Day 71: Cape Flattery (Recap)

The True End Of The Earth


Lighthouse on Island Across from Cape Flattery


Neah Bay may be the northwestern-most town in the continental US, but Cape Flattery is as far west as you can go before dropping off into the Pacific Ocean. And today we went there.  You could drive almost all the way there, and then you had to take a very well marked hike about 3/4 of a mile to get to the very end of the cape.

This video provides an overview of the hike and the stunning caves and cape at the end:




 The trail head was on Indian land, and they helpfully provided complimentary walking sticks you could use on your hike.  But Bob & I were intrepid and braved the very well marked path sans sticks (though we were wearing hiking boots).

Lisa on the Trail to Cape Flattery

Though, there were some obstacles like this tree:

Giant Tree on The Trail to Cape Flattery

There were also sections with helpful boardwalks:

Lisa Hiking the Boardwalk Portion of the Cape Flattery Trail
(So stylish in designer leather gloves and Tumi backpack)

However, the trek was worth it-- and we met people from all over at the end of the earth.  Many commented on Bob's Broncos hat and told him he was welcome anyway (Seahawks fans all).

 One of them was even nice enough to take this picture of us:
Bob and Lisa at Cape Flattery--  The North-Western-Most Point in the Continental US


Caves as Seen from the Trail to Cape Flattery

Waves Hitting the Rocks from the Western End of the Earth

On the drive back to our cabin, we encountered this little guy:






We waited out some rain in the morning before setting out, and by the time we got back to the cabin the clouds had rolled in and it really looked like a storm kicking up--  the waves were really starting to come crashing onto the beach.




But we ran out onto the beach again anyway, and let the wind blow us just like the waves and the birds:

Lisa on the Windy Beach in Neah Bay

Selfie on the Windy Beach
(Note backwards baseball hat to combat the wind)

Not long after those pictures the rain began in earnest, and we spent the rest of the evening in the cabin reading and listening to the ocean and the rain.

 --Lisa

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