A visit from a friend…
A ride on the ferry…
A road trip across the Olympic Peninsula…
…to Olympic National Park.
Wildflowers…
…and more wildflowers.
Wildlife…
…and more wildlife.
To top off these incredible views…
…we experienced a spot of weather, with thunder clouds rolling in.
In a matter of moments…
…we had a completely different view.
Just as dramatic.
Just as beautiful.
And just a little bit dangerous.
It was the icing on the cake.
All images and words copyright Naomi Baltuck
The Weekly Travel Theme: Weather.
Click here for more interpretations of The Weekly Photo Challenge: Cherry on Top.
Writing Between the Lines 
And you saved the cake till last! Lovely to see photos of another trip. Bea 22! I can’t believe it. Love all that nature (and nurture) in your part of the world. M
Dear Meg, It was the perfect way to enjoy a birthday. Yes, the time does fly, doesn’t it? I have a picture of you at the storytelling festival in Wales, holding the hand of my little two and six year year olds! Thanks for stopping by.
Hippy Pappy Bithuthday! (I’m guessing you’ll get the reference..}
Thank you, Priscilla! I shall pass on the birthday wishes from you and Pooh!
And Owl! 🙂
Great pics! Glad you had some time together.
Thanks for the visit, Shirley. Yes, it felt like a quick visit–but we packed in a lot of sweetness into it.
How do they do that so quickly? We blink and they’re walking, talking , dating, graduating, going to college – growing up. And here we are, not a day older. Uh huh.
Or heading off to Mongolia! Bea is launched and has safely arrived already, and Eli is coming home from Mexico to pack for Mongolia and meet up with her. Your analysis was spot on, Carol. Thanks for the smile.
Looks like a beautiful day 🙂
Hi Amy, it was a lovely day, packed with fun. We are fortunate to have two national parks within a couple of hours from us.
Yes, it is nice to have that right at your doorstep.
We are so fortunate to have two national parks only a couple of hours away. We can get to the Olympics by hopping on a ferry, which makes getting there fun too.
Live the cake and happy belated bday!
Thank you!
Happy birthday Bea!!!
HI Sue, It was indeed a happy birthday, a perfect day for a hike, and we got home in time for cake and ice cream with Grandma!
Fabulous photographs, Naomi! Happy Birthday Bea!
Thanks, Jill! Happy birthday to you too!
Thank you, Naomi! 🙂
Wonderful. Birthday wishes from Ireland.
Thank you, Jean! I hope your summer is going well.
Lovely!
I like the warmth of the candles after the walk in the woods and fog. Perfect end to a good story 🙂
Thank you, Carol. It was a good end to a good day!
What a great hike. Beautiful scenery, and I love all the wildlife especially the goats!
Alison
Thank you, Alison. The mountain goats were a little scary. A couple of years before, when we were attending a storytelling festival in Port Angeles, we heard a great bluegrass band on Friday night. They went walking the next day on that same hike on Hurricane Ridge, and one of them was gored to death by an aggressive mountain goat. When the herd blocked our path back down in the fog, we all had that story in mind. Thanks for the visit, and taking the time to comment!
Gored by a mountain goat?! I’ve sure never heard of that before. Wild!
Yes, this particular goat had a history of aggression. I conversed on the trail with a woman who had been called in to testify about a complaint she had filed the week before about that same goat. She said the family had settled with the park system out of court, and her testimony was not required.
So it’s still out there?
It was caught and put down after it killed the hiker. Now they issue warnings when the goats are in the area, and we were careful and watchful.
That’s just how the mist comes down on Dartmoor sometimes – spooky!
Hi Gilly,
A thunderstorm is exhilarating, but the mist is quietly compelling, and it is a little spine-tingling when it comes in so quickly like that, changing your world completely.
Great way to spend a birthday! How lucky to see so much wildlife!
Hi Kate,
There always seems to be an abundance on Hurricane Ridge, but it’s the first time I’ve seen the mountain goats there. Thanks for the visit–I hope your summer is going well.
I was reading about Naturalists this morning with my daughter – your photographs are perfect illustrations!
Thank you so much. Your daughter is so fortunate to have you right there to share time and thoughts and launch a lifetime of love and learning.