Our Alaskan Cruise Ends Today; Sunday We Return to Our 5th Wheel On the Olympic Peninsula - Saturday-Sunday, August 12-13, 2023

Saturday, August 12: We cruise into Seattle this morning and debark the Norwegian Bliss. Not to worry, while they had us on the ship, they sold us another cruise. Next time, we'll be going from Sydney, Australia, to Auckland, New Zealand! Stay tuned.

Mt. Rainier and the sports stadiums in Seattle.

The Olympic Mountains on the Olympic Peninsula.

We are docked in downtown Seattle.

Debarking the ship was very easy. We patiently waited for our color luggage tag to be called and then walked off the ship. The luggage was right where it was supposed to be and when we left the building, it wasn't long until a shuttle came to take us back to Michael's car in long-term parking.

We stowed the luggage and piled into Michael's car. He drove us to Frank and Gina's (my brother and sister-in-law's) place at Arrowhead Lake in Washington where they had lunch waiting for us. We played some pinochle, too. They also let us park our truck there while we were on our cruise. Thank you guys for being so kind!

Passing by the Tacoma Dome on I-5 on our 
way to the Olympic Peninsula.

After lunch, Michael headed home to Portland, and we returned to our 5th wheel and cats at the Evergreen Coho SKP RV Park in Chimacum, Washington. Thank you, Michael, for picking us up and dropping us off at Frank and Gina's place. I know it was a bit out of the way for you.

While we were on our trip, we had a petsitter from Rover.com visit our RV twice a day to give our diabetic cat his insulin as well as feed both cats, and clean the cat box. She did a wonderful job! In fact, we got photos of our cats texted to us every day we were gone. All was well on the RV home front.

Sunday, August 13: Whenever we visit the Olympic Peninsula, I do multiple walks/hikes with my hiking buddy, Diane Howell Evans. Today, Bob, Diane, and I decided to do the 10 km Port Ludlow Trail and Beach Route walk. We had a lovely day for it as you will see in the photos.

This particular walk has "precautions" listed on the instructions. The precautions state "The 10k route includes a stiff uphill on wooded trails. Good trail shoes are recommended. A hiking stick is optional, but not a bad idea. Please carry food and water on this hike." Good to know!

It was low tide so we did not need to follow the "High Tide Alternative" route. We started from the Beach Club and immediately walked down to the water. 

Diane and Bob heading down to the beach
on Ludlow Bay.

The tide is going down to -0.69, perfect for doing
the low-tide version of the walk!

Bob and Diane Howell Evans.

Do you see what I mean about a lovely day? We timed it perfectly. A little bit farther along the beach, we came to a totem pole.

The Port Ludlow Totem Pole.

The Port Ludlow Totem Pole.

All totem poles have a story, here is the 
story for the Port Ludlow Totem Pole.

The area in front of the totem pole is set up for
a wedding.

What a view for your wedding!

The marina was on our left at this point. There was a tall ship in port. 

We continued away from the water and crossed a footbridge over a pond before continuing uphill to Oak Bay Road. 

The bridge over the pond.

Bob and Diane on the bridge.

After a short distance along Oak Bay Road, we entered the Around the Bay Trail 4 (ABT 4), crossed Oak Bay Road, and connected with ABT 5 and ABT 6.

Around the Bay Trail.

Diane Howell Evans on the ABT.

We passed through a neighborhood, and then down to an inlet and Picnic Point. After a wooded path, we came out into another cute neighborhood (Ludlow Cove Cottages). We then walked partway around that neighborhood.

Colorful kayaks at Picnic Point.

Looking over the remains of a barge encapsulated
 in oysters in Ludlow Cove. See the history on
 the sign in the photo below.

A cute weathervane in someone's 
front yard.

Ludlow Cove Cottages.

Ludlow Cove Cottages.

At this point in the walk, we got lost (my fault completely). I was confused by direction #17 on our walk instructions and did not cross busy Paradise Bay Road. Instead, we turned left and kept walking alongside Paradise Bay Road. 

I kept saying, "This doesn't feel right." We walked for 1-1/2 miles along the hilly, heavily traveled Paradise Bay Road. We found some thimbleberries for sustenance! 

Finally, we had a signal on our cell phones and we looked up where we were. We had to walk 1-1/2 miles back to where we made the wrong turn: an extra three miles total, turning our 10k (6.2-mile walk) into a 15 km (or almost ten-mile) walk! Gaaack! Mea culpa, mea culpa, mea culpa. I was more upset than anyone for being so stupid. I do not like walking more than 10 km.

Anyway, we finally were where we should have crossed an hour earlier. Our next destination was Ludlow Falls Interpretive Trail. "Aah, take a deep breath and enjoy the forest and the falls," I told myself.

Wire rope from Port Ludlow logging days.

Bob and Diane Howell Evans on 
the Ludlow Falls Trail.

Windthrow.

Ludlow Falls Interpretive Trail.

Ludlow Creek - such a beautiful park!

Here's one of the "stiff uphills" on this walk.
There were more to come.

The top of Ludlow Falls.

This tree has quite the bark.

Fall colors are starting in August!

When we finished at Ludlow Falls, we continued on Paradise Bay Road and crossed the intersection of Paradise Bay and Oak Bay Road, then crossed Osprey Ridge Road, to get to Osprey Trail. This is where the "stiff uphill" really came into play. We had to go deep down into a ravine, back up the other side, and then, as the walk instructions state, "the Osprey Trail is roly-poly from here until it ends at a road." They weren't kidding. 

By this time, we were already tired from the extra three miles and I was mad at myself. I took it out on the trail. I kicked into high gear and left Bob and Diane in the dust. I just wanted this walk to be over! I was hot, cranky, hungry, and my feet hurt.

I waited for Bob and Diane at intersections so they would know which way to go. We finally got to the point in the walk directions where it said the trail goes downhill. Hallelujah!

We entered a very upscale neighborhood where big homes had views of Ludlow Cove. One home had a large tree stump carved with Smokey Bear and some cubs. They built a gravel path around the art so people could walk around and look at all sides of it. I took the trail around the sculpture and the owner came out of the house. She was so thrilled someone walked on the little path they built! Very friendly lady!

My favorite home in this neighborhood.

A fun mailbox with a good sentiment on it.

Pretty peach-colored gladiolas.

Views of the cove from this neighborhood.

Views of the cove from this neighborhood.

The elms of Walker.

California black oak (over 100 years old).

After this neighborhood, we returned downhill to the marina and back to our truck. Yay! It was high time for lunch.

We chose to go to lunch in Port Ludlow at the Dusty Green Cafe. We saw a sign for it when we were lost. The cafe is at the golf course and serves very good food!

After all that, Bob and I were exhausted. We went home and slept for a couple of hours. We shopped at a local fresh produce stand for fruits and veggies. Bob and I did six loads of laundry, and then we went to an ice cream social at the  Evergreen Coho SKP RV Park. What a day! 

Tomorrow, I plan to do the Silverdale Old Town/Waterfront/Clear Creek Trail with Diane Howell Evans.