We left Cannon Beach this morning, not so much with regret, since there is a lot more to look forward to, but certainly with wonderful memories of a beautiful place. Even though it was the first long holiday weekend of the summer, and the weather was beautiful, there was plenty of beach to go around, and everybody just seems so laid-back.

I went out for a run early this morning and the beach was wide (tide out) and largely empty. The day dawned more overcast and misty than yesterday, so it was actually quite cool to see the landscape under a different light.

I took the dogs down for one more play in the ocean while Tim packed the car up, and we were on our way shortly after 9am. We drove up the coast to the Washington State line, crossing the vast mouth of the Columbia River, then following Highway 101 inland around the Olympic mountain range, and along part of Puget Sound. Our ferry departed from Port Angeles, and at the moment we’re sitting comfortably in a solarium-type room midship. The dogs are with us, curled up on the floor at my feet. It’s sunny but quite cool and very windy, so I don’t think I’m venturing outside for pictures. At the moment the view is nothing but water anyway.

Tonight we stay just north of Victoria, in Cowichan Bay. Tomorrow, we drive up to Tofino to spend a couple of nights there, before coming back down to Victoria for a few nights.