The Great American Road Trip Season 3, Part 4: NW Washington
The Pacific Northwest has truly been everything my dreams are made of: mountains, trees, changing weather, cool temperatures, empty beaches stretching as far as the eye can see, and an extremely limited number of people.
Our first stop this month was at La Push on the Quileute Reservation, which is the tribe featured in the Twilight series. Our campsite backed up to sand dunes strewn with full-size driftwood trees. Some of the trees were absolutely massive with roots stretching three times taller than Greg! Being able to look out our back window at the crashing waves, tall pine trees, and dark, jagged cliffs felt like pure contentment — but not having Roxy there hit me hard. She was my little Team Jacob wolf and it felt like such a spot she should have been with me to experience. I felt her, though. In my heart, deep in my soul, I knew she was with me. She sent me a sign and I’ll admit, I walked along the beach with tears streaming down my face. Grief often hits when I least expect it.
I wish I could share photos of the Reservation with you but they have a very strict photo & video policy so I wanted to share the photo above from the nearby Rialto Beach, which is part of the Olympic National Park. The day we were there was chilly, rainy, and the clouds rolled in and out, constantly changing the landscape views. In other words: it was my perfect day. We walked for miles in the sand, listening to the bald eagles and watching seals and sea lions frolic in the waves. It was a day I won’t soon forget.
Before moving on to our next stop, we decided to take a little two-hour road trip up to the most northwestern point of the contiguous United States: Cape Flattery! We hiked down, down, down to an observation deck where we could see the Cape Flattery Lighthouse (picture directly above). The scenery along the entire hike was spectacular, the scent of pine needles mixed with salty ocean water filled the air, and it was such a special day. I lost count of how many stairs we had to walk down (and back up) but whatever it was, it was worth it. We were even lucky enough to be down on the observation deck all by ourselves for a few minutes and it felt like we were on the edge of the world, looking out on an endless expanse of water, wondering what mysteries lie beneath.
The Dogs of The Olympic Peninsula
The moment we met Dalva and her mom, we knew they were going to be the perfect model pair! We didn’t have to go far to meet them, either — they were staying just a few spots down at our RV park. Dalva and her family are travelers, too. They tend to stay in one place a bit longer but they move around for Dalva’s dad’s work. After we got to know each other a little, I offered to watch Dalva during the day while they were at work. I’d pick her up and bring her over to the Airstream, where she’d alternate between watching birds from our sofa in the front to watching birds from my bed in the back. She made us laugh and we were so happy to have her sweet doggie soul sharing our space, even if it was just for a few hours a day.
Dalva and her mom modeled some of our favorite GoldPaw gear. The navy Stretch Fleece looked so, so good on her, especially paired with the Featherweight Hound Collar in Denver and matching leash. Greg and I found this beautiful location a few days prior and knew we needed to photograph Dalva there!
Ghost and his mom traveled quite a distance to be part of our shoot and I couldn’t be more grateful! Not only did they have to drive a few hours, they even had to take a ferry! During our shoot, I continually questioned whether we had unknowingly cast a marshmallow rather than a dog but Ghost kept reminding me he was definitely a pupper and I was just being silly! Ghost was the perfect gentleman and an absolutely stellar supermodel! He knew all the right looks to give, had the best smile, and patiently waited for all of the Wellness Puppy Bites and Old Mother Hubbard Wholesome Indulgences treats. Ghost’s mom was amazing, as well, and I think my favorite part of the shoot was when they were on the way home and she texted me a photo of Ghost dripping wet with water and mud… she let him go swimming — his favorite activity — as they were waiting for their ferry.
Bandit, Kaedaa, and their mom had an entire entourage for their photo shoot: Bandit and Kaedaa’s dad and auntie also came along for extra support! They modeled some very fun P.L.A.Y. gear, including Bandit’s twin, Robby the Raccoon, the Landscape Series Travel Bowl, the ZoomieRex InfiniDisc, and one more super-secret product that I can’t share with you yet! We had an absolute blast exploring a beautiful, quiet, nearly-private set of trails for our shoot. The dogs were having fun the entire time but were over-the-moon when we walked out into a big field where they could run and chase the frisbee at top speed! Bandit and Kaedaa are both exceptional dogs and superstar models! I am so glad I got to work with them and their mom on this shoot!
Special Memories & People
The RV park where we stayed this month was filled with such wonderful people! First, Dalva and her family (mom, Bethany and dad, Carlos) were there. We all shared a few dinners together, visited the farmer’s market, and Bethany, Dalva, and I shared a girls’ day of coffee, shopping, and a hike. We truly all just had such a fun time getting to know each other! Carlos made us the most delicious steak dinner one evening, too, on his new grill. Yum! The way to my heart is definitely through my stomach.
We also had a wonderful time getting to know one of the camp host families from the park! We ended up visiting with them almost every night, chatting about life, sharing stories, and even diving into the mystical world of crystals on more than one occasion. I met the hosts’ son, Cory, one day early in our stay because I saw him working with his crystals and tarot cards and had to stop to say hello. I think I surprised him when I shared that I carry a few tarot decks and crystals with me in the Airstream. :) Cory was so kind and generous, he made me a special crystal bracelet one evening. I feel so good wearing it! If you’d like to check out Cory’s work, you can find him on Instagram here.
Hiking in Olympic National Park
Olympic National Park spans over 1,400 square miles. Even though we had been in the Park while walking on Rialto Beach a few hours away, we also had the chance to hike a higher-elevation part: the Hurricane Ridge Loop Trail, which is not far from Port Angeles. It was a beautifully sunny day and we absolutely loved getting to see the snow-capped mountains in the distance. It was the perfect day to get out and explore! This picture looks like we were cut out and put on the background but I promise, it’s real! :)
Turning South & Beginning the Journey Home
Our stop in the Olympic Peninsula was the furthest north we’d get this year and so, it was time to turn south. On our way to our final stop in Lake Tahoe, we visited a friend’s dream farm in Bend, were awed by Crater Lake, explored the little-known Lassen National Park, and were chased by a wildfire somewhere along the way. It’s always an adventure with us and you’ll have to stay tuned for our finale blog next month to read all about it!
Don’t miss the finale of our 2O24 Adventure: Lake Tahoe!
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Catch up on the other Season 3 Great American Road Trip posts!
Part 1: A New BeginningPart 2: Checking off the Bucket List in S. OregonPart 3: Ice Cream, Shelter Dogs, and HorsesPart 5: A finale filled with National Parks, a wildfire, and the bluest lakes imaginable
Walter H Richardson (Richie) says
Cindy and I are so envious, but our adventures starts next year. Would love to get a list of your favorite RV parks.
Terran says
I’d be happy to share them with you! Be sure to look into Harvest Hosts if you plan to head to the East Coast at all (there are more options on the East Coast for them than there are in the West). Send me an email and tell me where you’re headed. I’m sooooooo excited for you!!!
kelly lewis says
Terran, not only are you an incredibly talented photographer, but you’re a pretty stellar writer as well! I’m certain Roxy was right there with you on that beach. Thanks for sharing your incredible adventures.
Brent Larson says
Loved reading about your impressions of my home state. You drove past one of the most iconic sights on the coast, the Tree of Life. Recommend visiting before it completely collapses into the beach. Also, there are not many pine trees in Western Washington. Cedar, spruce, Douglas fir and sequoia are the most common. Head across the pass to drier Eastern Washington and the evergreens are mostly pine.
Helen says
Love, love, love all the beautiful photos of landscapes, furry family members, and their pet parents! It’s so fun to read about your adventures. How wonderful that Roxy sent you a sign. She was with you for sure!