October 21, 2015 Kalaloch, Washington

We left the Hoh valley and went to Kalaloch campground on the beach. It was raining when we left, and when we arrived, but like magic the sun came in and out during the afternoon. 60’s.

We stopped at Ruby Beach for a stroll. Last time we were in Olympic National Park it was closed because of the government shutdown, so we did some felony trespassing and walked down here. It is right off the road. 85 miles of beach is in the park. I just could not believe they would close a beach you could see from the road. It is listed as one of the most beautiful beaches in the park.  This time is was all legal and such. It is still beautiful. An arch in one of the sea stacks.

John in  another arch  . The beach was very scenic with lots of sea stacks.

Ruby Beach sea stacks.

More beach. People built all kinds of rock cairns on the logs.

 

Reflections in a small pond on the beach. After Ruby beach we stopped to see the Big Cedar Tree. It is very large, even though about half of it fell off the other side.

 

The first time we ever stopped at Kalaloch Lodge was long before we moved on to the bus. I had never been to this area and I wanted to stay at this lodge so bad, but John refused. The only room left was $300 for the night and I think the bathroom was down the hall,so I guess he had a good reason. So finally we are back, this is right next to the campground. The beach access  from the lodge.  The lodge was built in 1923 and is owned by the park service.

The coach in our camp site. The beach is on the other side of the leaning trees. We have a great view.  I love this tree hanging on for dear life with a stream running down the cliff behind it. I may have to make this tree into a piece of glass when I get back to the studio.

 

Stream on the beach. Not the same one the tree is hanging over.  John says the sky and clouds were all set up for a fabulous sunset, but it just dropped after this and no colors on the clouds. This was not too bad though. John cooked dinner while I checked out the beach. What a sweetheart.

 

There were tide pools near the sea stacks. Snails, barnacles, mussels , a sea star, fungus on a tree on the path to the beach. There used to be a sign at the access to the beach that looked pretty much like this Beach Logs Kill, I guess people wanted something to take home with that on it, so there are glasses, T-shirts etc in the gift shop. The logs are huge ones that come down the rivers and are tossed around in the surf. If you are on the beach with  high tide tossing logs, they are extremely dangerous rolling around  and could kill you.  Some green sea anemones with red tips and a chipmunk. I think he thought I might feed him, he was wrong.

    

Green anemones, crab shells , tiny mussels and barnacles,a tiny mushroom. rock cairn, more red tipped sea anemones.