Hoh Rainforest and Ruby Beach, Olympic NP, WA

After a very comfortable night at the RW Services and RV Park, I made my way to the Hoh Rainforest early in the morning. I read there could be long lines to enter later in the day. Indeed, as I got closer to the entrance, there were signs at specific spots on the narrow road that displayed the wait times from those spots. This particular morning, there was no line, traffic was light. I found my way to the visitor center and got a parking spot in the RV section. I noticed that more cars were arriving and the parking lot was filling fast. Got information at the VC, viewed exhibits and listened in to a ranger presentation for kids on rainforest ecology. All very educational. Then went on three hikes that started near the visitor center: the Hall of Moses Trail, the Spruce Nature Trail and part of the Hoh River Trail. The rainforest was surreal, hard to describe, one has to be there to experience it. I felt like I was in the valley of the dinosaurs. Photos could not do justice to the scenery. was

After lunch in my RV, I wanted to check out Sol Duc Hot Springs. Unfortunately, I could not even get near it, there was no place to park. After driving around twice, I gave up, it was starting to drizzle. Decided to check out Ruby Beach nearby. Easy drive despite the fog and drizzle, parking was on the road on top, with a steep path down to the beach. There was a lot of drift wood and logs and views of the Pacific Ocean were partially obscured by fog.

I spent just a short time at the beach as I wanted to get to Bogachiel State Park before it got dark. Arrived there just in time to make camp, there was electricity at my site. Unfortunately I found that power will be cutt off at 10 pm due to scheduled construction work, but will be restored in the morning.