Day 14 – Olympic National Park to Victoria, BC

July 17, 2017

I woke up this morning seriously tired and sore, as expected. Twenty-two miles is a long walk. I had a reservation on a ferry to Vancouver Island for late afternoon, so the plan for the day was hitting a few final spots around the peninsula and getting in to Port Angeles by 4:00.

My first stop was the Sol Duc River valley. The area boasts a hot springs resort and numerous hiking trails, meaning it could easily be a full day destination. I hit a few places and moved on.

Sol Duc Falls Trail:

Sol Duc River:

Ancient Groves Nature Trail:

I then headed back in the direction of Salt Creek County Park, both because Washington State Route 112 is quite nice, in a mountain-rural sort of way…

…and because when I came this way earlier, I saw this sign outside of Blackberry Cafe, in Joyce:

“20oz. Sasquatch Burger”?
Please and thank you.

Wow. For size reference, that is a steak knife they stuck in the middle.

The one thing I wasn’t clear on was whether it was a 20oz. burger made for sasquatch, or if it was made out of sasquatch meat. If it’s the later, I don’t feel right about eating it. I mean, I’ve seen Harry and the Hendersons.

After that, I decided that since I’d spent all my time here in the lowlands, I’d head to the Hurricane Ridge area of the park, elevation 5,200 feet. When I got to where the road stopped, I had just enough time to look around for a few minutes before getting back in my car and catching my ferry.

After Hurricane Ridge, I hurried down the hill and got to the ferry building in Port Angeles right at the recommended one hour before departure. After sitting in line for a while and then being corralled by several gentlemen in orange safety vests, I pulled onto the ferry, got out of my car, and headed above deck for the hour and a half ride to Victoria.

Looking back on Port Angeles

“Alaskan Legend” seems an overly poetic name for a oil tanker. But then, what do I know about oil tankers?

Vancouver Island in the distance

Approaching Victoria, British Columbia

Last look back at the Olympic Peninsula

Waiting to depart after docking.

After being corralled by several more gentlemen in orange safety vests, (Canadian gentlemen this time), going through customs (hurray for passport cards), and finding a hotel, I walked around for a while and found dinner. Victoria seems to be a very nice town, if a little touristy.