My daughter and her roommate were here for their summer vacation when we set off for a trip around the Olympic Peninsula. After an early morning start, we made our way up the Washington coast, visiting the “Tree of Life,” the Hoh Rain Forest, and Forks, Washington (to see the Twilight and Sasquatch gift shops.)
The final destination for the day was Cape Flattery. It was Friday night, and we had no camping reservations, so we took the first campsite we found, an hour’s drive to Cape Flattery.
We arrived in Neah Bay around 5:00 PM. After purchasing a Makah tribal recreation permit, we bought burgers from a food truck and ate dinner on Hobuck Beach.
The parking lot at the trailhead was busy. After gathering our gear, we took the 25-minute hike through the forest.
The warm sunny evening was perfect for experiencing the sunset over the ocean. Cape Flattery is the most northwest point in the contiguous United States, bordered by the Pacific Ocean on one side and the Strait of Juan de Fuca on the other.
Several photographers had arrived earlier and claimed their spots. I searched until I found a composition I liked, perched on the edge of a sheer drop-off into the ocean. This location required me to be aware of my position as it got dark.
Twilight provided us with a lovely, cloudless sunset.
As night fell, my daughter asked if we could stay until after dark. Going to school in Brussels, Belgium, she hadn’t seen the stars since moving away.
We stayed until the moon set in the early morning hours when the Milky Way became the nighttime show. Because I didn’t pack the proper camera lens, my attempts to photograph the Milky Way were futile.
When we returned to our campsite, it was very late (or should I say early in the morning). Delaying our original plan to leave early for Hurricane Ridge.
The photos I included were taken from the same position, showing the various stages of light as the evening/night progressed. I took the first image of the sun’s warm glow as it shined on the coastal bluffs over the Pacific Ocean. The second photo was taken after dark, with the moon casting its light over the water. The last shot shows the moon above the horizon, with stars in the dark skies overhead.
