July 27, 2021 – Yarn Shop, Port Angeles, Olympic National Park, Purple Haze Lavendar Farm

Water, water everywhere and not a drop to drink!!!!

So, we’ve been in Seattle, Washington (technically Kent, WA) for two days and I’ve managed to stop at a yarn shop!  The hubs and I went on quite a day trip – apparently, there’s so much water around here that has to be driven around and over to get to many places that it takes a long drive to get anywhere 😎

At the end of the day, we drove through Poulsbo and stopped at Heart2Heart Knitting & Fiber Arts.  While the hubs waited, I went in to check it out.  It is a nice little shop – nice big windows letting in the bright light, shelving around the bottom with skeins hanging all around the room, starting with fingering weight and working around to bulky,  There are also baskets of yarn set around the inside part of the room – these held featured yarns and yarns perfect for babies. 

My FAVORITE part of the shop was listening in to the women (of all ages) as they knit together and chatted away – some who had only met one another that evening!  It is something I have missed seeing and hearing over the last year and half and filled me with happy tingles!  ALSO, I managed to walk out of there without a purchase and wasn’t even sad about it because the visit itself was so great!

I’m confused – did this happen after the yarn shop????? (I started with the knitting part – for Knitting Across…)

We got into our park, Seattle/Tacoma KOA Sunday early evening – the drive was several hours longer than expected because of road construction delays but got set up quickly.  The park is a bit old, VERY busy and the sites are close together.  (Ed. Note – Yes to all this!!) All that being said, the staff is super friendly and helpful which helps overlook the other things.  The area is also pretty convenient for anything you need.  The bus stops right outside and the train station is close for going into Seattle. 

Zeus would be proud!!!!!

We left early this morning on our way to Olympic National Park.  After doing some research the day before, we realized Olympic was a HUGE park and would take us more than one day to see even a small part.  We divided it up into east and west and hit the east side today.  On the way, we stopped for breakfast at Shirley’s Cafe in Port Angeles.  It was yummy and filled us up for a day of fun.  We walked around the port and saw some VERY big ships before heading to the visitor’s center.

 

Once we got rid of the buffalo we had to turn our sights onto something else!!!!

The Olympic Visitor’s Center has a small information area and gift items and a lovely sculpture installation showing outlines of the Roosevelt Elk which populates the area.  It was originally set up as a refuge for these elk who were named after Teddy Roosevelt.  After gathering some maps, we decided to hike the Hurricane Ridge hiking trail and headed that way.  It was only 18 miles but on the curving, steep road took about 35 minutes!!! It is a beautiful drive with the tallest trees I’ve ever seen!  As we drove around a curve, the hubs and I both gasped as we saw the huge mountain range.  We finally made it to the visitors center and thought we should be hearing Julie Andrews singing “The hills are alive with the sound of music”.  It was exhilarating! 

We hiked the Hurricane Ridge trial and it was ON A RIDGE.  I told the hubs that I felt if anyone gave me a little push either way, I’d just roll down the hill like in the Princess Bride! (Ed. Note – Aaaaassssss yyyyyoooooouuuuuu wiiiiiissssshhhhhhh!!!!)  It was a pretty tough climb but a wonderful view – we could even see Victoria, BC! 

  

  

I’ve heard of the Little River Band but not the Little River Road!!!!!

After the hike, we drove over to Elwha to see the Madison Falls.  Instead of going to the main road to get to Elwha, we saw a small road on the map, Little River Road and decided to take it to the falls.  It is about a lane to a lane and a half, tight if you meet another car but we only saw one 😊.  It was a drive through the forest even though there were sections with small houses tucked back in the wood. There were ferns covering the ground under the trees and they were about 3 to 4 feet high – I told the hubs I felt like I should be looking for a dinosaur! (Ed. Note – Jurassic World: Camp Olympus!!!!)

Watch out for cougars, no, not that kind!!!!! (Oh yeah, there were signs of caution as cougars had been spotted in the area!)

The falls are so pretty with an easy walk there and back.  At the end of the trail is a sign stating that the road ahead is closed off because the road washed away during a flood.  We decided that would be something to see, so off we went.  It was about half a mile down the road along the Elwha River.  And there it was, a broken off edge, the river running rapidly and another broken off edge on the other side.  I know, it sounds weird and boring but it was something we’ve never seen before and very cool 😉!

 

 

And now is when the yarn shop happened – time is a flat circle!!!

On our way home I wanted to stop in Sequim known for their lavender farms.  Again, something I haven’t seen before and I LOVE lavender – the look, the smell, ahhhhhhhhh.  I assume it has something to do with the climate here.  I looked on the map and picked one that was on our route home, the Purple Haze Organic Lavender Farm.  It was beautiful!!  After getting out of the truck, I noticed the bee boxes – we’ve been seeing them all over on our travels, AND the boxes were painted, yep! LAVENDER!  The bees were just streaming in and out of the boxes.  There was a fantastic breeze as we walked over to the fields.  They have 3 different types of lavender – all smelling lovely.  I picked a little bunch to have for myself and we headed home. (Ed. Note – she woulda picked a bigger bunch but apparently she has little girl hands!!!!) (and the hubs was laid back in a chair listening to the live music…)

  

 

Day 1 of the Washington state adventure in the books!