Washington State; Big trees, Waves, and the Backcountry

With about 3 weeks of consistent Indian summer weather, we were due for some of the standard Northwest rain.  Our first stop in Washington was an empty campsite on the Puget Sound.  After an unsuccessful clamming campaign, we enjoyed a wonderful beach wood bonfire and sunset.

 Washington gave us our first wet weather in a rainforest.  Weird, I know.  Olympic National Park is located in the far Northwest of Washington's peninsula filled with a rugged pacific coastline, high alpine, temperate rainforest and dry forest conditions.  The fall colors were showing through entire state peaking in the national park.  We registered and received our backpackers permit to hike out on a 19 mile loop which started in a rainforest, climbed 4k feet into the 'high divide,' then descended into a redwood forest.  The weather report told us rain and snow the whole way, we made moves regardless and were awarded with gorgeous weather, with some snow in the evening after the tent was up.  Score!

 

Our final campsite was on an Indian Reservation as far Northwest as one can go in the Continental US.  Just across the straight was Vancouver Island and french fries with gravy.  Makah Bay provided some very cold but fun small surf for me to play on our final days of travel.

 Yes, that's Canada back there

After a long surf session it was time to hit the road.  The Black Mamba was up for the challange as well as her pilots.  We drove 24 straight hours back to Aspen.  Coming up the Aspen Valley more and more snow started to pile up.  We pulled in to a 8-12inch snow which had fallen only hours before our arrival.  Ahhh yes, back in the Mountains!

This Does conclude the Ali and Brett Bring the Funk blog.  Thank you for checking out our adventures, we both encourage you to get out and have your own experiences and adventure.  Until our next journey,
Keep Exploring,

Brett and Ali

Oregon, Mushroom Hunting and Micro-Brews

Madeline Thomas, a high school friend, welcomed us into Eugene, Or with a wonderful hot meal.  The following day, we were guided by Madeline's boyfriend Cameron, a true flora and fauna aficionado, on a butte summit hike as well as mushroom hunting for Chantrelle mushrooms which were exquisite in a pasta a few nights later.

 

Madeline (top), Eugene, Or (below)

Cameron and Roslyne the Blood Hound

Mushroom Hunting

 

 

The spoils, Chantrelle mushrooms

A night of camping in a desolate Mt. Hood National Park on a river was the next stop.  The following day we hit Portland and enjoyed Dead Guy Ale's at my favorite Portland micro-brew, Rogue.

Ocean Cove, Fort Bragg, and Crescent City

After some great advice from a character of a cafe owner (Coffee Cove) we found ourselves in Ocean Cove campground timed perfectly for a beautiful sunset with some of our favorite Sonoma wine.  Great campsite with the exception of our own blunder of a coin shower we used in the morning.  A very foggy cold morning, I might add, but showers were pertinent so we suffered through cold water outdoor showers only to learn afterwards that the spicket was broken and hot water worked fine, "just turn it the other way."  Son of a....

Next stop was was to Mendocino near Fort Bragg to visit Vanna, one of Ali's friends.  Chef Ali was in the kitchen and whipping out a Chicken Cordon Bleu feast with apple pie for dessert.  To keep myself busy, I carved a Halloween pumpkin for Vanna to stay in the fall spirit.

 

Spiders and Stingers

North through the Redwoods

The Coast

Nor Cal fog surfing in some real powerful fun waves in Stone Lagoon

 

Same day and a few hundred miles up the coast the most Northern California town of Crescent City.  The fog cleared and the waves were perfect for more Ali surf.  We both had a blast with a longboard session in perfect 2 foot waves.  According to a local, that was the nicest day of the year.  Yea Indian Summer!

Sonoma Wine Tasting

Oh Yea, we're in wine country!  The Sonoma Valley and Russian River Valley produces some of the finest Pinot Noir's in the world.  Naturally we are drawn to this kind of quality.  With a campsite waiting for us, we hit the vineyard trail and tasted some fabulous wine on a perfect Sonoma county evening.

 Ali showcasing the remainder of "The Booty Bag,"  the sack of single and five dollar bills (tip money) which came in handy during Las Vegas need and other crucial moments; like wine tasting.

Bodega Bay, Heading North!

It was hard to leave Santa Cruz; however, we have lots of coast to explore.  Bodega Bay is a sleepy fishing town a few hours North of San Fran but a world away from the city.  We sought a reprieve from a tough car sleep on the side of a highway the previous night.  Beautiful beach and cove, with some great surfing at Salmon Creek around the corner.