Washington Adventure

Near Mount St. Helen's volcano

New snow from the night before along the road going up

Headed on up the road from Oregon coast towards Mount St. Helen's Volcanic Monument.   Have wanted to see this place for quite some time and finally got my chance.  Of course, it was cloudy and hard to see the mountain, and the roads were still covered with fresh snow, but got as close as we could.  Finally had to turn around because the road up to the final visitor's center was still closed for the winter.

Road up to Mt. St. Helen

Observation area

All that we could see of Mt. St. Helen and as close as we could get

Merriman Falls in Quinault Rainforest

After leaving the Mt. St. Helen's area we headed across Washington towards the coast.  Did stop in Kamala, WA and took a picture of the actual high school used in the Twilight movie.  (will include this picture with the rest of my Twilight adventure pictures below).   Spent two nights near Hoquiam, WA and did some exploring in part of Olympic National Park around the Quinault Rainforest area. 

Quinault Rainforest

Quinault Rainforest near Aberdeen, WA

Headed on up Hwy 101 on the Washington coast towards Forks, WA.   Home of vampires and werewolves.  Haven't seen any yet, but you never know.  Went out to LaPush beach on the Quillayute Indian Reservation (were Bella and Jacob have their first talk about the legend of the tribe being descended from wolves).   Beautiful beach, lots of driftwood, rocks and starfish hiding in the intertidal zones.


View from LaPush Beach

Starfish hiding among the rocks

Beautiful walk on beach

Of course I had to do my "Twilight" exploring also.  Interesting town Forks, though most of the filming was done at other locations, it still has all the excitement and intrigue anyone wants if you are a "Twihard" like me.

In Forks, WA

Bella's truck

Near LaPush on the reservation



Actual High School used for filming in Kalama, WA

Will continue our adventure tomorrow going out to the Hoh Rainforest in Olympic National Park and then continue on around the coast towards Port Angeles (home of Bella's mushroom ravioli).  Will stay in that area for 2-3 days to see the rest of Olympic and then head for the ferry in Port Townsend to take us towards Bellingham.   Then it's on up into Canada heading towards Prince Rupert, BC to catch the ferry.   Will update soon.   Miss you all, but having outstanding adventure.