June Camping Adventures... Finally!

Way back in June, after Mina's preschool finished, we packed the car (and car box) rather full and set out for our first camping of the season. We intended to come home mid-week but the little campers were doing awesome so we kept going - even missing a Hayden concert at Tractor Tavern! We ended up having nine days on the road, and only one three minute shower! Our trip included camping on the Pennisula at Sequim Bay State Park, camping at Mora in Olympic National Park, a night in the very fun Port Townsend, detouring through Whidbey Island and landing at our final destination of Baker Lake.

I'll start with some pictures from Sequim Bay State Park...

Thankfully this bear, which was one of many at Olympic Game Farm, was staring at us on the other side of a fence. It was waiting, like all the sad animals there, for us to throw bread at it from our car. Some bears were so trained that they could catch it mid-air and waved when you pulled away.


Based on a great idea from another mom, we suited up Mina, like her pal, with her own backpack full of "The Ten Essentials" - check out these links, Hiking with Kids and Hug a Tree. The whole process of setting up the backpack and going over everything was a great learning opportunity.

Mr. Miles and pal dancing it up in the tent with a serious Croc collection at the door.

Pre-bed walk.
I finally got a camping-style espresso maker. I've since learned that coffee grounds are like catnip to bears. Until this point, i was loving my new habit in the woods.

We took a very windy, yet stunning walk along the Dungeness Spit. Pre-kids Rich and i walked the entire way to the lighthouse and back - 12 miles round-trip or 19.2 kilometers.


Here is Mina showing off her latest wig aka. sandtoy bag.



Beachcombing.



Turns out there is much clamming and oyster harvesting to do at Sequim Bay State Park. We talked with some local folks who were digging with their rakes and searching through the dirt. We'd like to try this on a future trip.

One other reason to visit Sequim is Lost Mountain Winery. Mmmm.