While staying in Chimacum, WA we crossed the Hood Canal Bridge a few times. The very last time, while towing the rig, we got to see the bridge open to allow sailboats to cross.

The bridge is a low one and it doesn’t open like you see so often in movies, where it cracks in half and each side tilts up to the sky. This one split in the middle and pulled apart.

We were about 4th in line so we got a good view, but it didn’t really show much as the bridge opened. But, it was very interesting! And, interesting that SO MUCH TRAFFIC got backed up so 3 personal sailboats could pass by. I don’t know how long the boats had to wait.

Here’s a video of it opening (not mine).

On the same trip, travelling from Chimacum to Chehalis (south of Tacoma) we crossed the Tacoma Narrows Bridge. It’s a massive and high bridge so it doesn’t need to open to allow boats to pass under. It does have a very interesting history as the original bridge was dubbed “Galloping Gertie” when high winds caused the bridge to buck and sway and a rodeo bull! It failed and had to be replaced in 1940, less than 1 year after being built. The replacement bridge from back in 1940 is still in service, originally serviced both directions but now is the northbound lanes. We travelled the more modern southbound direction. To read more about “Galloping Gertie” you can visit this website

Here are pictures of the two bridges.

While staying in Chimacum Island on the eastern edge of the Olympic Peninsula we took a drive out to Bainbridge Island.  We had to cross two over two waterways to get there as the Puget Sound, one being the Hood Canal and then the Agate Crossing to get to Bainbridge Island itself.

The island is an interesting mix of dark forests, rural homes in the heart of the island, and beautiful shorelines with expensive homes with gorgeous views, some of the Seattle skyline.

We drove down to where the Bainbridge Island-Seattle ferry leaves to get some pictures of people boarding and the ferry leaving the dock, but we weren’t able to find parking for less than $10 for any amount of time.  So we left the ferry landing and found a cute little café to have lunch at where there was outside seating so Laddy could be with us.  The outside seating happened to be in front of the next store which was a pet store.  A lady working at the pet store came out and said Hello to Laddy and gave him a pumpkin-cheddar gelato.  That was really nice of her!!  Laddy licked it a few times and ate chunks of it that Jeff sliced off with his knife.  He enjoyed it!

Then we drove further along the shoreline hoping to find a beach or park or something along the shoreline.  That wasn’t easy as it’s mostly really expensive homes that block the view of the shore from the street.  But we found one place where the road was on a cliff so the shore and view were visible.  We found a place to park and stood along the guard rail to get some pictures.  The closer views were very clear, but the Seattle area was shrouded in either haze or smoke. Here they are:

We are currently staying in an RV park on the edge of the Olympic Peninsula in the town of Chimacum, WA.  It’s a beautiful area, lots of trees and ferns and mild weather.

We were here a few years ago and while here we drove to the Olympic National Park Hurricane Ridge Visitor Center again.  This visitor center is high up in the interior of the peninsula with stunning views of the glaciers within the peninsula.

We got some great pictures and they do show the difference in the size of the glaciers between this visit and our visit in October of 2017.  The glaciers are much smaller.  We talked with a ranger who said yes they are receding, but it’s possible there had been an early Oct snowstorm in 2017 that might make the glaciers look bigger.  He said it would be unusual for an early October snowstorm but possible.

It was certainly warmer on this trip.  Before it was 37 at the visitor center, this trip it was in the mid-60s.

Rather than drive the whole way around the peninsula as we did before, we shortened the trip by several hours because as we continued west along the north side of the peninsula the fog got really thick and we couldn’t see more than a few yards.  The road cuts inland at the westernmost part of the peninsula but then travels along the shore again on the south side.  We didn’t want to risk any problems as it’s very isolated and we couldn’t see the views anyway, so instead we backtracked and visited the city of Port Angeles, right on the Strait of Juan de Fuca.  It’s a cute little town with lots of old but well cared for homes and businesses.  It is a port and it’s also right near the Canadian border that cuts through the Strait.  We both got messages on our cell phones that we were now using Canadian towers!

The port was very pretty, we got some pictures of it as well as a few of a sea lion who came quite close to where we were on the pier and seemed to pose for pictures.

Here are pictures we took of the glaciers, the port and the sea lion: