The final leg of the great Canadian adventure actually ends across the border back in the US on the western coast of Washington. Here John and I are spending two days enjoying natural beauty along the Sol Duc and Hoh rivers. The Sol Duc at this time of year is home territory for coho salmon who swim upriver from the ocean to spawn.
Mature salmon gather in the clear river water to rest before heading further upstream.
If you look closely, you can see a salmon jumping in the middle of the waterfall in an attempt to fling itself up the rushing water. An amazing site that we were lucky to see.
I’m always a sucker for a hike to see waterfalls.
Sol Duc didn’t disappoint, even though it was crowded.
Today’s highlight was in the Hoh, one of the only a few temperate rainforests in the continental US. There we hiked among giant old trees, ferns taller than me, and many kinds of moss, mushrooms and lichen. Definitely one of the most beautiful hikes I’ve done.
Felled old growth tree
Giant root ball of a felled tree that has decayed and provided nutrients for other trees and plants growing from it. Note the new growth on top.
These trees are in a line because they all started their life in a felled tree that we call a nursery log because, like the roots in the above photo, the dead tree nursed the other trees to grow before it disappeared into the forest floor.
So many plants cohabitate in this moist rich environment. If only a diversity of humans could do the same.
Final stop: Ruby Beach, on the Pacific coast.
More beauty.
More trees.
More love from us. See you again from Italy!
