Early February can give us days that call for hiking in the PNW. With low winds and relatively flat seas, it was a good day to take the ferry across the Salish Sea and visit the Quimper Penisula. My friend Linda had never hiked on the ODT (Olympic Discovery Trail); a great start is mile 0 in Port Townsend, Wa.
As we crossed the Salish Sea from Whidbey Island to Port Townsend, I watched a hot pink ONE cargo ship plying the water. It was on the struggle bus with a very long line of smoke coming out of it.
Japan, you can do a lot better. It felt rather sad watching the filth pouring out, in a sea known for its whale migration (which is soon!). But…the Salish Sea is the way in and out of the ports of the Puget Sound, and cities such as Seattle.
To get to the trailhead for the Olympic Discovery Trail, walk off the ferry dock, then down Sims/Hwy 20. The trailhead is in the marina parking lot, so wander Google Maps to find your best route. Because we were walking we’d cut through parking lots and such. It’s about 1.2 miles from the ferry dock to get there, but is nearly flat and is paved.
This trailhead has 3 trails; the PNT (Pacific Northwest Trail) is the most well-known.
There is a gate to slip thru at mile 0.0. The first short section is just above the beach, on a narrow single track of trail.
This section of the ODT is very much urban hiking. It is a wide path, and very popular with locals out for a stroll as well as bicyclists. I noted they have added signs with a speed limit of 15 mph (a good thing) and signs reminding trail users of good behavior.
The grass is trying to grow but winter hangs on. The trail follows Port Townsend Bay, with views of Indian Island and Marrowstone Island across the water. It wasn’t windy in this section and the sun felt very nice.
In summer, this area is very overrun with Himalayan Blackberry bushes.
At the top of the hill, at mile 1.0, sits a picnic table, a park bench, and a garbage can. It’s a great place to sit and have a break. The view is of the bay, but also of the Port Townsend Paper Mill. The mill was running and very busy. Yet, there is almost no smell anymore. Whatever they have done environmentally in recent years is working. No bad smell at all. It used to reek back here, so this is a huge improvement. The mill has been there since 1928. I have always seen the mill along the bay as pretty neat-looking.
The trail continues, but this section beyond is best for those with bicycles. We turned back here, since our walk from the ferry gave us extra miles. We also had plans to walk across town and get lunch, so we knew we’d do more miles.
It seems this odd winter is bringing flowers early. I have been watching flowers all over our area sending green up. These Crocuses, though, were ready and were nearly open.
On our way back I looked down on the water by the Coupeville ferry dock and saw two Herons. I wonder if they are the young ones I saw this past summer.
Herons are big birds, these two were enjoying the warm rocks in the sun.
~Sarah