Happy Birthday, Mark!

Today is a day we’ve been looking forward to for a long time, and especially every time we’ve been to a national park this summer! Mark has been wanting to get his “old guys” parks pass, and today was the day.  So, we wish him many wonderful visits in the future to all the beautiful national parks and other facilities this pass will get him into!  We are happy that we could share this fun day with you, and feel blessed to be able to travel and enjoy the beauty of this great country with you and Dortha.

Mark, in the visitor’s center of Olympic National Park, getting his America the Beautiful pass:

Now, on to the adventure of the day.  When we last posted, we were tucked away in a noisy parking lot next to I-5 in Tacoma.  We were up pretty early and got ready to head up to the Olympic Peninsula, and, hopefully, a space in the Escapees Evergreen Coho park in Chimacum.  The first thing that happened on the road was that the traffic separated us from our leader.  Good thing I had programmed our route and researched all the intricacies of I-5 and our turn-off, we really needed that navigation at rush hour this morning.  It took us about 45 miles to catch up with Mark and Dortha:

But, that was the only glitch in our day, it just got better and better!  When we got to the park:

we went in to the office and started the process of finding out if they had spaces for us for 2 or 3 weeks.  (A new person was working in the office, today was her first day on the job).  Yes, but only one was open at the moment, one of us would have to wait until later today when the current occupants left.  We got that part figured out and continued on with the check in.  When it came time to decide how long we were staying, the manager reminded the new person that we could only pay a week at a time.  Then, the manager asked if we might want to take one of the lease sites that are available for 30 days.  When we got into the details of the arrangement, we realized it is a pretty good deal - $275 for the month, plus electric, and we get 50 amp electric service along with our sewer and water.  Plus, we get a nice site with landscaping and plenty of space, as opposed to a gravel parking spot with 30 amp electric, water and sewer.   Well, duh.  So we signed up!  Even if we don’t stay a whole month, it’s well worth it.

We’re across the street from each other, and we are nestled in next to the rose garden:

Soon we had our basic set up done and were ready to head off to find some lunch and do a little exploring.  We had lunch at:

– yes – a Mexican restaurant in Sequim (say Sqwim), and then headed over to Port Angeles to get Mark his parks pass.

Here are some pictures from our awesome drive up Hurricane Ridge in Olympic National Park.  Just when you think this country can’t get any more awe-inspiring than the last place we saw, here’s what happens!

Tomorrow, we are going on a really special adventure – wait till you find out what it is!