When I last posted three months ago (!!!), we'd just wrapped up our time visiting the Quinault Rainforest within Olympic National Park in Washington. Since I have thousands of more photos and stories to post of this summer 2020 adventure - with new stories and pictures coming in all the time of new adventures (including our most recent Spring Break 2021 trip that took us sailing around the Florida Keys on a 75' schooner!), I really need to get cracking and keep this blog current or risk forgetting the details of these epic trips!
From the Olympic National Park map, we could see that there were several first-come, first-serve campsites along the coast, but we quickly learned they were predominantly small tent sites that could not accommodate 27-foot campers. We'd debated parking Quarantinny in a different location, and sleeping in our tent for a few nights along the beach, but was told by a Park Ranger that there was a great privately owned "boon docking" campsite just up the road. Seeing as it was the weekend of Fourth of July - we decided we'd better get there sooner than later.
(A big cedar on the property, the top of which reminded us of Mr. Willowby's Christmas tree!)
The Ranger told us to keep our eyes peeled for the Correctional Facility, and the campsite was the opposite direction. That was reassuring to hear.
The property owners charged $5 a day to drive through and park on their cobbled beach along the glacial fed Hoh River. The rules were few: pay the fee, clean up after yourself, and be respectful to others. A small fee to pay for such a glorious location and spectacular setting.
When we arrived, there were only two other campers, but the only sound we could hear was the rushing river, which was colored turquoise blue from the glacial till. Carolyn, our family angler, wasted no time pulling out all of the fishing gear.
She first tried her luck with the rod and reel...
And the next day, the fly fishing rod.
After all her patience and perseverance, she caught a tiny fish which she gently released back to the water. So much for snagging a spawning salmon!
In 2017, we took a camping trip that brought us far north to Jasper National Park in Alberta, Canada. For several days, we camped along the glacially-fed Athabasca River - which the kids thought would be fun to swim around in. Since they'd swam in 40 degree Canadian glacial water, they figured the water of the Hoh would be a breeze.
William was the first one in.
And the first one out. Demonstrating that with enough brawn anyone could do it.
Henry went next.
After much squawking, fully submerged.
Elizabeth, not one to be outdone by her brothers, took the plunge, last. There was a lot of screaming. The Hoh River is extremely cold. All agreed it felt colder than the Athabasca either because of the chilly air blowing in from the Pacific ocean - or perhaps their blood had thinned with three additional years of maturity?
Carolyn and I didn't have to prove anything to anyone, so stayed warm on the beach. Our role was to help keep the crazy swimmers warm, by wrapping them in sleeping bags, feeding them snacks, and reading them stories. Thrilled, I'm sure, to have your brothers feet on your lap.
Meanwhile, Charlie chopped up chunks of redwood that he had found scattered around the area.
Beautiful, fragrant redwood - which burns so perfectly and completely. All of this incredible redwood was a highlight of the entire trip.
We had enough wood to burn for days and days. And burn it, we did.
Happy Hour on the beach.
Rock collecting, on the beach.
So that a girl and her dog, could skip the perfect stones.
The view from inside Q'Tinny, looking over our epic camping spot. While I don't have a photo of it, since we were camped in this location for several days and only have 40 gallons of clean water, we wound up using our backpacking filter to obtain more drinking water from the river, which was poured directly in to our holding tanks. Between the water from the Hoh, and the energy we were able to tap from our solar panels - we could have stayed at this location for a month.
Turns out our only limiting factor was food. But even then, we made what we had stretch. I think it's fun to see just how far you can go - with limited resources. Nothing inspires culinary creativity quite like it!
Some other highlights of the time we spent boon docking along the Hoh: Henry's fort that he constructed, using driftwood and materials that he'd collected. Awesome to see the imagination at work.
Pizza bagels that we made since we weren't able to successfully land a salmon. Awesome to have access to a functional kitchen that allows us the opportunity to bake while we're in the MIDDLE OF NOWHERE!
Also, Henry's 4th of July birthday party.
We donned our red, white and blue attire and decorated Q'Tinny up for the occasion.
We also baked a German chocolate cake for the celebration.
Since we were parked at a slight angle on the beach, the cake was noticeably thicker on one side than the other; as the batter had migrated and settled while it cooked. We just added more frosting to that side to even things up. Ha!
Singing happy birthday to the youngest... we now have FOUR TEENAGERS!!
Charlie serenading us around the campfire.
Almost heaven ... West Virginia ... Blue Ridge Mountains - Shenandoah River.
An impressive fireworks display, courtesy of our camping neighbors ...
Followed by a beautiful moon over the river. Try as we might, pictures (at least those with an iPhone!) cannot capture the beauty of this space.
The family, minus the photographer.
When I think back on this time, I can just remember the feeling of being in this magnificently rugged location, with nothing to do but hang out, play, talk, and take pictures. I consider myself so lucky to see the relationship between these kids continue to bloom in moments such as these. And to see them physically bloom, as their own unique people.
What started as a quick photo to compare hair colors...
Became a photo used to compare eye color and freckles.
And thus quite unintentionally, produced one of my favorite photos of all time. Whenever I look at this picture of my children's spectacular blue eyes, I'll forever be reminded of this camping location - with the spectacular blue water - of the Hoh River. And to think, it only cost us $20 to stay here for several days. It's a beautiful memory to embrace!
