Olympic beaches--Rialto and Second

Thursday morning we packed up and left our beautiful refuge and hit the beaches.

Our first stop was just down the "road" at Rialto.  Timed to get there just before low tide.

Our destination along the beach was Hole in the Rock.  

Only accessible during low tide, and a mile and a half north up the beach.

 Hole in the Rock is hiding just behind Split Rock.
Tide was receding and clouds were leaving.

 More of a rocky beach, than a sandy beach that we are used to.

 Hello tide pools.

 Sea anemones!
They were all over the tide pools!
Vivid greens, pinks, and orange.

 And ochre sea stars were all over.
These were about the size of dinner plates.

 Hole in the Rock!

 Once again.....stunning beauty everywhere you looked.
The clouds over the water.
The shifting colors of the sea.
The beach logs worn and polished placed along the beach.
The tide pools...appearing out of the ocean.
The waves breaking along the rocks.

 And bald eagles relaxing and watching from above.

 After we tore ourselves away from Rialto, we drove a few miles back to Second Beach.
Access to this beach is along a trail (about a mile) through the forest before several switchbacks down to this....

 glorious expanse of sand & sea.

 More to explore, and soak in.

 So much of my heart in this picture....

 And along our way back through the forest we found several more yellow banana slugs.
Impressive right?

One glorious day.