Sunset at Kalaloch

Every time we drive south from Forks, we stop at an overlook of Kalaloch (prounounced klay-lock) Beach. We get out of the car and enjoy the fresh air coming in from the Pacific Ocean, the sound of waves rushing in and somtimes crashing on the edge below us. We watch the seagulls soar and swoop over the tumbling water, sometimes seeing pelicans and herons, eagles and hawks. We stand next to the berm looking down over the edge to see trees being tossed in the surf of high tide or tiny people walking on the exposed beach at low tide.
It never fails to inspire, awe, and take our breath away.

Rialto Beach

Rialto Beach, just north of LaPush, on the Pacific Ocean, about 20 minutes west of Forks, looking north and west to sea stacks and headlands.

Next stop... Hawaii?

This was taken at the overlook of the beach at Kalaloch (pronounced clay-lock), on the Pacific Ocean, along Highway 101, looking west. The logs on the beach were thrown up by waves, probably during a storm since the logs are full size trees - some of them bigger than a person is tall. The beach you see is under water during high tide. We watched the logs being tossed during a minor storm, the waves rolling them over and over and knocking them together with a boom that can make you jump, piling them up. The waves come to the bottom of the cliff that is the overlook, and the spray during a storm can come up to the overlook.

We spent part of Thanksgiving driving to pick up one of our sons at the Greyhound Bus Station in Olympia. This is a stretch of beach that you can see from the highway. We pull off and stop when we make this drive for a breath of very fresh air and a blast of ocean beauty. This is only about 35-40 minutes south of Forks, and is also the home of a resort with cabins on an overlook that we will probably stay at during a storm - just to watch the storm.

The thumbnail photo shows some people walking on the beach to show how big the logs on the beach are. The thumbnail is looking to the north along the Pacific Coast, with headlands, sea stacks, and wandering beaches.

Tatoosh Island

The most northwestern point of the contiguous states of the U.S. is Cape Flattery. From the observation point on Cape Flattery, you get this view of Tatoosh Island, Cape Flattery Lighthouse, and the Pacific Ocean. You also get some beautiful views of rugged coastline, and the company of some of the wildlife.

My husband and I made the trek to Cape Flattery this weekend. After driving to the upper coast and onto the Makah Reservation, it's a hike from a parking area that is a lot of up and down, some boardwalk, some stepping rounds (slices of logs) and a lot of roots to avoid. I'll be posting some more pictures this week of the trek to Cape Flattery, and the amazing scenery we saw at the most northwestern corner of the contiguous U.S.