Day 6 evening: So much for strategic decisions!

After beginning our drive this morning, we could see Mt. St. Helens in the distance and decided it was clear enough to get a closer look. So we drove to the Johnston Ridge Observatory and were awed by the sheer power and destruction caused by the 1980 eruption. We stopped at one of the gift shops and had lunch on the deck, staring at the mountain in the distance. It was definitely worth the trip.

We still wanted to take the long way to Lake Quinault, which turned out to be a beautiful drive along meandering rivers and forests so thick that they are forever shrouded in darkness. I've never seen trees so thick, and Robert commented that he had never seen a Fire Danger sign that indicated "Low."

So now we are sitting in the gorgeous main room of Lake Quinault Lodge. A small fire is burning in the massive fireplace, a gentle rain is falling, families are playing cards and chess, another couple is on their computer (so much for lack of internet access), I'm sipping a Widmer Hefeweizen, and Robert is texting away on his phone. Tomorrow we will venture out onto the trails, especially the Quinault Rain Forest, and see what we can see.

Mt. St. Helens with beautiful wildflowers (notice the steam wafting up from the dome)


Robert and Myles at Mt. St. Helens