Washington without rain? What's going on?! July 4th trip to Discovery Bay. July 2-4 2015

We flew into Seattle on the 2nd and Melissa's mom and brother Mark picked us up at the airport and took us into Seattle for lunch and a wander around. Lunch at Clam Central Station. 


Clam chowder in a bread bowl and pasta salad.


Then we got our payback!  A giant squid in the parking lot attacked Chris and I.  I don't even like sea food, why is it taking me?!

July 3rd we drove up to Discovery Bay to meet all the family for a week of rest and relaxation.  Brian loaned us his Outback for the week (ended up being needed to transport all the supplies) and it was fun to be in a Subaru again. Keith and Darlene organized 3 timeshares so everyone could be together.  Melissa and I with Trish and Jeremy's family in one, Andrew, Mark, Keith and Darlene in the 2nd and Brian and Shanda with Chris and Bill in the 3rd.  

 
The timeshares were just a hundred yards up a switchback road from the bay.  Everyone headed down first thing and found midday low tide had revealed all sorts of sea creatures.  The kids had fun collecting crabs and starfish to look at for a few minutes before putting them back in the water.


That was all super gross, so I just held Melissa instead.


Brian waded a little deeper (hence the short-shorts) and found a huge starfish.

 
Once we convinced all the kids to release their captured creatures, we headed back to the timeshares for a Barbie movie.  I'm always amazed that these girls remember me from trip to trip and warm right up and beg for snuggles.
  
 
That afternoon we drove out to Fort Worden State Park.  The Fort is an abandoned WWII defensive location.  You can walk around and imagine what it might have been like during the height of the war.


That is Andrew Aurich, master photographer and fort climber, up top.
  
 
Us on the roof.


Mya found a cozy 3 foot thick window sill to rest in.


Back to the roof exploring.

 
After the fort and a little time wandering the park (including a sandy beach).
   
Melissa was pretty excited to be near the water.  She is always happy when there is water around. 
 
Then we headed back to home base.  Each evening we ate dinner as a whole family in one timeshare, then played games or watched movies.

 

July 4th morning we drove into smoky Olympic National Park.  The northwest was very dry this summer and there was a fire burning somewhere, which left much of the area hazy.  As we drove through the Olympic Rain Forest we stopped at Crescent Lake.  It was basically the best place on the drive.  Nobody thought to bring swimsuits, so we all just waded into crystal clear warm water with a pebble bottom.  It was really nice and half the family wanted to drive right back to the timeshares to pickup swim suits and just spend the rest of the day there.


We didn't go back though.  Onward, onward, never back, keep moving onward, for there is exploring to be done!


Even in a dry year the rain forest was still very green with a tall canopy.  I think the only thing suffering was the moss.  It was all dry and brown.


Some of the little legs got tired as we walked through the forest. That's ok though, because uncle backs never get tired (at least not when the lightest niece needs a ride).


Green.


Time for a break on a fallen tree bench.


Um... stump support?


July 4th night we went to the seaside in Port Townsend to watch a fireworks display over the water. Thanks to Keith and Darlene for organizing this.  What a great place to spend the 4th of July.


Melissa forgot her clothes on this trip so she just ended up wrapped in a blanket most of the time.


Trying to keep little people out of the water as the sun drops.


Just kidding, Melissa had clothes the whole time.  She was just cold! We've still never actually been to a warm beach.  Maybe Brazil some day. 


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