All warm and cabinny
BRK is leaving soon, so we planned last weekend as a get outa town. We definitely took the long way, waiting for the ferry, meandering up through the rain forest and then down the coast, but it was all so very worth it! The rain forest was breathtaking to see. All of the trees were just dripping with yellow-green moss and the mountains were frocked with cold white mist. I was so happy to see that the lake we passed was fairly free of civilization, because it's so rare these days to find a lake of any size that hasn't been encircled with lakefront second homes of the wealthy. No, this good sized lake only had about five little cabins that were lufting wood smoke from the chimneys and they each had a modest dock on the water. Lovely.
So, we went about as far west as one can go and then headed down the coast to see what we could find for lodging. No reservations, just following our nose. Well, I couldn't have asked for anything better. We found a lodge on the ocean that had little individual log cabins overlooking the breakers! Perfect! No TVs in the rooms, just wood burning stoves and a supply of wood in the cozy little cabin, and a covered porch to hang out front and overlook the sea. Yup, we stayed.
Even though it was raining heavily at times, we walked for a couple of hours and miles down the beach, watching somebody's two happiest dogs I have ever seen run and chase and play in the surf. Never mind that the water must be 40 degrees!
Of course, because of the remote location we were at the mercy of the lodge cooking and prices. It was terrible. Dry chicken so dry I could barely swallow it (and it was covered in marionberry jam "sauce"), iceberg salad, "specialty" scallops and rubbery veggies that were basically floating in a boat of butter/oil 1.5 inches deep. Holy cow. Now, I am the first to admit that I might be a little bit of a food snob... but it's just because I LOVE to cook and I love fresh ingredients, and I just plain love yummy food... so when it's really bad I am disappointed, especially when I have to pay $20 a plate for it. Anyhow, this was just a minor bump in an otherwise fabulous, weekend. Back at the cabin we built a fire and cracked open a bottle of red.
The next day we drove inland a bit to Quinault Lake, where there is another beautiful old lodge. Former presidents vacationed there, like FDR. Just what a lake lodge should be. A large common room with a very oversized fireplace (with huge, real logs burning inside), the ceiling had huge timbers, and the lakeside french doors opened onto a grassy yard leading down to the lake. (envision here more white cold mist on the mountain across the lake)
The main room also had a chess board with pepper-grinder sized pieces over in one corner, so BRK and I played a game. And, after several rain squalls passed through we decided to brave the elements for a five mile rain forest hike.
Not much else, unless I should describe driving home through lovely Aberdeen, WA. (nope)
So, we went about as far west as one can go and then headed down the coast to see what we could find for lodging. No reservations, just following our nose. Well, I couldn't have asked for anything better. We found a lodge on the ocean that had little individual log cabins overlooking the breakers! Perfect! No TVs in the rooms, just wood burning stoves and a supply of wood in the cozy little cabin, and a covered porch to hang out front and overlook the sea. Yup, we stayed.
Even though it was raining heavily at times, we walked for a couple of hours and miles down the beach, watching somebody's two happiest dogs I have ever seen run and chase and play in the surf. Never mind that the water must be 40 degrees!
Of course, because of the remote location we were at the mercy of the lodge cooking and prices. It was terrible. Dry chicken so dry I could barely swallow it (and it was covered in marionberry jam "sauce"), iceberg salad, "specialty" scallops and rubbery veggies that were basically floating in a boat of butter/oil 1.5 inches deep. Holy cow. Now, I am the first to admit that I might be a little bit of a food snob... but it's just because I LOVE to cook and I love fresh ingredients, and I just plain love yummy food... so when it's really bad I am disappointed, especially when I have to pay $20 a plate for it. Anyhow, this was just a minor bump in an otherwise fabulous, weekend. Back at the cabin we built a fire and cracked open a bottle of red.
The next day we drove inland a bit to Quinault Lake, where there is another beautiful old lodge. Former presidents vacationed there, like FDR. Just what a lake lodge should be. A large common room with a very oversized fireplace (with huge, real logs burning inside), the ceiling had huge timbers, and the lakeside french doors opened onto a grassy yard leading down to the lake. (envision here more white cold mist on the mountain across the lake)
The main room also had a chess board with pepper-grinder sized pieces over in one corner, so BRK and I played a game. And, after several rain squalls passed through we decided to brave the elements for a five mile rain forest hike.
Not much else, unless I should describe driving home through lovely Aberdeen, WA. (nope)