Olympic Loop
Three Days of Scenic Pleasure
 Looking for a
break from the rain, but you want to keep cool? Well here's an option that will
do a little of both. Consider a trip around the Olympic Peninsula. Grab your map
and read on.
Day One
Our suggested trip begins by catching the ferry from Edmonds to
Kingston. Take 104 west crossing the Hood Canal floating bridge. Hook right to
Pt. Townsend for lunch via SR 19/20.
Leaving Pt. Townsend take SR 20 to 101 West toward Sequim. In Sequim you can
visit the Dungeness Sand Spit which is six miles long and growing. As for the
Olympic Game Farm, there's not much you can do since they don't allow
motorcycles through the park. The interesting thing about the northeast shore of
the peninsula is it gets only 17 inches of rain per year due to combination of
climatic conditions! Also called the banana belt this area can serve as relief
from excessive rainfall found elsewhere in the state.
Onward to Pt. Angeles where we find solace and a good nights rest. Our
suggested motel is the Uptown. The only thing that might be better is The Doubletree
at twice the rate.
Day Two
Leaving Port Angeles heading south on Lincoln take 101 to Lake
Crescent and break at the Storm King visitor facility, then head down hill and
straight on 101 through the Oleduck Valley. Make your way through Forks toward
the Hoh River Valley. Hang a left and enjoy your mid-day in the Hoh River
rainforest via the turnoff at Hoh-Oxbow. This rainforest is one of the few of
the Pacific Coast and offers many lessons in how these areas differ from a
regular forest. You'll see many moss, ferns and other tropical growth in this
region and it's spectacular.
Head back to 101 South and drive toward a number of beaches, any of which you
can turn out at for a view of how mother nature manages trees and rocks along
the Pacific coastline of the state. Finally make your way through the Quinalt
Indian Reservation toward Hoquim and into Aberdeen where you can put up. We like
the Olympic Hotel for the same reasons as the Uptown.
Day Three
Make your way across Highway 12 east to 8 east. At McLeary take 108
east through some well managed reforestation and be on the lookout for deer.
After a few miles you'll take 101 North to Shelton. I like to stop off at The
Bronzeworks just as I enter Shelton. Here you'll learn how bronze casting is
done and see some excellent work. Then it's back to 101 north.
You'll be going through the Skokomich Indian Reservation, which at most times
will seem rather sleepy, but during June you'll laugh at the billboard
competition that goes on with regards to fireworks sales.
Now for the best part! Take 106 east along the south side of Hood Canal. This
is one of the most excellent roads in the state and you'll wonder why you never
took a week of vacation here. And as you dream on eventually you'll reach
highway 3, Belfair and be on your way to 305 south toward Poulsbo. There's still
time for one more stop and we suggest the Marine Science Center, which you can
reach by following the signs. Here you can see all the marine life that lives
around the sound for less than the cost of a movie.
Finally make your way to Bainbridge south on 305, hop the ferry and relax all
the while thinking about what a great three days you've had.
As always use a current map and be prepared for rain.
Patrick Thomas/Aug99
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