I probably should have looked at the weather forecast yesterday before I set off on a drive to the Olympic Peninsula. I wanted to see some of the beaches on the Pacific Ocean Coast and drive through the Olympic National Forest.
It was raining when I started driving and it rained the entire day. I probably should have checked road distances too, because my little day trip turned out to be a surprising 448 miles (721 km) in length.
That being said, it was a beautiful drive on roads through spectacular forests of fir trees, through quaint small towns, and occasionally alongside the ocean or one of several large lakes.
I did manage to walk along for a short time along one of the beaches that was accessible from a parking area. I bundled up in my rain parka and braved the elements, sometimes trying to hold onto an umbrella, and took these shots with my iPhone.
The ocean was wild and wonderful in its rugged beauty and I did my best to capture a sense of the location. The first and second shots show my view as I looked down the beach in one direction and then in the other.
The rocks in the water really captured my attention and I spent most of my time trying to capture their interactions with the crashing waves.
© Michael Q. Powell. All rights reserved.
Mike Powell 
Really really beautiful Michael: it looks a bit like a screen set for a movie of an ancient-epoch tale. A Seattle visit is on my bucket list: the closest I’ve come so far is Vancouver [when I fell in love with that part of the world].
Thanks, Michael. I was stationed in Tacoma, just south of Seattle, for three years when I was in the Army and really like this area. So far I have not made it into the city itself and may not make it there during this visit. I have focused on family stuff and on a few trips to look at scenery.
A grand adventure, Mike, and what a gorgeous destination!
Such a rugged coastline. The driftwood is legendary… looking like sculptures littering the beaches.
So sad about the weather…. I hope you enjoyed your trip.
The shots you made of the beaches are quite nice.
Thanks, Rudi. This area of the US gets a lot of rain. That National Park area gets annually from 100 to 170 inches (254 to 430 cm) of rain.
Distances are so different out there! Great shots.
I love the Olympic Peninsula, Mike. Thanks for sharing these photos.
Another great post, Mike. The sand looks dark grey; was it?
The sand seemed to be grey rather than brown, though I did not look too closely, because of the rain that was falling.
These day trips really do produce such beautiful moments. I love your pictures, Michael! The Pacific NW region is one of my favorites.
Wow, beautiful, Mike.