Washington's National Parks Road Trip, Part 2

Before I continue to Day 6 of  my previous post on "A Road Trip Exploring Washington's National Parks" summer of 2010, let me share with you first the link to Part 1 of this trip, where you could find the summary of the trip and itinerary for days 1 - 5.

Seattle, North Cascades National Park and Olympic National Park, during Days 1-5, summer 2010 Washington's National Park Road Trip 

Now, continuing to Day 6...

Day 6: Hiking and Exploring Rialto Beach, Olympic National Park

Rialto Beach, Olympic National Park, CA- summer 2010 Washington's National Park Road Trip 

I would love to say that this is my favorite part of our Washington exploring. Olympic National Park really had blown my mind away, and Rialto Beach tops them all. 

If you come however to frolic in the beach with fine sands, you would be disappointed. Rialto Beach is not for the sand and sun lovers. It's not for those who prefer to sun tan in their 2 piece swim suits. The sands are rough, and not meant to be walked on barefoot. The waves are very powerful and unforgiving. This is a wilderness beach, popular for hiking and backpacking. It's a beach meant for hiking shoes. You would not only walk on rough sands, but also on rocky terrain, slippery rocks, and scramble past drift woods.

The day before we came here, we checked the low tide, and it was at 8:00 am. Checking low tide is a must to allow more exploring of Rialto Beach's geological and ecological features. At high tide, some areas would not be accessible, such as Hole in the Wall. To reach Hole in the Wall, we would still have to hike 1.5 miles. It meant we should be at the parking lot by 7:30 am. It meant waking up earlier than 7:00 am if we wanted to start our day with a nice hot shower and hot big breakfast. Skipping breakfast, or eating very little contradicts active exploring which requires a lot of calories to do more. Right nourishment is very essential to keep an active and healthy lifestyle. 

Rocky Shore, Driftwoods,  Giant Sea Stacks, and Natural Arh @ Rialto Beach, Olympic National Park - summer 2010 Washington's National Park Road Trip 

First Day of 2014

1st day of 2014 in San Diego, CA

First day of 2014, wildlife greeted the New Year with a bang!!!! Hope the rest of the year would be as golden and wonderful as today. 

It's a wonderful wonderful world.

Happy New Year, everyone. 

Days 1 and 2 of 2 Weeks Christmas Staycation 2013

San Diego 2011 Christmas Staycation
( 2012 Christmas was in Philippines )

Where's the best place for a Christmas vacation? For us, it's home. :) Unless going home to the Philippines to visit family, we always prefer to just stay home for Christmas. We always do not have to leave San Diego whenever it's my school vacation time. A San Diego vacation, or stay-cation, does not always disappoint because it is where the heart is.

Anyway, if I were a tourist in my hometown, where would I hang out first? Hmmm, hard to decide, since San Diego has too much too offer, both city and nature. But city is always there, once you've seen it, it's like, "okay, been there, done than!" But nature is different! It's different every breath you take! Nature relaxes mind, body and soul. Thankfully, San Diego is a blend of both nature and city, where escaping civilization is just a matter of minutes, because civilization and wilderness are perfectly meshed together.

Home Sweet San Diego

Anyway, if I were a tourist in San Diego, and have 2 weeks to explore, then, I would visit and hike all of Betchai's favorite places in San Diego, haha! I will not skip hiking at Torey Pines State Natural Reserve and Mt Woodson, her top 1 and 2 San Diego hikes. If I go more for city features, then, I would not miss Betchai's favorite San Diego City spot, Balboa Park, a cultural (with more than 12 museums), historical and nature park in one. I will follow the tips provided in her "Visiting San Diego" post.

Here's day 1 and 2 of my 2 weeks Christmas Vacation, at Home Sweet San Diego.

Day 1 of Vacationing At Home Sweet San Diego

Day 1, we spent most our time exploring La Jolla Cove, which is our favorite place for snorkeling in San Diego. However, someone thinks that it's too much work to put on a 5 mm wet suit and only stay in water for 30 minutes. For us to stay in water for 2 hours or more, someone needs a 7mm wet suit. :) This time, instead of jumping into the water, we simply enjoyed La Jolla Cove on land. What's the highlight for this day? I must say the sea lions on the beach at La Jolla Cove.

Sea Lions on Beach

It seemed weird to us that the place where we snorkeled a lot (maybe we stopped snorkeling only a month ago ) was yesterday already invaded by the sea lions. Maybe, because there were very few swimming that the sea lions thought men abandoned the beach. 

