Day 7--LAKE QUINALT

September 11, 2000
Kalaloch to Quinalt, WA

We're at the Rainforest Laundromat on the south side of Lake Quinalt. We cycled down here after setting up camp. Turned out that there were no laundromat or showers at July Creek, the spot where we’d originally planned to camp. So, we talked to a young guy in a C-store and he directed us to this campground, which we sneaked into as it is closed for the season. We're camped right on this beautiful lake. The only campers, of course, here. There are high mountains across the lake, deep woods this side. We glimpsed snow peaked mountains several times today. At the moment, we're washing everything we own and taking pay showers. How strange to ride my bike without the panniers! Tomorrow we have our first "long" day.

Top left clockwise:Jess on the road to Lake Quinalt; the view across the lake from our campsite; our little tent and me starting dinner on our convenient log table; Jess sorting clothes to take to the Rainforest Laundromat

Lake Quinalt Lodge. It reminded me of something out of the Adirondacks; right: rain gauge on the side of the lodge. Lots of rain on this peninsula with its rainforests, rainbow lodges and laundries. I guess you've got to sell the tourists on what you have the most of.

We rode through part of the Quinalt Indian Reservation today and entered and exited the Olympic National Forest several times. Many of the mountainsides are being logged & we had to contend with logging trucks today for the first time. Most were going in the opposite direction, thank heavens. They roar by at high speeds, spewing pieces of bark.

Clear cut mountains today all along our route

The road shoulder, when we had one, was tricky in spots because they rough-pave the grades for traction and let this surface extend over the outer half of the shoulder. It makes a pavement differential and a very narrow portion that is easy to slip off.

Mexican rice and beans with avocado and cheese, a cuke salad & Murphy's Irish Stout for supper.

Miles: 38

Weather: About 75°F and sunny

Route: Kalaloch to Quinault Lake. 38 miles on Hwy 101 and South Shore Road; fairly easy with only one long climb.