Tuesday, August 9, 2011
Kalaloch Lodge

   After a quiet walk along the lake, we leave Lake Quinault Lodge with its expansive lawn, hydrangeas and waves lapping gently at the lake shore. The drive from Lake Quinault to Kalaloch is not that long, perhaps an hour. Near the ocean, roads lined with white and lavender wildflowers give way to rocky beaches. Just off the road short trails lead to miles of sand, forests on one side, water and jutting rocks on the other. We walk on Kalaloch Beach, crossing a narrow channel to more sandy beach. Children run wild in the waves at the beach end. Dogs too. One golden retriever cannot get enough of the water in the cove below the lodge.
   Low tide is at 3:30 p.m. today and Beach 4 is supposed to be a great spot to see tide pools. Water recedes from huge boulders covered with barnacles to reveal green anemones and salmon and purple colored starfish. Careful to avoid sharp barnacles, we climb up and down the rocks, and peer into shallow pools. Starfish cling to the rock sides as do the anemones, dark green with light green tentacles. A man is fishing while his two young daughters play in the sand. He catches small fish, 4 or 5 inches long, and immediately places them in a mesh pouch.
   We return to Ruby Beach tonight as the tide comes in. A crowd of people roam the shore, walking at the edge of the surf. A few families are picnicking and children play in the sand. As the sun sets and the fog rolls in, the beach empties. The sea stacks remain shrouded in gray mist. A family of sea otters, two adults and two pups, splash in the water between the sea stacks, thoroughly enjoying themselves. Only Tim is lucky enough to see them before the parents chirp and lead their offspring into the waves.

Author - Christine Baleshta
Photography - Tim Springer