Family Reunion in Port Angeles, Olympic National Park and Burchart Gardens

We planned for this reunion about a year in advance, making the reservation at the Lake Crescent Log Cabin Campground just after we stayed there last year. The official reunion was at a rented hall in Port Angeles, Washington, but we also met up with family for a hike to Sol Duc Falls in Olympic National Park, visited Sol Duc Hot Springs and took the Black Ball Ferry to Victoria, BC on Vancouver Island to see Burchart Gardens. It was a lovely time; it helped that we had lovely weather and a smooth crossing of the Straight of Juan de Fuca. Even in July, this is not guaranteed, as this is the rain forest.

The sunken garden.

Garden selfie.

Always worth a visit.

Leaving Port Angeles, WA.

Lake Crescent.

Sol Duc Falls.

I love these trail markers.

Lake Crescent near the boat launch.

Robin on a root ball.

We started the reunion with a meal out in our city as Russ' Mom and our Nephews and niece flew in and had to drive past us to get out on the peninsula. We chose the Ram Brewery because it was simple food that our younger niece and nephew would like, and because it has a big waterfront deck. There was a seaplane at the dock next to us and we got to watch it take off from Commencement Bay. After lunch, we went home to pack, and they continued on to their Air B&B. We spent one more night at home.

Lunch at The Ram.

Seaplane taking off from the dock next door.

The Ponzu bowl. So good.

The regular customer.

The Hood Canal Floating Bridge. I always take this photo.

At Shine Tidelands State Park. Hood Canal Bridge is behind.

We usually stop here for lunch.

Cedar likes it too, he's at the door looking out as we eat.

Perfect views of Hood Canal.

The R-Pod.

Storm King Mountain at Lake Crescent.

Our campsite at Log Cabin Resort Campground at Olympic NP. 

The view from the Air B&B window.

So many ships in the Straight of Juan de Fuca.

 

We pulled in to set up the R-Pod at the Log Cabin Resort Campground. We were the only ones from the family camping; everyone else chose to get rooms in town, Port Angeles. Russ and I enjoy this campground, it's beautiful and quiet, with easy access to a nice trail around Lake Crescent to the Devil's Punch Bowl.

 

Lake Crescent.

Journaling at our campsite.

Sun on water.

I love the cutout shadows of the hills against the sky.

We didn't hike the trail this time.

Green reflections.

Funhouse mirror

The whimsical fence. Every panel is different.

Wildflowers on the road's edge.

National Park Campground.

Breakfast in the trailer.

Morning light with reflections.

Deer on the lake shore.

Trees and water.

A robin rests.

He's missing a fang; he broke it and we had to get it pulled.

 

We did meet up for a hike in the National Park, to Sol Duc falls. Plus many of the family enjoyed Sol Duc hot springs after the hike. The rain forest is so magical. It feels healing and peaceful to me.

Black Huckleberries.

Moss everywhere.

Russ on the trail.

Common signage for Pacific Northwest trails.

The Sol Duc River.

Viewpoints and family.

Bridge at the falls.

Green and grand.

Selfie with falls.

It is so lovely (and loud).

The gorge is narrow below the falls.

Every surface without friction gets a layer of moss.

Family fun.

Fog in the valley across Lake Crescent.

Canadian Geese in a gaggle.

We had a taco bar potluck with the family in Port Angeles. This was the official Family Reunion. It's always nice to have time to catch up with the family that lives farther away from us, but this is the first time we've had one of these near where we live. Usually, we are the ones that have to travel.

 

A different kind of gaggle.

Getting the tacos ready.

It was a nice space.

My plate was too small.

 

The next morning we got up early to catch the Black Ball Ferry to Victoria, BC. I've never taken this ferry before, usually we get to Vancouver Island from Seattle on the fast Victoria Clipper, a big catamaran. We grabbed a nice coffee near the ferry dock, and enjoyed the ride over. The straight was calm, so I didn't even need to take my motion sickness tabs.

There was a big hot rod car show going on in Victoria near the ferry dock, but we mostly just looked at the cars as we walked past to where we caught our shuttle (bus) to the Burchart Gardens. It's probably been ten years since I last saw the gardens, and it wasn't in the high summer season, with everything in bloom like this. I am always so impressed with this garden; I'm certain I will never see better.

The ferry dock.

Mirror selfie in glass door.

The morning is always better with coffee.

The Blackball Ferry.

Port Angeles as seen from the ferry deck.

Nephew and his wife with Port Angeles behind.

The morning was brisk, but the seas were calm.

Car show in Victoria.

No theme that I could discern, just fixed up old cars.

Really nice.

The government buildings for British Colombia.

In front of the Empress where we caught our bus.

The entrance to beauty.

The sunken garden.

All smiles.

More sunken garden from above.

Walking the path through the sunken garden.

So many styles of landscape.

On top of one of the rocky outcroppings.

Happy bees! They were thick everywhere.

The lake and fountain.

Looking down to the sunken garden from the other side.

Totem pole. Tlingit style.

The dragon fountain.

I see you.

Niece and nephew.

Hydrangea?

Redwood.

Sundial with roses.

Every surface has a wealth of blooms.

The rose garden was my favorite.

Family among the roses.

Arched trellis.

The Japanese Garden.

More Japanese Garden.

This section felt quieter.

Water lily bloom.

We are still on the coast. The view near the Japanese garden.

The family takes a rest.

The formal gardens.

Flowers in every bed.

The formal gardens are back near the entrance.

Orange and gold.

Gelato. This was lavender honey flavor.

We left the gardens and went back to have dinner and do some shopping in Victoria. I managed to get a tea and a bakery snack at Murchie's. Dinner was at Frankie's Modern Diner. We are more limited in our food choices when we are with our younger niece and nephew, they are picky (no Asian food).

 

Russ captures Victoria Harbor.

Water taxi.

The Empress Hotel.

Our ferry.

Victoria Harbor.

More hot rods.

I love Victoria Harbor.

Totem pole.

The Parliament Building

Fun.

The city was bustling.

Boats in the harbor marina.

There were big crowds enjoying the city.

Salmon bowl (the most Asian thing at the diner).

Murchie's is a favorite of mine.

It was a nice ride back on the ferry and a goodbye to most of the family. Russ and I had breakfast at the Blackberry Cafe before we drove the trailer home. We also drove up to Seattle the next day to meet the smaller family contingent of Russ' mom and our nephews and nieces for some Seattle sightseeing before their flight home.    

Big breakfast, but no pie today.

It's a small town. They are voting for mayor.

The counter at the Blackberry Cafe.

The Hood Canal Bridge as we return to the mainland.

Small harvest waiting at home.

My geraniums are not as good as the one's at Burchart Gardens.

Nachos for dinner.

The Space Needle.

International Fountain at the Seattle Center.

At the meditation garden.

Dinner at McMenamins.

The end of a nice family gathering.