The Hoh

After an afternoon sleeping (for Kevin), playing Wii at the guesthouse we were at (boys), and laundry, sorting, packing (me)....we loaded the car Wednesday morning and drove five hours to Olympic National Park.

The Hoh rainforest was our destination.

We ate our picnic lunches and started exploring the area.

 Words and pictures just cannot do this place justice.
This hike along the Hall of Mosses was pretty short, but took us quite a while...just because everywhere you look...there is amazing beauty.

 Familiar with The Lord of the Rings trilogy?
We kept looking for Treebeard to start speaking to us.

 The twisting limbs, draping mosses...just amazing.

 And this little beauty is a black banana slug.
Surprising large & it's back is covered in what looks like velcro.
In case you were tempted-don't eat them.  Your mouth will go numb.
Just FYI.

 One of our hikes opened out to the river in the valley.
Just as the sun popped through the clouds.

 The root ball of this tree had a hanging garden of ferns growing from this side, and other trees growing along the rest of it on the other side.  They're called "nurse logs" and are really cool.

 After exploring Hoh, we headed about an hour further west to our lodging for the evening and some more rest for Kevin.  Once again...words and pictures can't do this place justice.
Absolute heaven.
Stunning floral landscaping by the banks, a gorgeous river view, fly fishermen and bald eagles catching some dinner from the river...

 and so many of these visitors!
I sat on the porch and watched and listened and was amazed.

 Then after Kevin had a nap, and the boys got hungry, we drove to the end of the road to La Push.
And dined on some fish & chips while watching bald eagles soar, and harbor seals play.

Yes Kevin was still sick, and Kieran was still snotty.
And bruising was gone on my eye, but a red knot had formed on my eyelid and was irritating.
But the day itself had been amazing.