Crossing the Astoria-Megler bridge over the Columbia River delivered glimmers of the sensation that I’d been craving since we rode away — that we were finally getting away from our own backyard and into the new and unknown.
Up in the Olympic Peninsula, rather than pay the inflated prices for established campgrounds in Forks, we were determined to find a little off-grid spot to call home in the wilderness. iOverlander as our guide, we spent about an hour or so exploring the veins running off Sitkum-Sol Duc Road until we found a cozy hidden spot tucked in the ferns half way up a ridge. We set up Floof Chateau and ran back into town with empty panniers to grab a cheap dinner and collect firewood and provisions for the next couple of days. For the first time as we were winding down our evening at our peaceful new home, we noticed how bright it still is at 9pm.
It was nice to wake up at camp and not have to spend the morning packing up. After grabbing some breakfast, we rode to the entrance of Olympic National Park to meet our friends Tony and LB to hike the Hall of Mosses and other trails — a pure lucky coincidence that they were passing through this same area headed south on their own road trip.
The Hoh Rainforest is something straight out of a fantasy movie – all that’s missing is the magic fairies. Maybe they were just hiding well. Moss dripped from every branch, towering trees disappeared into the emerald canopy, and every step along the trail felt like wandering through an enchanted world that time had forgotten.
I had ambitions to visit other parts of the peninsula that day, but as we were riding away after saying goodbye to Tony and LB, we both agreed that we were tired and needed to rest. We went back to camp and napped in the tent for a couple hours which felt amazing. We also decided it was time to do our first load of laundry, so we took care of that in town as well. Donny admitted it was a mistake to leave the mini tent broom behind for this trip, so we picked up another one – a petty win for my soul that loves motorcycle camping farkles of creature comforts.
Back on the road again, Cape Flattery exceeded the high expectations we’d set for it.
We spent time admiring the gorgeous turquois water and competing currents from each side of the point, breaking the drone out for some shots. The temperature was gorgeous.
We ended the day with a room in Sequim (pronounced “Sqim” by the locals), and splurged on an expensive (for our moto-hobo budget) seafood dinner at the Dockside Grill that came highly recommended. We crowned their clam chowder as the best we’ve ever had.
With the deadline to make it to Glacier View, Alaska in time for the 4th of July Car Launch, we reluctantly rode past more than a few pins on my map within the Olympic Peninsula. We were caught between two mindsets: the part of me that wanted to slow down and linger without the pressure of rush, and the practical side that knew we needed to budget our time carefully. Every day we “saved” now meant more flexibility for adventures farther north and a cushion for any unexpected delays. We pressed on, promising to come back to the Peninsula again with the ability to give this corner of the world the time it deserves.
Out of Port Townsend, Floof had her first ferry ride to Whidbey Island. We debated whether to press on to make the ferry from Anacortes to Friday Harbor in the San Juan Islands, but opted not to rush ourselves. A lack of available wild camping, we ended up at a campsite in Deception Bay State Park.
The sunset that finished off the day was 10/10 incredible. We watched the sky turn colors and the water glisten in the reflection as we sat on the black jagged rocks on the coast. A couple seals popped their heads up out of the water close to shore and a fighter jet from the nearby naval base flew by.
