All is well on the Olympic Peninsula! Winter is still mild compared to the rest of Washington, and Tango and I have done some exploring. The Olympic Mountains to the south are snow-covered, so I am only exploring the coast at the moment. Most recently, we went van camping a bit further west, along the Strait of Juan de Fuca. I had originally planned to go to La Push, WA and stay in an Olympic National Park campground near the beach, but I wasn’t sure what to expect with the government shutdown. Instead, we stayed at a county recreation area right on the coast.  I did not see many other people out and about.

If you click on this photo so it enlarges, you can see the You Are Here arrow! I did not venture far. Sequim is between Port Angeles and Port Townsend. 

Campsite in the woods, next to the water

That coastal Alaska vibe again!

I did see a rough looking guy in a rough looking van using the campground bathroom facilities. When I checked it out later he was gone from the area. I believe he was homeless, which is common around here. I am not afraid of the general homeless population, but some are heavy drug users. If I ran into someone like that I would be worried, even scared a bit. This is a new feeling for me. Usually, remote areas are quite safe, but with a growing homeless problem on the West Coast, I can see that campground facilities draw them out during the day, especially during the quiet winter when few people are around. I kept my taser on me at all times and paid close attention to Tango, who would raise a ruckus if anyone came near me.

The coast where I camped is rocky with lots of cliffs. However, you can follow staircases down many of the cliffs. Some steps end above the rocks, where waves crash! Tango liked those and wanted to keep going onto the rocks but it was too slippery for me, so we stopped on the stairs and watched with fascination. Whales are often in the area, but I did not see any that time. I did find a regular beach to walk on not too far from the campground, but it was privately-owned and cost $8/ per person to enter. Phewy!

Vancouver Island in the background

Stairway to the sea!

Fishing boat

On the way home, I stopped at the Blackberry Cafe for breakfast. Yes, the area is full of blackberries! Looking forward to foraging at some point.

Also on the way home, I stopped in Port Angeles and then drove on a spit that juts into the Straight. I took this photo of the Olympic Mountains from the spit while looking back towards the south.

My other major activity is about as different as you can get from exploring the great outdoors – binge-watching TV shows! After the RV park stopped providing cable and then learning that my air antenna would only pick up CBS in this area, I started to research streaming TV options. I have lived for long periods without TV but I did not want to miss the NFL playoff season this year. I figured, also, that since the RV park provides streaming quality Wi-Fi, it was time to dive into the streaming TV world. I selected a Hulu package that has all the networks, ESPN, cable channels, and also my faves: National Geographic and Discovery Channel. With that package, I started catching up on Alaska: The Last Frontier (Discovery) and Life Below Zero (National Geo), which are reality TV shows about living in Alaska. They have fed my love of Alaska over the years. I used to like Alaskan Bush People, but not so much since they moved out of Alaska. The family is growing up and scattering, and the storyline (hardships in the AK wilderness) is over. I don’t know why the producers are letting it drag on. The other two shows are still great and I am catching up by binge-watching past episodes thanks to Hulu. I have also watched some Hulu originals, like Killing Eve (Sandra Oh). Football, too. However, once I leave behind this great Internet I will be able to cancel Hulu without penalties.

Speaking of Alaska, I have booked a week-long trip this summer during the Solstice. I am flying into Anchorage, renting a car, and driving to Hope, AK for the Solstice weekend. I rented a cabin in the woods and will spend my evenings listening to live bluegrass on the deck next to the bar in Hope. From there, I will head back towards Anchorage and camp at Chugach State Park. My flight from Seattle was less than $300. The car rental is pricey, but the whole trip is a fraction of what it cost to drive. I have a “big birthday” this summer so this is a celebration trip and a chance to experience the beauty of the midnight sun again.

I don’t have a plan for the spring or summer yet, other than mostly sticking around Washington. There are plenty of areas to explore. I might continue to use this area as a base or just travel. I might do another camp host gig. Just not sure. In the meantime, I am enjoying sitting still; however, that will wear off at some point and I will figure it all out.

The crack in my well-being and my soul seems to be healing. I look back at this past fall and can see the panic and sorrow that I had sunk into is gone. My perspectives are clearer. I am not dwelling on my past. I am really proud that I sought help, hunkered down here, and took care of myself. Some of the things that I learned: total isolation like I experienced last summer is not healthy and that, after retirement, people and purpose are still important.  I have always admired – even idolized– the pioneers who settled the west and Alaska, but I can see now how brutal isolation kills the soul. Physically I could have survived, but I would have cracked up mentally! This has given me a new appreciation of friendships, community, and belonging, and those are the things that drew me back to a healthy place.

So, life is good and also quiet at the moment. I am at peace and enjoying where I am. I don’t have much to write about at the moment but that will come in time as well! In the meantime, Tango and I are safe, warm, and content.