I arrived at Daniel’s apt around 8ish in the evening on July 20th. (Again, I know I’m behind). After 3+ weeks of living strictly out of my car without seeing a friendly face, getting to Daniel’s was like finding an oasis in the desert. A much needed retreat from the stink and sweat I had been living in. I’m not sure if I was happier to see Daniel or his shower. He was quick to remark on my beard, weather worn face and aroma of sweat and sunscreen. This made me recognize how not having a bathroom mirror really reduces your ability to look at yourself.
The next day, while Daniel was at work, I was lazy for most of the morning enjoying a couch and television then headed out to walk around Seattle. I took Daniel’s suggestion to try some dim sum for the first time at the Harbor Restaurant in Chinatown. Highly recommended.
I then walked through Sodo (near the stadiums), pioneer square, then up to Pikes Place to meet Daniel and one of his college buddies for happy hour.
Unforntanely, I forgot to put my SD card back in my camera after transferring my photos to my computer that morning so I have no photos of Seattle. Dohhhh!
That weekend Daniel, two of his college buddies, two of his work buddies and I drove to the North Cascades National Park to hike the Sahale Arm. It was an amazingly beautiful hike looking over the mountains and valleys of the Cascade Mountains. The wild flowers were unbelievable. Backpacking with people is infinitely better than solo. The camaraderie during the hike and the group effort of making dinner and setting up camp makes the struggle way more pleasurable. Thank you, Daniel, for a great weekend!
After leaving Seattle I travelled to The Olympic National park in Western Washington. I completed about a 40 mile hike in three days through the Hoh rainforest to view the Blue Glacier and Mount Olympus. Hiking through the rainforest was a change as it is one of a few, if not the only temperate rainforest in the lower 48. Hiking to view mount Olympus was about a twenty mile out and back day hike that took me about ten hours. You can’t see the mountain until the last mile when you come out of the rainforest. I’m not sure if it was worth the twenty miles but it was still a pretty amazing site.
The day after the twenty mile hike, I hiked back out of the rainforest ten miles and drove to South Beach in Southern Washington. The campground was full but I found an empty space next to an RV to park for the night. The RV owner was nice enough to let me park in his space. I chilled out on the beach listened to music and watched an amazing Washington sunset over the Pacific. The ocean, clouds and haze/fog coming off the water lit up the sky in bright oranges, reds and purples. Washington wins for best sunsets.
I was able to lay in my car that night with the windows open, looking out my side window at the crescent moon over the ocean. A necessary peaceful evening after several long days of hiking. The following day I would make the trip over the state border to Oregon where I would meet up with my brother in Portland for the next part of my adventure.
Matthew