Forks Trip Day 13 La Push, Rialto Beach

Woke up not feeling so good. The weather outside wasn’t nice either. So the morning was spent working on blog, uploading pictures and some writing, and sending emails with pictures. About noon the weather inside me and outside room had improved. I walked over to Leppell’s and a number of the Olympic Coven cast were there. Chatted a bit, thanked them, let them know posted my pictures. I bought some T-Shirts and gifts. She has some really nice and interesting Twilight related items. Still thinking about the Bella bracelet. Would like to have one, but ….

Went to La Push to check out the gift shop at the Quileute Oceanside Resort office. Found some more things to buy – mainly some earring posts. On to First Beach. Weather really clear but not bright sun. There was an Osprey flying and diving. Sometimes photography gets in the way of just watching and enjoying the moment. Chatted a bit with a couple watching the birds as well.

James Island from First Beach

One of the Osprey pictures

Decided to find my way over to Rialto beach again for the sunset there with the driftwood to maybe frame some images. Stopped at Second Beach. There is a ¾ mile hike to the beach up and down a good size hill. I did not know that when I started. I did not have on my hiking boots. I did not have water bottle with me. I did not make it to the beach. Keep in mind I woke up not feeling so good and it had been awhile since eaten and unprepared for that hike. One gentleman walked a ways with me and we had a nice chat. I got to hear the surf, but just got to point of enough to walk back from where I was. Took lots of pictures, a lot of the shapes reminded me of mythological beings – Godzilla was one and a lot of flying dragons.

Godzilla?

Back to car and on to Rialto Beach. Popular photographic place that evening. Nice sunset with some interesting driftwood frames. 

Trip to Forks Day 10: Stephenie Meyer is here!

Friday 13 September 13. Scary day? Not so much here. Cloudy all day, good weather for our vampires to be out and about. Started off with walk to Tillicum Park to check in and get breakfast for Forever in Forks group. 

It was heavy misting or light rain for most of the walk. Not unpleasant, didn't get soaked at all, just a little wet. I was one of last ones and good thing walked as no parking available. There wasn't enough seating available either. Met and chatted with a few ladies, in line and at table. The good bag was fun - drawstring backpack style with Bella's engagement ring, TWS inspired soap sample, FiF landyard, sunglasses, slap wrist bracelet, FiF button, Twilight postcard, instructions for scavenger hunt and a hard back book, The Immortal Rules by Julie Kagawa. 

The rain stopped before got to the park and hadn't started up again so dry walk back to motel. I stopped at the Chinook Pharmacy and General Store to look around more than did the other day. Interesting place. Fabric, toys, over the counter meds, gifts/souvenirs - sort of felt like back in Old West general store. 

Then to First Beach and picnic lunch with Olympic coven. 

Looks a little different from two days ago with thick fog couldn't see the islands at all. They are much closer than thought they would be from pictures of the area. 

The Olympic Coven was delayed getting there because Stephenie Meyer came to town more or less unannounced. She was at the Chamber of Commerce/Visitor info signing and meeting the Olympic Coven. Lunch was good, more meeting and chatting with different folks. Stephenie came to our area but stayed away from the lunch site...word got around. Didn't have a chance to talk with her, but did see her and cried about it. I don't know who the other lady is.

She said that she would be back. She had to go meet with Mayor and open SM Day. Apparently she hadn't been here for several years for this yearly event. We were richly blessed. I ended up leaving for a break since no specific time for bon fire and S'mores. Didn't make it back to First beach for the bon fire and SM visit for variety of reasons. 

Went to the Roundhouse for the music fest for a few minutes. Talked with the Hindi Sisters from The Hillywood Show. Then to the FiF fan fiction discussion. Interesting discussion about stories never heard of and from sounds of won't likely read - sounds like most would be M rated. Back to Roundhouse to see the end of Eclipse parody and then the two Breaking Dawn ones. Hilly and Hannah answered questions after that. Getting tired and had to update this, so I left after a couple of questions. Heard that SM was suppose to show up at the Roundhouse, don't know if she did or not. The Hindi Sisters met SM for the first time during their meet and greet at Sully's Burgers. 

Tomorrow is visit to Hoh Rainforest - aka Bella's First Hunt trip. So off to bed for me. 

Trip to Forks Day 8

Hiking day for 11 Sep 13, Day 8 of trip. Gwen and I planned to meet up in the Sol Duc Hot Springs area. That didn't work out as planned. We missed each other and then lost cell service. I enjoyed some hikes and views along the way to the hot springs. I stopped at the Salmon Cascades Exhibit. Nice little hike to get closer to water. 

The ranger said that some salmon have been spotted here, but none around when I was. The next stop was the Ancient Grove loop. The trail head was a little hard to find, but well worth the hike. 

New trees growing out of old ones.

 Beautiful overhead canopy.

I stopped and looked around at the Ranger Station. Picked up a better map of park and book on easy day hikes. Then to the springs. Sulfur smell hit you when first walk in. Then drive a little further to get to the Sol Duc Falls trail head. Magnificent falls at the end and some little ones on creeks along the way. 

This last one is a little creek falls along the way. Ate lunch at the end before hiking back to car. Chatted with some folks from Wisconsin on the way back. They are out visiting National Parks. 

Went out to La Push and First Beach before returning to motel. Finally saw some fog and cooled down. Sequim was warm to hot. Today was warm. Even under tree canopy it was comfortable without a jacket of any kind. 

Chatted with the Twilight tour guide. Thought about doing that in the morning. Instead I stayed in and updated the blog. I had dinner at the waterfront restaurant. Very good clam chowder. Went to Thriftway to pick up snack stuff I've run out of. Evening spent updating this blog. Now I'm all caught up, so time to get out there and see stuff. Take care.