Sunken Gardens at Butchart Gardens, Victoria, B.C.
September was a busy month for us. We spent a week at Conestoga Quarters RV Park in Port Angeles, WA. (50% discount with Passport America) This gave us a central location to the surrounding areas along the Puget Sound. One town that we fell in love with on our 2004 visit was Sequim. It's know as the lavender capital of the world and the town thrives on small businesses, friendly neighbors, open-air farmer's markets "and" it boosts an average of 300 sunny days/year. We often rode the biking trail between Sequim and Port Angeles, which, when completed, will run 100 miles from Seattle to Port Angeles.
Rumor has it that he originally purchased a parcel of land about five miles east of Sequim to launch his modest boat and later willed the land to the town of Sequim with the "requirement that it would be developed into a first-class marina within 15 years. Well, he would be proud! (marina, gourmet restuarant, playground, picnic area, and boardwalk with a bike trail connecting it to the town of Sequim.)
To the east is the "artsy" town of Port Townsend. It's filled with unique shops, resturants, and a ferry service to carry passengers to the San Juan Islands.
On this trip we took the Victoria Express passenger ferry out of Port Angeles to the Butchart Gardens in Victoria, B.C. Transportation to the gardens was provided by a double-decker bus.
Located about five miles east of Sequim is
the John Wayne Marina.
....located just outside the town of Port Angeles.
Fort Stevens located in Warrenton, just south of the Oregon-Washington border......
This visit was even more breathtaking than the first. It was a bit later in the summer season
but the fall varieties were at their peak. Roses were waning, delphiniums fading, but the dahlias
were amazingly brilliant. They're fast becoming one of my favorites.
All taken on Hurricane
Ridge at Olympic N.P.
Other sites we enjoyed in September are:
Hurricane Ridge at the Olympic Nat'l Park
Hiking up Hurrican Ridge we could enjoy the majestic views of the San Juan Islands as well as British Columbia.
was built to protect the Oregon coast from any Japanese attacks during WWII. It history and efforts are showcased in the museum and bunkers as well as cannons still stand on site. There were an amazing amount of geo-caches to seek out at the fort, which, along with bike paths throughout the fort, made our visit really enjoyable.
