I’m presently in Washington
for a research trip, but the weekend provides some non-work time to explore the
magical Pacific Northwest. I drove up to
Whidbey Island from southern Washington, but
decided to travel along the eastern edge of the Olympic Peninsula instead of
the usual route through Seattle.
This afforded the chance for more scenic stops and a ride on the ferry, which I
love.
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| Maples and conifer forest along Hood Canal. |
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Some jagged peaks in the Olympic range from the
Mt. Walker lookout point in the Olympic National
Forest. |
The last few days have been sunny and relatively warm in the
northwest, a pleasant and unpredictable occurrence this time of year. Autumn
colors are in full glory, with bright yellow leaves of big leaf maples
particularly abundant. Perhaps because the sun is lower on the horizon as the
days shorten at these higher latitudes, colors seem rich and lighting is
particularly attractive. The rain and clouds will return to dominate the winter
and spring, but I’m fortunate to be up here during a brief window of pleasant
weather.
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Coastal marshes at the mouth of the Duckabush River
that empties into Hood Canal. |
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| Mt. Rainier in the distance from the Olympic Peninsula. |
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| Reflections of moonlight on water near Port Townsend. |
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| Olympic National Forest. |
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