Vancouver Island (July 22-24) and Olympic & Mount Rainier Nat Parks, Wa (Jul.25-26)

July 22, 2011 : We have arrived in Nanaimo and camp there. We head as early as possible to the Pacific Rim National Park. We ride through Cathedral Grove,

which we had already visited about 20 years ago. We leave for Ucluelet in the only camping with some room left. The price of the campground is outrageous: $ 42.00 for the services we get. Their website in on Facebook and I can't wait putting some comments, once we have arrived home ! When you arrive, they are happy to tell you that the showers are free... they forget to tell you that they are not very clean !

July 23, 2011 : We think that we are back in Chile ! noisy neighbors and a short night ! We decide to stay at the campground anyway and we spent an easy day at the beach, reading. Alain is happy to see 3 times a whale jump ! It's wonderful to see these powerful and elegant mammals !

The following day, we leave already the island with a ferry from Victoria to Port Angeles, Washington. Yes, we are going back to the United States for a while. In Victoria, we can see one of the largest yacht in the world, which was bought by an American businessman.

We end up our day in Olympic National Park, riding up Hurricane Ridge (5230' with view on glaciers and the ocean). It's sunny with a blue sky, the perfect time to go up there.

July 25 & July 26 , 2011 : Port Angeles to Mount Rainier National Park: our trip will be done under a threatening sky with some showers and in the evening, we will stop in Cougar Rock campground. Tonight, the weather forecast is not great, but our camp fire will heat both our body and our spirit. The next morning, after folding the tent quickly and all the rest between showers, we leave to visit the Paradise Henry Jackson Memorial. We will arrive at the center, which is still surrounded by snow and after enjoying a coffee, we will ride the loop. We will be lucky enough to see a cute little fox, blue and black !

We then head to Sunrise Visitor Center. The weather has now completely cleared up and we can see the Mount Rainier in all its strength and awe. Once again, we realize how little and insignificant we are. With binoculars, we will see its glaciers and its crevasses.

It has been a great day and we reward ourselves with a night in a motel. We have not slept in a real bed in about a month !!!... and this time, we sleep well !

On the Road Again...