Ruby Beach on the Edge of the Rain Forest

Is this really the smallest Post Office?

Looking for the Tree

That's it behind you GIGI

Let it Rain

Gotta touch this 1000 year old tree!

The resort is right in the forest.

Drewsquatch

Kickin back by the Fire Place

Drews first Frisby game n this Green

Future Olympic Hiker

Just waiting for the Sunset

Then it turned pitch black except for the Awesome moon and its reflection on Lake Quinault.

This is the beach I have been looking for.

Found it!, Ruby Beach

Sea Stacks

The trail down to the beach

end of the trail

The top of the beach full of these Palm sized flatrocks.

Above the rocks the driftwood

Sea Stacks every direction 

Destruction Island Light House: http://www.lighthousefriends.com/light.asp?ID=118

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I found a picture of this Stack that looked much different (bigger) so I wonder how long ago it was taken? 

Cedar Creek empties here at Ruby Beach, Charlie told us to look for River Teeth: "When trees fall into the water, over decades they decay, eventually disappearing into the river bottom. What resists this disintegration are the strange shapes formed where the branch joined the trunk, a cross-grained, pitch hardened core, like a tooth in a human head. Hickman is exploring visual metaphors with these river teeth, the last part of the body to let go." see http://www.pathickman.com/riverbothways.html  To many people frequent here so it might be best to hike to a more desolate river to find some.

" Carin" Rock stacking has carried spiritual meaning across cultures for centuries. The act of balancing stones carries with it a practice of patience and a physical effort of creating balance. I love the idea of tangible prayer and finding new ways to express gratitude in my life. Each rock can signify an intention of grace for thankfulness, or offered up for another in need. Connecting nature in this externalized expression is uplifting and very powerful tool for expanding the spirit.

"A rock pile ceases to be a rock pile the moment a single man contemplates it,

 bearing within him the image of a cathedral."  

-Antoine de Saint-Exupery

Forks is the Setting for the Movie "Twilight"

http://twilightsaga.wikia.com/wiki/Edward_Cullen

Ruby Beach on the Edge of the Rain Forest

The Quinault Resort is one of those laces you do not want to leave till they kick you out. We got up early and took Big D to breakfast with us so the mom could sleep. We packed up a few things and by then the mpom was up so we all went to see the Largest Spruce Tree in the world, just a short drive and a short walk down a trial to this Historic Tree. We now know that a day hike should be the minimum you should commit to when you visit the rain forest. After reading a couple of blogs I think the best thing is to do one of the three day hikes so you can reach the more secluded and prized areas in the Olympics. We are not geared up or have the hiking experience to do that sort of trip but I am sure that would be the best way to experience these incredible environments. There are no roads that reach these areas so yo have to reach them by foot if you want to have that experience.
Rather than drive the shorter South route back to Seattle we drove the North route so we could go to Ruby Beach. This beach is the one featured in so many of the pictures depicting the beaches ofis Texas the Pacific Northwest. I did not know the rocks were called Sea Stacks and if you Google Sea Stackes there are much larger ones around the world that come up first. But for this Texan I was very happy to see the Sea Stackes ont Washington's Pacific coast. These beaches are on the edge of the rain forest so the Spirit that lives here is dominates the beaches as well, it is like you can't have one without the other so make time to include the beaches if you make this trip. We did not have time to do some river teeth hunting but this is something that given the time I would love to find.
Finally the small communities that you drive through (Like Forks) on these coastal roads leave you wondering what it must be like to live here year round through some pretty spectacular winters. Due to our cruising expereince we know that if you can find a way to stay somewhere for  a month you can get the true feeling for most communities, but in 3 months you can pretty much learn everything you want to know. So if you can just plan a three month visit to the Olympic Peninsula, you will need the time.