PORT TOWNSEND, WA CA -OR-WA

Sep 8-14 PORT ANGELES, WA CA -OR-WA
We were treated to a personal City Walking Tour by a very knowledgeable guide who concentrated on the waterfront area. In 1914, because of flooding, Port Angeles began a project to raise the streets, yet maintain the existing first level buildings. They started by building cement retaining walls three feet thick and up to eight feet, in some places. They then built a huge sluice, similar to what a cement truck uses today, from the top of the hill to the front streets. Water was pumped from the bay to the top of the hill where it blasted the rock and mud down the sluice. This project was completed in about seven months. We toured these same streets and some of the buildings where the first floors had been covered. One "basement" had lovely murals on the walls and had, at one tme, been an indoor golf course. We also visited the oldest building in town, the Family Shoe Store, which had been the town’s most popular brothel. Some of the rooms were still furnished; they appeared they had only recently closed. The Madam’s room had a peep hole so she could see who was coming up the stairs. The stairway had a grill that customers could use to check out the "girls" before entering with their $2 charge. Four of us left early one morning to catch the ferry to Victoria. We hopped a bus to the Butchart Gardens and were treated to a narrated tour of the city on the way. We spent about three hours enjoying the lovely gardens. Then, we returned to town to tour the Royal British Museum. The Museum had a special exhibit from England that included ancient artifacts from Europe, plus a great exhibit of early natives and people of Canada. We also saw the IMAX, "Africa-the Serengeti." Although we had a wonderful day, it felt great to return home late that evening. We returned to Port Townsend for the Wooden Boat Festival which was billed as the fourth largest. Darlene and Carolyn lucked out by having the opportunity to row on a longboat patterned after Capt. Cook’s exploratory longboat: eight rowers, three sails. We visited many beautiful old wooden ships, yachts, schooners, canoes, kayaks, tug boats, trowlers, and ferry yawls. We saw the making of wooden boats too - GREAT show!

Sep 14-21 FORKS, WA CA -OR-WA
The last gathering of the Circuit was at Forks, WA, which is on the west side of the Olympic peninsula and far from any large city. We camped at a lovely Elks Lodge encompassing an almost flat grassy area and surrounded by trees. It was peaceful. The Elks treated us very graciously. We heard Elk bugling at night and watched migratory birds fly overhead. Forks is a lumbering town. In the past, they cut down almost all of the ancient old growth timber: Sitka Spruce, Cedar and Fir. At the base, some of these trees were 12 feet in diameter. Now they log regrowth trees, mostly for pulp. Forks and La Push are the fictional setting of "Twilight," the very popular book and movie series (about lovers and a vampire) authored by Stephenie Meyer. The town boasts about 2,000 residents and 8 1/2 vampires. There were several shops that only specialized in "Twilight" paraphernalia. We visited the Hoh Rain Forest which is within the Olympic National Park. We saw some bull Elks with their impressive racks. Also, we enjoyed a ranger-led tour of the Mossy Trail, an easy 3/4 mile ramble; the trees and shrubs were drenched with beautiful green moss. We had a very informative forest ecology lesson about the Hoh Rain Forest. After leaving the Hoh Rain forest, we drove south to the Kalaloch Lodge where we had lunch overlooking a log-littered ocean beach. In this area of the Olympic National Forest, rain averages 140 inches of per year with a record of 190 inches. It was blissfully dry while we were there. At Neah Bay, we participated in a guided tour of the Makah Indian Museum on the Makah Indian Reservation. This museum is used to exhibit the artifacts found in a 500-yr old archaeological site where a mud slide buried 5 fishing village homes and some of the inhabitants. Also at Neah Bay, we hiked to Cape Flattery point, the farthest NW part of the lower 48. We explored the La Push and Rialto Beaches; stayed late to watch a glorious sunset at Rialto Beach. The beaches were wild and rugged with many washed-up huge logs. At the Loggers’ Museum in Forks, an enlightened and passionate museum director gave us an educational tour. In the rafters of the museum hung an unfinished Indian dug-out canoe which loggers had discovered in the forest. The canoe was carved out of a tree that was 500 years old and had been abandoned for over 150 years. On the last night of this gathering, we enjoyed a campfire (Taz built it) and a potluck wiener roast. During this gathering, Dody (following in Nelda’s footsteps) became our personal baker, delighting us with freshly baked cookies and pies. After the gathering ended, several of us travelled 30 miles south to the South Beach National Park campground ($5/day), just south of Kalaloch. Some of us parked on the edge of a short bluff, overlooking the ocean and beach. Taz went to an Indian village at the Queets river and purchased a small Coho Salmon fresh out of the river. Then, he treated us to a salmon bar-b-q.

