Recent trip to Washington Part 7 of 8

LAKE CRESCENT...IT IS BY far, a location you have to actually see to truly get an understanding of how magnificent it is. It's a glacial lake in Mount Olympic and it's both warm and deceptively cold. After 2pm they don't rent kayaks because the winds on the lake have a propensity to knock kayakers over and the water stays (what we were told) approximately 44 degrees year-round. We were told, "if you are knocked out of your kayak in the middle of the lake, your chances of making it to the shore are slim."
 

Recent trip to Washington Part 6 of 8

 WE SAW THE TREE OF LIFE, spent some time on Ruby Beach (I'd love to just set up an easel and paint for a whole ass week here), and stopped in Forks, Washington, where the Twilight films are set. Supposedly, most of the film was not shot in Forks, but one of the residents told us the trucks are from the film, and some of the key scenes in the town were. I don't know if these are the trucks, but here's a photo nonetheless. 

Recent trip to Washington Part 5 of 8

 SUPPOSEDLY, WASHINGTON IS RAINY AND foggy most of the year. I spent about 3 months in Ketchikan and there was probably a solid 2 months where it rained 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, so I have no reason to doubt this. For the duration of our trip, it was sunny every day except for a solid eight-hour stretch. I personally do not mind the fog. There's something ethereal and almost eerie about it that I absolutely love. Imagine an old shed out in the woods or on the side of the road. Nobody wants to live in it, but there's something beautiful about it. That's how I kind of feel about the fog. 

Recent trip to Washington Part 4 of 8

THERE WAS A BRIEF MOMENT in Leavenworth where we began to wonder if we wanted to stay in Virginia. It's a whole ass Bavarian Christmas town that has a 3 month art festival...yeah...that shit's right up my alley. It's insanely clean, and the people were super friendly. We hiked up maybe 1/4 of Mt. Ranier and while you're not supposed to feed the chipmunks, it's so difficult to turn them down. Did we feed them? I'm not saying we did, but I'm not not saying it, either.