to leave supplies for other campers and we sure filled that with lots of goodies from bear spray to jumper cables.

    There were other more attractive vans there - but I'm still glad for the one I choose. It served us well.

    We ended up with five big duffle bags plus the homemade cardboard box with our walking sticks and fishing poles.    Читать далее

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  • 2017 West Coast Road Trip

    A day in Seattle

    12 августа 2017 г., Соединенные Штаты ⋅ ⛅ 22 °C

    We got to the airport around 12:30 and our flight was the red eye at 9:30 so we had some time to kill.

    We stored our bags and took the train into town - about 45 minutes. I read to the kids until the car started to fill up.

    We walked down to Pike Place Market and looked around for a bit. Hungry, we ended up at a somewhat upscale Thai place a couple blocks away. They weren't very welcoming given our grunge clothes and black fingernails but the food was really good. Franklin even enjoyed some of the Tom Yum soup!

    After lunch we went on the big Ferris wheel and played a few arcade games. OK, Franklin played a few arcade games.

    It was hard to really enjoy Seattle much (that is, "Seattle" in the way that Faneuil Hall is "Boston"). It was partly because we were tired from getting up early. It was partly because we were looking past it at getting home. But also, and we talked about this and all agreed, it was because the smelly, greasy, crowded feel just didn't really feel as nice as the quiet forests and rugged coasts we'd gotten used to. So in a way it was a shock to be in such a place - but also a poignant reminder of what we'd found valuable on our trip.    Читать далее

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  • 2017 West Coast Road Trip

    Flying home

    13 августа 2017 г., Соединенные Штаты ⋅ ⛅ 28 °C

    We got back to the airport with plenty of time to spare. The TSA guy who checked our boarding pass before we got to the scanner lanes was hysterical. He totally deadpanned that he needed to see ID from the kids. When Franklin couldn't produce anything beyond his debit card the agent told him to spell his name backwards as proof of identity. He really had Franklin going for a sec. Very funny. The TSA agent manning the scanner asked if we had Pokémon cards. We said Magic and he gave us the thumbs up.

    We got a quick dinner, called Kha and played card games for a bit. Then, we boarded the flight right on time, all sitting together. Of course Dax got the middle seat!

    The flight was incredibly short, under 5 hours, and none of us slept except Franklin for literally the last five minutes before we touched down - a move completely in character for him!

    We got a cab home and here we are safe and sound.

    An amazing trip - memories for a life time.

    And the most surprising twist ending - A couple of days ago Kha started texting me pictures of camper van conversion ideas. So there may be more of this to come.

    Thanks to all who read this far and for all the love and kindness shown to us. It has been a great ride.    Читать далее

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    Окончание поездки
    13 августа 2017 г.