Sep 17-25 Moab, UT Cuack II
Tom in charge of fee collection and Donna in charge of registration. We had 36 WIN members and 3 PM for a total of 39 at the gathering with 9 visitors (Green RV group from Millie’s). We were very crowded in our parking situation. It was a problem getting 15 RVs into each site like the BLM said was possible. But Bill and assistant Tom managed to park us very close together and utilize some of the boat parking lot for bigger rigs. And WINs accepted the situation like the troopers they are. (FYI for next year secure larger sites C &D). The views out of some motor homes was gorgeous-red rock and Colorado River. Fabulous time in a Fabulous place! Days passed by visiting the natural wonders of Canyonlands NP, Arches NP, and Dead Horse Point SP. We took several unforgettable 4 wheel drive trips including Shafer Canyon, eventful Long Canyon and Hurrah Pass led by Bertie and Bill. Chuck lead us on two kayak trips including a slow easy float from Gold Bar to Potash, one with big brown fast waves (not white water at all) from Take Out Beach to Bridge. Several people repeated this one and took new arrivals along. A group of us drove the beautiful Manti La Sal Mountain -Castle Valley Loop and much of the scenic byway 128. Small groups hiked The False Keva at Canyonlands, Ranger lead Fiery Furnace at Arches, and nearby Corona Arch and Bow Tie Arch. A small group did some biking, geocaching, toured Rock Art and others concentrated on the great ice cream place in Moab. While Joey was there she managed to complete the CUACK II circuit and get it on the WINlist! We did have a potluck also. Weather was in the 80s during the day and 60s at night with some heavy wind gusts at times. Very little rain.

Sep 27-Oct 1 MEXICAN HAT, UT CUACK II
We arrived a Gooseneck State Park with no problems after some of us read the directions of how to get there. It has spectacular views on all sides and everyone claimed they had the best spot. Marc wanted to kayak this beautiful San Juan river and we all encouraged him to do so and we would all record the event for his posterity. So far he hasn’t attempted it. Most of the group went to see Monument Valley and we had lunch at Gouldings. Some went on to the Garden of the Gods and did a little geocaching. We all had a potluck after that.

Oct 12-16 Echo Bay, NV CUACK II 
We started out with dinner at The Echo Bay Restaurant, with dancing and karaoke, and one kayak trip on the Bay in between the wind storms. We caravanned to the "Valley of Fire", where we took in the most vivid petroglyphs I have ever seen. Hiked into The "Mouse Tank" and saw the famous ‘Elephant Rock’. Several hardy souls then ventured to St. Thomas, Nevada, the town flooded when the damn was built, that is now visible because of the low water level. We had a great ‘Mexican Dinner’,with Burrito’s smothered in Green Chili and all the fixins’ and one night had a "Pig" Tournament, where Peter took first place and Paul was BUTT last. It was said that none of the participants contacted the Swine Flu.

Oct 16-24 BOULDER CITY, NV Cuack II
The Boulder City, NV stop on the Cuack Circuit has quickly become a happy tradition. From assorted directions 58 WINers converged here for the fun. Bob and Donna handled essential details so that first timers and veterans alike easily found a place in our "system". Securing an assembly place, sequencing our activities and calling attention to lots of local options. Highlights this year included kayaking on Lake Meade, an over nighter down in the Black Canyon led by Chuck and Bob, followed by a delicious Hobo Stew dinner to welcome them back. A kayak safety instructions by them preceded the canyon run, combined with a hilarious kayak game session coordinated by Brad. Joann instigated a bike ride to Hoover Dam while others chose to hike via a wonderful trail along mountain’s edge through a series of tunnels. Joey, Tom and Shirley once again produced and directed a terrific murder mystery play Murder in Deadwood Saloon with about half the group performing for an audience of the other half. Going enmass for costumes in the local thrift stores was half the fun. The downtown Fremont Experience and a night of fun on the strip rounded out a jam packed week of fun.

Oct 25-29 Bullhead City, NV Cuack II
Once again the wind was a factor at the gathering, but we still managed to have a great time. Kayaking on the Colorado River, past the Laughlin casinos, the wind was at our backs. We hiked up Grapevine Canyon, past some of the best petroglyphs we’ve ever seen. On the trip to Oatman we saw the resident begging burros and the cowboy gunfight. And as usual, there was plenty of dancing at the casinos and the Elks Lodge.