I've probably shared more than once on here about my adventurous parents and how blessed I feel to have been raised on road trips and camping. My childhood memories of traveling into the High Sierras and trekking across the country in our astro van fueled me with a longing to explore. I'm so grateful to have been raised this way and even more thankful to have married someone who shares (and even challenges) my same adventurous hunger.
My parents have been on the road full time, living in a fifth wheel trailer since November. They've been through California, Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, Nevada, Utah, Idaho, Montana, Washington, and soon will be visiting us here in Oregon. They have been having one wild and fun adventure exploring all that this beautiful country has to offer. David and I are so inspired by them.
This weekend we got to drive up into Washington's Olympic Peninsula to get a little taste of the good life, pitching our tent next to their 5th wheel in Forks, WA (yes, yes, where the Twilight books were set). Let me tell you, it was quite strange going from watching a movie in their comfy living room to saying goodnight and heading outdoors to sleep the night away in our little tent. We thought adding a small blow-up mattress to our sleeping quarters was "glamping", but this put a whole new spin on the concept. I've got to say though, it really is nice to have a full on kitchen, bedroom, and bathroom right there wherever you are.
Sadly most of my pictures didn't turn out, but at least, a few of my favorite spot on the trip did. Rialto Beach just 20 minutes west of Forks is such a fascinating destination. As much as I would have loved to see it on a clear day, with all its rock stacks exploding out of the sea and the well-known Hole in the Wall a mile and a bit more down the shore, I was dazzled by this moody view. The fog was thick and getting thicker when we arrived just before "sunset", but it played such a striking role amidst the staggered pines and piles of driftwood lining the shore. There were full on tree trunks hanging out there that had been washed up. Can you imagine that being spewed up onto the beach? Scary!
It was a wondrous sight. David and I returned in the morning with steamy coffees in hand and explored a bit more, cozy in our sweaters (which hadn't been touched in months). We decided we'd have to come again one day and join all the other happy campers with their tents pitched in the sand.
We also explored the Hoh Rainforest/ jumped in the Hoh River and soaked our bodies in the Sol Duc Hot Springs, not to mention had an epic drive home on the 101 (east!) along ocean bays and epic lakes.
Happy Glamping!
