Day 9 – 8/10 Ferndale, WA to Olympia, WA

I checked out of the hotel around 10 a.m. and had already noticed so many blackberry bushes by the side of the road near the parking lot. I filled my bowl, and stomach, about halfway, then Jack lunged and I dumped all of them (from the bowl).

Try again—this time with feeling, and Jack in the car. I managed to fill the bowl and my stomach all the way. Blackberries give me about a half-hour lead time, so fortunately I made it to a rest area with plenty of time.

I drove straight to the ferry in Edmonds, the MV Puyallup, which holds 2,500 passengers and 202 cars. I think I was number 199 because the lanes were almost full when I arrived.

From Kingston, we drove to the Olympic National Park Visitor Center and I was forced to come up with a plan—at least that’s what the ranger said: “You need to come to Olympic National Park with a plan.”

How could I have a plan if I don’t have a clue?

Yeah, so some people don’t get me.

Anyhow, I drove around the park to Neah Bay on the Makah Indian Reservation and took photos of the pelican and Waadah Island. From there, I took 101 South to just outside of Olympia and spent the night at a very convenient rest stop that encouraged overnight parking.

🐾 Jack’s Notes

WTF is this guy’s obsession with driving?

We had a perfectly mid-rate hotel room with lotsa interesting smells that we could have stayed in for awhile, but nope—he stood beside the road picking berries and tried to keep me close. Every time I went near the road he yanked my leash, so… I yanked back. Then he spilled the contents of his bowl all over the ground.

Next thing you know I was in the car, and what’s worse than being in the car while driving? Being in the car alone, and not driving.

After forever, and me barking so he could find his way back to me, we drove—to an enormous boat that the car could fit on.

Okay, walking on the upper deck of that boat was awesome!

From there, though, we drove and drove and drove until I got to explore a new beach. Then… drove and drove until he pulled over and slept in the car.