Razor clam on the beach
Lunch at the restaurant of the Kalaloch Lodge, and then a jaunt up US 101, then shorewards into the rain forest once more:
We had seen lots of wonderful rain forest in the preceding days, but this patch
of woods was the most magnificent of our trip, I think. I could have spent hours
and hours, maybe even days and days, exploring and taking pictures here. There
was so much to see! Here, as usual, it's often Mark King’s back, but you’re
supposed to be looking at the surroundings, too. (Left thumbnail: big image,
small; right: big image,
small.)
These woods are lovely, dark, and deep—in places.
(Big image; small.)
Lots of fallen trees and logs, their mineral content offering nutrition to new life.
(Big image; small.)
|
Three trees that the loggers wouldn't be interested in anyway:
First thumbnail: big image, small; next: big image, small; last: big image, small. |
|
Moss, sometimes framed by a burl,
but always moss. (Left thumbnail: big image, small; right: big image, small.) |
The area is fairly swampy in places, and there are a lot of raised walkways
to protect the soil
and vegetation below. Not what you’d expect in wild territory,
but necessary where there’s a lot of foot traffic.
(Left thumbnail: big image,
small; right: big image,
small.)
When a tree starts its life on a fallen log, it puts down roots that eventually
encircle the log; and when the fallen one rots away, there’ll be a tunnel
through the trunk of the new tree. But as to exactly how this bizarre structure grew,
I wouldn’t like to hazard a guess. (Big image;
small.)
Here, the raised walkways continue. We were actually with the whole group all this time,
but you’d never know it from my pictures. The others were not only naturally better
walkers than I was, but they weren’t burdened by a camera and the desire to use it
as I was. (Left thumbnail: big image,
small; right: big image,
small.)
From here, we walked back down US 101 to the Lodge, checked in, and after
a bit we went out to the beach again. There was still plenty of atmosphere,
and I took just over sixty pictures more, almost all of which are without
photographic interest. Among the many pictures mostly of fog, though, I did get
these two: kids frolicking in the shallows (big image,
small), and Mark walking barefoot
(big image, small).
One absolutely amazing sight on the walk northwards from the Lodge was this tree,
which has evidently managed to survive in spite of the excavation of most of its
support by a little stream down below. Mark met some folks who have been coming
to this area for a good number of years, and were still waiting for the tree
to fall away and into the drink. (Big image;
small.)
One more picture of nothing but atmosphere (big image,
small), and we were ready for our rest,
our drinks, and our supper. But Maribeth and Steve had promised us that
after supper, we’d have a fire on the beach to relax around. For
that, please turn to the next page.
Previous day’s pictures; this morning’s pictures; this evening’s pictures; next day’s pictures.
Return to the main Northwest Trip page; to my home page.
