Mount St. Helens

Sandy and I were up early to walk.  I am so glad we did because we were greeted with a pretty sunrise and got to see the sun illuminate the mountains.  When walked in the door of the motorhome about 7:00 a.m., Carol had the radio station from Sequim playing.  That station was playing Reville followed by The Star-Spangled Banner.  They did this every morning at 7:00 a.m.  It was a great way to begin our day.

Can you see the pink on a few of the peaks?  That is the sun.  Unfortunately the picture doesn't do the scene justice.

The sunrise.

There were still clouds on the peaks of some of the mountains.  I am going to miss seeing these mountains in the morning.

We took State Highway 102 up to Port Angeles but found a much quicker way to return to Olympia.  We did have to cross this toll bridge.  It cost us $12.00 just to drive across it.

A final look at the Puget Sound as we crossed the bridge.

My job on this trip is to direct Carol's loading of the car on the dolly, find a gas station we can get into for gas, and get us to the campground.  Once I complete these three tasks, I can relax.  The car went on the dolly today better than every before.  One job done.  Next I was working on the gas station.  I use the I-xit app to find stations.  We were down to a quarter of tank of gas and according to the app there were three stations at Exit 99, two of which were "RV friendly."  The app was wrong.  One of the stations was no longer in existence and the second station was definitely not RV friendly.  I had a phone number for the third station and because it was a mile from the interstate, I wanted to make sure we could get into the station.  I called them and thankfully, was told RVs get gas there all the time.  We drove the mile and sure enough, we were able to get gas.  Job two done.  Getting us to the campground was very easy.  We had simple directions when led to the campground.  The best part was that the campground is great.  All sites roads are paved with concrete pads for campers.  There is actual grass between each site.   It is Brook Hollow RV Park at Kelso, Washington.  I will post a picture tomorrow.  For now, know that I give it five out of five stars.  Job three done.  I can now relax.

We were set up by 2:30 so we decided to go to Mount St. Helens Volcanic National Park.  It had been at least 30 years since we had been here.  So much has changed.  We stopped by an overlook which had information about the Weyhaeuser Tree Company and the part they played in restoration of the land following the eruption.  This was a picture posted.  Total devastation.  The company committed to restoring the area to forest/lumber land.  Employees hand planted millions of trees on the land in 1984.  In 2010 the trees were thinned and the trees can be harvested in 2026.  That investment made 1984 will not be repaid to the company until 2026.

Pictures above and below show the Nobel Fir trees today that were planted in 1984.

Our first view of Mount St. Helens.

This lake was formed following the eruption.  The ensuing landslide trapped water and formed this lake.  It is a beautiful lake.  Something good from a terrible event in which 57 people were killed.

A Visitor's Center sits on a ridge across from Mount St. Helens.  We watched a short film on a screen in a theater.  Following the movie, the screen raised and  curtain was raised and this was what we saw.  It was very dramatic.  It is still an active volcano.  It can't be seen in this picture, but there is steam from three area in the dome created after the eruption.

Most of the land surrounding Mount St. Helens was barren.  Some grass is beginning to return.

Parts of trees that remain near the Visitor's Center.

Whenever we took a trail, Carol and I always stay on the path but there are those who don't obey signs.  This is a reminder posted along the trails about the damage that is done when people make their own paths.

Even after nearly 40 years, this ridge is barren and has the remains of trees.

We thought we would only spend an hour or two at Mount St. Helens, but we were wrong.  It was a neat place and one that we could definitely visit again if we were out here.  We got back to camp about 7:30 and as I was walking Sandy, I was able to enjoy this sunset.

This afternoon we received a phone call from the KOA at which we had reservations in the  Columbia River Gorge.  We heard what we expected...the fires have kept it closed.  I-84 through the gorge is closed.  Only residents along that route are just now allowed to return but do so knowing that the fire could cause them to have to leave again.   This fire was started by kids playing with fireworks.   So it is on to Plan B which is going to Redwood National Park on Friday and staying until Monday morning when we head to Crater Lake.  We hurriedly made reservations.  We are sad that we won't be able to drive the Columbia River Gorge but feel that we will enjoy seeing the Redwoods.

It has been another good day.  We have seen so much more of the world God has created and to quote what God says in Genesis:  "It is good."