Tuesday morning we drove north on the Olympic peninsula to Clallam Bay. It is a small fishing town located by the Strait of Juan de Fuca. We planned to stay 2 nights so we could visit Cape Flattery--the northwestern most point in the lower 48 states. After we checked in, we did laundry--ugh!
Wednesday we drove west to Cape Flattery. We did a few geocaches along the way. Cape Flattery is located on the Makah Reservation. To visit the reservation you have to have a $10 permit, but it is good for the calendar year. The road to the trailhead took us past and old Air Force Station which now houses the tribal council.
Wednesday we drove west to Cape Flattery. We did a few geocaches along the way. Cape Flattery is located on the Makah Reservation. To visit the reservation you have to have a $10 permit, but it is good for the calendar year. The road to the trailhead took us past and old Air Force Station which now houses the tribal council. Once at the trailhead, it is a little over a half mile to the westernmost point in the lower 48 states.
The trail is very wet, even on a dry day. The Makahs built a wooden path for the wettest places.
At several places along the trail you could stop and view the ocean on either side of the cape.
Of course there was a photo session at the cape.
At several places along the trail you could stop and view the ocean on either side of the cape.There were rock outcroppings and caves on both sides.
These starfish were clinging to the side of the cave wall even though the tide was low.
As we neared the cape, the fog thickened, but the views were spectacular.
Of course there was a photo session at the cape.This fishing boat was going out even though the fog was thickening.
From the cape we drove back into town to visit the Veterans' Memorial. Neah Bay is proud that many of its citizens have served in all our nation's wars and all have come safely home!
From the memorial we went to the Makah Museum. One of our geocaches was located on the totem pole outside the museum.
Inside the museum there were many artifacts from the Ozette Dig of the 1970s. Ozette was buried by a mudslide over 500 years ago. In the 1970s, the ocean uncovered some of Ozette. The items were recovered and are now housed in the museum.
From the memorial we went to the Makah Museum. One of our geocaches was located on the totem pole outside the museum.Inside the museum there were many artifacts from the Ozette Dig of the 1970s. Ozette was buried by a mudslide over 500 years ago. In the 1970s, the ocean uncovered some of Ozette. The items were recovered and are now housed in the museum. No cameras were allowed in the museum, so no pictures. Whaling was an important part of the Makahs' lives. There were examples of 7 different sizes of canoes. The largest was used for whaling. Over that canoe was the skeleton of a gray whale--it was longer than the canoe!
One of the young ladies of the tribe was making baskets. She was using the bark from a red cedar tree. I found out you can evenly split red cedar bark lengthwise without using a knife or scissors.
The museum was filled with history and many hands on exhibits in addition to the protected artifacts.
Before we left Clallam Bay Thursday morning, we walked to the county park on the bay. We could see the village of Sekiu which is west of Clallam Bay.
You can barely make out British Columbia through the fog behind us.
There was a totem pole in front of the visitor center.
When we left Clallam Bay we headed toward Port Angeles and Sequim, Washington.
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