Olympic National Park Day 10

Day 10:  Olympic NP Sol Duc area

Sol Duc is about 30 miles west of Port Angeles.  It is the northern end of rain forest, and the trees in the early morning dripping with epiphytes (air plants, mostly hanging mosses) made for some great photos (if I had my “real” camera).  The hike, called Lover’s Lane Trail, is a big loop that leads from the Sol Duc Hot Springs along one side of the Sol Duc River to a set of 3 waterfalls, then back up the opposite shore back to the springs.  It was billed as a 6 mile hike, but we all swore it was at least 8.

Our return trip took us past another entrance to the park, Storm King Mountain Area, where there was a hike to another waterfall.  After stopping at the Crescent Lake Lodge (just nearby) to get ice cream, and finding out they had NONE, we were so disappointed (and tired), that we decided to forego the additional hike.  Instead we headed back to Safeway for more food (this time for dinner), then home to cook steaks and salmon for dinner.  Much better than last night’s faux BBQ!

We rounded out the evening with the opening game of Scrabble.  Molly bailed on Dave early, leaving him to fend for himself as the Cohen and Kurtz Scrabble sharks circled.  Jeri and I sealed the game with 2 Bingos (using up all our tiles in one hand) in a row.  Better lucky than good!

Last full day in Port Angeles tomorrow.