Ft Flagler, Aug 2013, part 2

As the Interpretive Tour Guides we got a 'primo' parking site: next to the Museum where the tours commenced.  Out or back picture window was the Admiralty Inlet - the only deep-water connection between the Pacific (thru the Strait of Juan de Fuca) and Puget Sound. The ship traffic was never-ending and included nuclear subs, Navy ships headed to Bremerton Shipyard, cruise ships out of Seattle and lots of ferry traffic and pleasure boaters. I never tired of it. The weather was just about as changeable and the cold fogs (that's one rolling in on the lighthouse, below) added a new dimension for us.

The main body of the Fort and our rig in the picture above are about a 100 feet above the water.  The old lighthouse shown here was right at the point and all downhill. It is now operated as a Research Center by NOAA but still used by the State Park guests, as well as locals who love wade-fishing here.  The twice-a-day tide changes create unbelievable currents and that makes it a great 'fishing hole'.  More on that later.

The property the State of Washington got from the Army back in 1952 to make this a state park included a lot of land that was still wooded - and even a beach site on the back bay.  This is where the campgrounds are located and they are in deep, old forests and really nice. Many of the workampers were sited here as Park Hosts.  There were neat trails to hike or bike and you could 'get away from it all' on these trails.

Some of the Workamping Team - most of whom have come back here for years - partly for the area and also for the chance to work with a great management team led by Ranger Manager Mike Zimmerman.  Here we are laying out a potluck meal - note the festive 'summer' attire - it is as far North and West as you can go.

Fort Flagler State Park - August 2013, part 1

Our Workamping site for the Washington State Parks.

We were called and asked to fill in in August as the Historical Interpretive Guides at

this is very old, popular park that has been used for generations by area families who still love it.

 We had two scripts to learn - and adapt to our own style- the Gun Battery Tour and a Base Hospital Tour (its the 3-story bldg in the background).  Ava and I 'tag-teamed' our talks and, from comments, we believe it made it more interesting.  Ava focused on "Life at the Fort" and had lots of human interest stories and a picture album she put together from archived material - I talked about the guns and the Fort's mission.  There were tours  3 days a week, each about 1 1/2 hours (and a mile walk): Weds, Sat and Sun -morning and afternoon- but we had a helper for Sun a.m. so we could attend church. Below I am leading a group around one of a dozen large, cement gun batteries that made this a special Army fort.  It was a little daunting at first but it was a really interesting 5 weeks and our services were appreciated by the Ranger staff and visitors.

After we didn't need 'study time' we filled in our 32 hours (total, together) a week with other activities.
Below is Ava helping the rental housing (barracks) by sewing up new curtains - the existing ones were rags! She enjoyed doing this and no one else could, or would, do it.  I filled out my hours by doing housekeeping maintenance for these same old barracks that stayed full all summer with family reunions, HS band camps, and church groups. Most weeks there was hardly any 'turn-around' time before the next big group came in!

Whale Watching from Victoria, British Columbia - July 2013

                                         This is the boat I chartered to take Ava to see the Orcas.
                                                     I spare no expense for My Girl!

                                          (It's the little aluminum one in the foreground :)  (( the big
                                          fiberglass one was on it's maiden voyage and unavailable))
                                                 

                                       Size doesn't matter (in boats) but the big Orca was the matriarch
                                        and she had quite a following.  This pod was really puzzling the
                                        experts on board until they called around to the other boats and
                                       figured out this was not a local pod but a sea-going family group.
                                       They don't mix - the locals eat only salmon and the transient Orcas
                                        only eat seals and sea lions.        

                                   
                                     There were people watching from this island (one of the San Juans)
                                      and even launching kayaks to get a closer look.  They had quite
                                       an audience and we were thrilled to be among them!

          Victoria, BC is a beautiful city on Vancouver Island and we saw it on a perfect-weather day!

A Logging Tour on the OP - July 2013

                       We were told to not miss this tour by the good folks managing our park in Port Angeles.
                        They were right - it was worth the wait and the drive.  Here in Forks (Twilight, anyone?)
                        the rain gauge is in feet, not inches. I am pointing at the 5-foot mark and it goes to 12f!!
                        So far, a dry year but the real rainy season is coming. We had a driver who was a logger
                        for 40 years and a guide who worked for the Washington  Dept of Natural Resources                                   managing the state's timber lands - very knowledgeable pair.

                     Our first stop was at one of last specialty mills in the area - the logging industry has been
                      hard hit and this mill was fascinating.  It took these logs and with BIG automation cut them
                      down to 2x4s, 4x4s, etc.  It was unusual to get to visit a working mill, so we felt fortunate.

                        Next stop was viewing the actual logging (from a safe distance).  These machines
                       dragged the felled trees out to a clearing then stripped, picked up and loaded them.                          

 
                            This tries to show how the forest is managed - like a patchwork quilt some areas
                             are cut, others left for a later time.  Every cut-over area has some trees left in it
                             and some areas require a mot of trees to harbor wildlife. Seedlings are planted on
                             all cut acreage.  We came away thankful that this valuable work is still going on.
                            Want to invest your  retirement acct in wood?  Be prepared to wait 40 to 50 years
                             for the payback!

                       

Last images from the woods of the OPNP

Big trees need lots of water and that also meant great hikes to waterfalls like this.

                     Probably what the Ents looked like to Merry and Pippin!  Us, too.

                   
                               Sometimes you sense that the trees and rocks need our help to stay standing.
                                   

                                            My own wood elf - can you tell she loves the trees?

Finally, Cape Flattery

After a 6 hour drive, it is 1/2 mile hike to the water!
This is the northwestern most point of land in the lower U.S.

Sea Lion asleep on the rocks. Also thus is on the Pacific Flyway for more than 250 species of birds!

This is a remote area with one road in and one road out.  It was breathtaking in every way and a spectacular day for the trip!  The sound of the waves crashing on the rocks below and the birds made it hard to be heard when talking.

 

Rocks,  Water and Sea Caves!  A real sight for us S. Texans!

More 'On the Way' to Cape Flattery

 

Majestic Eagle perched, overlooking the water.





















Dinner is served!










Fishing village on the Strait of Juan de Fuca. Vancouver Island in the background. Breathing views.