Seattle-Hoh Rainforest

The Hoh Rainforest was the hike that the most people recommended to us.  Its visitor center was about 45 miles from La Push, so after one last walk across First Beach, we headed out.  I should probably mention here that during that one last walk across First Beach, Alan convinced me that we should climb a Sea Stack, at which time I slipped on some wet seaweed, fell onto the rocks and cut my hand open.  I was sort of hoping that a giant werewolf, the size of a small horse, would run out to my rescue, but I guess that they knew I was on Team Edward, because well, there were no werewolves.  At least I had my Edward, though.  And he did offer to carry me back to the cabin, so who needs a werewolf anyway?

The hike through the Hoh Rainforest was breathtaking.  I was once again astonished by how green it all was.  I was also mesmerized by how alive the entire forest seemed.  We were very near a herd of elk and saw their hoof-prints often.  Even the dead trees were teeming with life, as ferns and moss took root inside them.  If you've never seen this type of rainforest, you really must go.  

This is a Sitka Spruce that towers over 270 feet tall and has a diameter of 12.5 feet.  It is somewhere between 500 and 550 years old.  I can't even begin to tell you how ginormous this tree was.  When I got home, I almost laughed at our "tall" trees in WI.  Unbelievable. 

Next... Ruby Beach!

Seattle--La Push

After eating lunch at Pacific Pizza, in Forks, we crossed the Treaty-Line to La Push.  I must admit that I actually truly enjoyed the drive to La Push.  It was quite beautiful, and I could easily imagine Bella making the drive in her Chevy, as she did so many times in New Moon and Eclipse.  We checked into our cabin, where we were spending the night on First Beach.

You can't see it in the picture, but directly behind our cabin lies the Pacific Ocean.  It was completely amazing.  We could hear the waves hitting the beach inside, we had ocean views from the deck, and it was just a short walk across the driftwood to the beach.  We stayed at the Oceanside Resort--I highly recommend it, if you're ever in the area.

After checking into our cabin, we decided to go for a little hike to Second Beach.  Second Beach is only reachable through the forest.  It is also the beach where Bella decided to do a little recreational cliff diving.  Bad idea Bella!  This place is definitely NOT a place where I would want to be in the water.  

These were incredible views, both in the forest and on the beach.  This was our first experience with the extreme green that is found in the Northwest.  In Twilight, Bella describes it as "alien."  I think that she's absolutely right.  There was nothing familiar about the forest.  There was so much growth above that it was dark below.  It was also extremely quiet, eerily quiet.  The tree trunks weren't brown, like they are at home; they were covered with green moss.  Everything was green, a bright green too, not a forest green like I'm used to seeing.  (I could definitely see vampires and wolves there.)  But it was unbelievably beautiful, as well.  Stunning.

And then we got to the beach.  Wow.  Wow.

Remember in Eclipse when Billy tells the legend of the Quileute Tribe over a bonfire in La Push?  Yup, we so did that.  We totally built our own little fire right on First Beach.  The best part was that we started the fire right before sunset and we roasted marshmallows.  As the stars came out, my mouth hung wider and wider open.  You just cannot see stars like that anywhere near Madison.  It was incredible.  Alan and I found a big piece of driftwood to lay against, and we just laid there until the fire died out.  So perfect.

Seattle Day Two--Forks

The drive between Port Angeles and Forks was almost a continual National Forest.  Unbelievable.  We pulled over in the mountains along Lake Crescent, when the view was just too beautiful to pass by any longer.  We were lucky enough to stop near a waterfall as well.  And although it may appear that Alan is nearby, he was actually down a steep slope.  Thanks to my zoom lens, his daredevil ways don't look nearly as terrifying on camera.

Okay.  Let's just get this out of the way, shall we?  You're judging me.  I know you are.  (You know you are.)  You're thinking it's completely pathetic that I'm so obsessed with some ridiculous teenage vampire love story.  You wouldn't go near "those Twilight books" with a ten foot pole.  I know, I've heard it all before.  "Seriously?  She went all the way across the country to see a city where fictional characters fictionally live?"  (Let's be clear that we didn't go to see Forks.  That was just a lovely benefit of being in the area.)  Laugh all you want.  Because it was awesome.  And when we saw the preview for Eclipse in a theater in Olympia, I just about flipped because I was JUST IN ALL THOSE PLACES!  Sigh...

Recognize this sign?  You might recognize the green population sign in the background too.  

This flag was hanging in the diner we ate lunch at.  I was pretty excited.

You might remember this as the location of Bella's after school job.  In the books, Mike Newton's family owned the store.

This was on the door of a store.  Cute, huh?

Seriously, the hospital has a reserved parking spot for Dr. Carlisle Cullen.  And you thought I was out of touch with reality.

Remember this sign too?  Picture it in the rain... (In front of a different high school...)

The Chamber of Commerce has Bella's truck parked out front.  Sweet.

Check out the bumper stickers.  Vampires heart Forks.  Werewolves heart LaPush.

I loved the 8.5.  Get it?  Think Renesmee.

Charlie's car is parked outside the police station! 

THE TREATY-LINE!