More People Now on Top of the Hill than Down at the Beach

Some may be intimidated looking at the sea lions and fear them either on land or in water. On land, sea lions may look scary and may bark at you if you get too close to them, but in water, they are the most gracious acrobats and helpful. Unknown to most, the sea lions and dolphins are part of US Navy. Sea lions and bootlenose dolphins are very intelligent mammals that the US Navy train them for some military applications underwater, just as dog on land since the 1960s. Use of sea lions in the US Navy includes detecting underwater landmines, equipment recovery, and protecting US ships from enemy divers. They have been protecting our waters from terrorist activities. However, there has always been controversy and critics about the military using intelligent mammals such as dolphins and sea lions, that by 2017, it is hoped that the robots will replace the service of these wonderful creatures. If in case you are visiting San Diego, chances are you may see some US Navy Sea Lions working with Navy Seals! :)

Anyway, we had fun watching the sea lions on the beach. It was such a treat because it seldom happen. Usually, the sea lions just stay on rocks, men at the beach, and the water is shared by everyone ( men and all forms of underwater life and ocean wildlife ). Anyway, the sea lions on the beach motivated onlookers from on top of the hill to go down to the beach that in a short time, men and sea lions where sharing the beach.

Another highlight of my day was seeing the breeding plumage of double crested cormorants.

Cormorant in Breeding Plumage

(the white crest right above the eyes could only be seen in breeding, it's still early of the breeding season, thus the white crest which looks like white wings on the head are still not that tall enough )

Contentment

Have I reached a certain plateau? Somehow, there is just nothing I really want. I am not saying I have everything. I am not rich, and very far from being rich. However, I simply have stopped from wishing to have this, to have that.....and I have stopped wanting since way back when. Somehow, I am just happy and contented with whatever I have. I love work....I love home.....I love everyday.....I love life....life that is simple, but one that is simply good!!!!

Life's beautiful experiences happen when our mind mind is not focused on what we do not have and others have, when it is able to see clearly the boundless opportunities and simple joys in simple life.

A Road Trip Exploring Washington's National Parks

Pictures from my previous post, Arc'Teryx in The Summer

Remember my previous post, Arc'teryx in the Summer? Majority of the guesses if where were we summer of 2010 was Alaska. Not a single one was able to guess Washington. The clues were the pictures above. Indeed, the first State probably that would cross our mind when we think of ice and snow in the middle of summer and of glaciers is Alaska. However, those familiar with the West Coast would not be surprised to see lots of snow to ski in the mountains in the middle of summer. 

taken from inside the plane during our flight to WA: bottom left- Mt. Shasta, California; top right - Crater Lake, Oregon; middle right photo- Mt. Rainier and Mt. St. Helens, Washington; bottom right- North Cascades, Washington

What is unique with most of West Coast is that, though there may be no snow along the coast ( especially in coastal California), but the accumulation of snow in the mountains last until the summer. Glaciers are present in most higher elevation mountains. The Southernmost glacier is Palisades, in Eastern Sierra, California. Summer is the best time to visit these places, because in the winter, most roads are not passable because of heavy snow. 

Anyway, let me share with you now the details of this road trip.

Length of Road trip: 11 days and 11 nights, 3 Washington National Parks + Columbia River Gorge and staying in 5 different hotels/ lodges

Arrival Airport: Seattle, Washington from San Diego, CA

Departure Airport: Portland, Oregon to San Diego, CA

Route of Road Trip: 

1. Seattle, WA- 2. North Cascades National Park, WA - 3. Bellingham, WA - 4. Olympic National Park, WA - 5. Mt. Rainier National Park, WA- 6. Columbia River Gorge, OR- 7. Portland, OR

Our Trip Coverage

Itinerary:

Day 1: Arrival at Seattle, WA from San Diego, CA. Explored Seattle a little bit, then, we drove to Marblemount, WA, our place of lodging for 3 nights to explore North Cascades National Park.

Memories from Seattle, Our Arrival City, But Not our Destination

Lake Hodges Birds Christmas Eve 2013

Christmas Eve 2012

Joyful Fluttering of Wings @ Lake Hodges- San Diego, Christmas Eve 2013

Birds came rejoicing, spreading magic! May all your life be blessed with wonderful colors of joyfulness, happiness, peacefulness and more. Have a Blessed and Merry Christmas, everyone!!