A Day at the Beach

October 12 - Today was restful, at least as much as we can stand.  The car did not move.  After early morning rain,  the day was mostly dry and pleasant.

After breakfast, we walked 2.5 miles north on the beach and back.  The first section was along Route 101 to the adjacent campground, passing over Kalaloch Creek/Lagoon, which was black with tannins.  We passed through the campground, and down the bluff onto the wide beach.  Low tide was an hour later.  The beach was flat, very sandy, and littered with small razor clam shells and occasionally whole and partial sand dollars.  We each found  a few whole ones.  I might try to make coasters with mine.

Tree of Life or Tree Cave, a local tourist attraction

We walked to the end of the beach to a small outcropping of rocks with a few small tide pools.  The tide was coming in by now and the anemones, both pink and green, were just beginning to open up again.  There were barnacles (regular type and what we think are called 'goosenecks"), mussels, gulls, and a few cormorants sunning themselves on the outer rocks.

Sea Anemones

We returned to the Lodge for tea and snacks in our room.

The rest of the afternoon was 'free time.'  Betsy and I did a short beach stroll, going south from the Lodge, seeing not much new except for a soaring and then perching Bald Eagle.  We reached our room just before a short rain squall.

Bald Eagle

Dinner was again at the Lodge restaurant.  Phil enjoyed a bowl of clam chowder followe by 2 small crab cakes, while Betsy had a spinach salad with marionberries and smoked salmon.

Kalaloch Lodge