My Summer Vacation

October is my favorite month to get out and see my area, the Pacific Northwest.  While my day job doesn't allow me to get away for more than three days at a time, I still make the best of it.

This year I made three trips, but only one overnighter.  Well, not counting the trip out to the coast to meet up with family in August.

In early October I acquired some new camera gear and was eager to use it.  My first trip was to Port Townsend where I knew I could click away in some beautiful scenery on a clear day.

I visited the Fort Worden State Park and headed out to the Point Wilson lighthouse.  There were some lovely wispy clouds adding textures to my images.  I had a great time.

Point Wilson Lighthouse

Old bunkers at Fort Worden

 Next trip a couple weeks later was up beyond Port Angeles to Salt Creek Park and surroundings.  I had never been here before so this day trip took some planning, a picnic basket and a map.

I enjoyed seeing some new sights and driving a highway I'm pretty sure I've never traveled.

There are old bunkers here too and some impressive shoreline, unfortunately the tide was coming in so I missed walking along the beaches for better shots.  But I did get these.

Salt Creek campground

Salt Creek beach

My main trip was out to the coast for my annual trek up to Ruby Beach.  I usually stay in Moclips at a place that overlooks the ocean.  The next day I drive up around the Quinault Reservation, past the Lake Quinault Lodge and then back out to the coast.  Those first beaches are breathtaking!  Kalaloch, Beach 1, 2, 3 and 4, then Ruby.  I usually start there and work my way back.

The fog was just lifting after a very stormy night.  

Here are some shots of Ruby.

A nice long walk down the beach and back, then lunch out of the back of my car overlooking the beach.

Next stop Beach 4.  This has a long and winding trail down to the beach, lots of steps, not for the out of shape.  By this time of day the light was playing peek-a-boo through the trees and ferns, it was so magical!  I tried to get a few shots of that as well as the beach.
Here is Beach 4.

It was a great day.  The drive to and from the condo is about an hour and a half each way, so it was an all day trip.

Happy to get back before dark and enjoy a fire in the fireplace and almost a sunset (clouds rolled in).

Drove home the next day.

All of these images are available on my website at www.jenigrayphotography.com and some of them are available on my new boutique site at https://jenigrayphotography.shootproof.com .  

At home I have been working with the new camera and lenses.  We are getting used to each other.  I've done some still life work indoors which is pretty flat right now, but I know where I'm going with it.  Here are the beginnings.

So as you can see, my life has pretty much been all about the new gear!  But this month (November) I rolled up my sleeves and got caught up on all the Fall yard work.

Next week I'm having the energy audit done through the Community Action.  This will determine what my energy uses and needs are.  Then, at some point in the near future, I'll be getting some work done to insulate and fix leaks.  I'll be sure and write about that as it happens.

Hope this finds you all gearing up for the holidays.

***All Images Copyright 2019 - All Rights Reserved.  ***

Photo Collection Publication

After two years I finally finished the collection of images of the Washington Coast!
It's a humble little publications but 40 pages of black and white photography I took over the past two years.
Now available on MagCloud for only $12.50!

This is rated for all audiences, makes a great gift or coffee table book.  Measure 8x8 inches.

Washington Coast

By Jeni Gray in Photo Gift Books

40 pages, published 10/24/2019

A collection of black and white photography. Featuring the coast along the State of Washington, USA. This is the perfect soft cover coffee table book or gift. Rated for all audiences.

Summers End

I haven't taken a vacation, let alone an over-nighter in seven years!  Some of that was due to low funds in the beginning of my New Pioneer adventure, later it was an unreliable vehicle that left me leery of going too far.  But in the past two years I have had a reliable new car and enough money for at least an over-nighter - some place.  However other things had to line up as well - like two days off in a row, near perfect weather and not during a holiday.  

Finally this month it all aligned and I was off to drive the "loop" as we call it out here.  It all happens on highway 101 and goes all the way around the Olympic Peninsula of Washington state.

I left from my place in Lilliwaup on the Hood Canal at 7:30am and headed north through Sequim and Port Angeles.  Then there's a lovely drive around Lake Crescent.

Next stop is Forks, filled up the gas and another quick 30 minutes to Ruby Beach, totaling 4.5 hours drive.

 There is something magical about Ruby Beach!  It has the coolest rock formations, pebbles, wildlife and spectacular views.  The sun was shining brightly and after the fog burned off it was 76 degrees!

Next stop just south of Ruby is Beach #4.  I do not know why they call it that.  It too has some fabulous rock formations and views.

Then it is back on the road for another hour and a half drive inland around the Quinault Indain Reservation, then out Moclips Highway back to the coast.

I reserved a room for one night at the cozy Sandpiper Beach Resort.

This was the view from my cabin.  I sat out on the deck till after sundown.

 Finally I got to see the sunset on the coast.  What took me so long, who knows, but I won't wait this long ever again. 

As a PS, it's only another 2.5 hour drive home from here around the southern end, through Aberdeen, then east to Shelton and back up 101 to home.