Crossing Back Over the Border

This morning we crossed back in to the United States just south of Abbotsford.  There was a much longer line but the actual questions asked were minimal and meaningless.  He asked if we had been to Yellowstone or were thinking of going there.  He asked nothing about anything that we were bringing back in to the US.

From Abbotsford we had a beautiful view of Mt. Baker and then, as we got further south, also had views of Mt. Rainier.  Both are still completely snow-covered.

Mount Baker from Abbotsford.

We stopped in Bellingham and restocked our cooler with lunch foods and breakfast items.  The motel here in Forks does not offer any breakfast, which we have had provided in all of the motels so far on the trip.  We saw the exit to Western Washington University and thought about Adam.

We were heading to Coupeville to get the ferry to go across to Port Townsend on the Olympic Peninsula.  We had been planning to make reservations for the ferry last night at Abbotsford, but didn't have any opportunity since we never got the wireless connection to work.  We got to the ferry and asked when we would be able to get across, and the woman said to hurry and get on the one that was just leaving.  There were even two more cars after we got on.  The crossing takes about 45 minutes and you can stay outside on the deck or sit inside in the enclosed lounge area.  I stayed outside for awhile, but, even with my sweat shirt on, it was too cold because of the wind.

On the ferry to Port Townsend.  Mount Ranier in the background.

In Port Townsend we went in to the Visitors Center and the man at the desk was very knowledgeable about WVU sports and Rich Rodriguez (a former football coach who left to go to Michigan and was just fired from there).  He told us about Fort Worden State Park which is at the northern tip of the town of Port Townsend.  Fort Worden was an army installation (1902 - 1953) which had been designed to protect Puget Sound.  There are still many large buildings which had been used to house the officers and the troops.  The buildings are now used as a conference center and this week the Festival of Fiddle Tunes is being held with concerts on Friday and Saturday.   Drove by the lighthouse out on the farthest tip of land and enjoyed a picnic lunch along the waters edge.  It was a beautiful setting but very windy - had to hold on to everything or put things on top of everything.

In Fort Worden State Park, Port Townsend light house in background.

We drove across the top of the Olympic Peninsula and over to the western coast.  It was a beautiful drive - through dense pine forests, along the edge of beautiful lakes, and through wide valleys.  We were driving around the high peaks of Olympic National Park and many of the high peaks are still snow covered.  We are staying in a motel (Pacific Inn) in the small town of Forks for the next four days and will base our day trips from here.   There are so many things to do and see that I know that we can only accomplish a small part of our "list".