Olympic Discovery Trail and the Olympic Peninsula

 Olympic Discovery Trail and the Olympic Peninsula:

The Olympic Discovery Trail starts East of Discovery Bay and eventually will run for some 140 miles to the Pacific Ocean and Neah Bay on Makah Indian Reservations.  For now, the section from Discovery Bay follows US Highway 101 west to the East of Sequim Bay where it follows the Old Blyn Highway. 

From there the trail uses a combination of separated hiking and biking path, the highway, and side roads to the city of Sequim.  In Sequim, the trail follows East Fir Street, then West Hendrickson Road through town.  Then over the Railroad Bridge and continues as a separated trail all the way to City of Port Angeles. 

This segment of the trail from Sequim to Port Angeles runs for another 20 miles.  The trail here is scenic and travels through farming areas and lavender farms with views of Olympic Mountains. At about three miles before reaching Port Angeles, the trail follows the Salish Sea coast with views of Victoria British Columbia.  The reminder of the trail from Port Angeles west to the Pacific Coast follows local roads and highways.  My wife and I have ridden all segments of the trail at different times depending on the weather and how far we want to drive. 

During the summer of 2019, I followed the trail from our house on the west side of the Hood Canal to the City of Hoquiam, circumnavigating the Olympic Peninsula counterclockwise. On the first day I left the house and rode to city of Sequim (35 miles & 1,680 feet of elevation gain) on highway 104 and then 101 until I was able to pick up the Discovery trail. 

Day two I rode from Sequim to Port Angeles, a 21-mile (M) ride and elevation gain (EG) of 600 feet.  After Port Angeles I began heading southwest.  I spent the next night at Lake Crescent (24M, 1,200 EG), then Forks (38M, 880EG).  I had planned to stay two days in Forks and have a rest day.  This turned out to be very lucky. 

When I checked into the motel, I could not find my cell phone to call my wife and tell her I had arrived.  My first thought was that I had left the phone at Lake Crescent Lodge.  I went to the motel office and tried to get the family that managed the hotel to let me use their phone since there were no phones in the room or any payphones anywhere in town. Eventually I was able to call my wife and let her know of the situation.  

Next, I rode out to the visitor information center at the edge of town and asked the ladies running the place if they could help.  The two very nice ladies got on the phone and called Lake Crescent and had me ask if they could check my room again to see if my phone was there.  The answer after a few long minutes was no!  I spent the rest of that night trying to figure out where I might have left the phone. 

By the next morning I had remembered that I had only made one stop on the way the day before where I had sat down and had a banana and rested at a county Fire District Road.  I went to the closest grocery story and at their espresso bar bought breakfast and tea and while waiting fell into conversation with the two amazingly nice baristas working there.  After I finished telling them my story, they said they would help me. 

First, they called a couple of store co-workers they knew had teenage kids with a car to see if I paid them, they would be willing to drive me back to the spot!  After several attempts not getting any results, we had just about given up.  When one of the two women came around the counter started running out of the store.  A few minutes later, she came back with a Fire Marshal in tow and introduced the Local Fire Marshal and said he had agreed to drive me back there to see if we could find the phone. 

I was beside myself and thanked both women and left with the Fire Marshal who informed me that the area was in his district and he often makes rounds to ensure there is no problems.  When we arrived at the location, there were several state patrol cars parked in the exact area and were booking an individual that had branded a gun earlier that morning at a store. 

This was going to now be a problem, but the Fire Marshal just lowered the car window and explained the situation and got the green light to walk me in.  He told me later that he used to be a part of their force and knows them.  I went to the location I had been sitting and looked around but saw nothing.  Extremely disappointed, I started to walk back but at the last minute decided maybe I should check again, and this time went around the area a bit more carefully.  I saw the phone sitting just a few feet away!! 

I was so thankful for the help from everyone and their generosity.  I tried several times to offer to pay for the gas or buy lunch or dinner for the Fire Marshal, but he would not have it.  When I returned however on the way in, I picked up two bouquets of flowers at the store and went into the espresso area and thanked the two women and give them the flowers.  Without them I would have had no way of communicating with my wife. 

Before I had left, I tried several times to make reservations at Kalaloch Lodge for my next possible night’s stay.  However, every time I was told that there were no openings available.  On this day I arrived at Kalaloch Lodge around lunch time (35M, 770EG).  Since it was lunch time, I went into the lodge and proceeded to the restaurant.  However, before entering I stopped at the front desk and asked if they had a room, expecting to hear no again.  But to my surprise the helpful man at the desk said he had just received a cancelation call and there was now one room available.  I paid for the room quickly and then had a leisurely lunch.  I spent the afternoon walking around the grounds and the beach.  

My next night’s stop was at Lake Quinault (30M, 760EG), and then in Hoquiam (40M, 630EG).  The trip was about a total of 220 miles and an elevation gain of about 6,220 feet. My wife came out and met me in Hoquiam and we drove home together the next day.