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Borrego Springs, CA

Wednesday, September 8, 2010

Strait of Juan de Fuca

A couple of weeks ago I had left a question on another blog about who Juan de Fuca was.  Today, RICK posted the answer to my query on his post.  I won’t reiterate the tale here as you can check out his blog if you haven’t already read it.  Anyway, the Strait of Juan de Fuca is between Washington State and British Columbia.  It brought back memories of the beginning of my fulltime journey.
IMG_0175In November, 2006, after four months on the road, I volunteered at Fort Flagler State Park on Admiralty Inlet.  The Inlet connects the Strait of Juan de Fuca with the Puget Sound.  Before taking this assignment, I had been assured that November was very mild with no snow.  Ha!
IMG_0177I must say that it started out very pleasant, and you couldn’t beat this view out my front window.  That’s the North Cascades Mountains in the far distance.  Being on a hill on a peninsula, I listened to the marine forecast for the Strait of Juan de Fuca every night.
IMG_0197  Quite a few storms blew through that November, but most ended with a nice rainbow.
IMG_0202 IMG_0203
Fort Flagler was established to help defend the entrance to the Puget Sound in the days before airplanes.  There are many historic buildings and bunkers being preserved in the park.  I learned two important life lessons at this park.  The first was to never again take a volunteer office job.  Yuck!  It just wasn’t my cup of tea.  The second thing I learned was to never believe what people say about the weather.  :)IMG_0205Just after Thanksgiving, one heck of an ice and snow storm hit.  There were three foot drifts of snow, and a three inch layer of ice underneath!  I was literally stuck there for five days, and unable to leave.  I guess they just don’t have the equipment to handle such a storm.  I also vividly remember the electric being out for many many hours, and my generator wouldn’t work.  :(
IMG_0208I was surprised to see kite snow boarders out and about the next day!  They must have had chains on their tires in order to get out to the park.  I guess I also learned another thing.  Get out of Washington and Oregon around the beginning of October if you’re heading South for the winter.  I intend to follow that advice this year.  :)  I know Rick doesn’t head South until after Christmas, but I’m not taking any more chances.

Thanks for stopping by….talk to you later,  Judy

9 comments:

  1. fort flager what a great winter camping spot!!!

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  2. We are always in Tumwater, WA from mid-November until the 27th of December to be by the family for the holidays. Our first year...we had unusually heavy snow 2 to 3 feet that lasted for 2 weeks. Last winter (our second as FT) we didn't have much snow at all but the temps got down to 6 degrees and 8 degrees for lows for about 2 weeks. Highs were only about 20 degrees. Not fun. Can't wait to see what we get this winter. :)

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  3. Those are my sentiments "get out before the end of October" or else you might hit bad roads. Come back after the winter if you have the time.

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  4. Thanks for the mention, Judy. A[art from the weather, Ft. Flagler looked like a pretty nice place.

    During the last 3 years, on our previous trips through Washington St. in late December or early January, all we have ever encountered is heavy rain, but no snow.

    I'm glad the snow there is seems to stay over on the US side of the Strait of Juan de Fuca and doesn't drift over to Victoria.

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  5. When we visited Fort Flagler in February, 2010, we met some enthusiastic volunteer hosts who were working in the store/museum. Maybe they were just glad to have customers! The park recently redid their campground with 50 amp power and full hookups, but it's closed November-February. We look forward to camping there next spring!

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  6. Good advice but us Canucks have to deal with leaving later so we do a lot of praying for good roads for that southbound window.

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  7. How did you stay warm and have enough juice to run the heater? Burrr.

    MikeD

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  8. We got into snow and ice in Waco TX so don't be too sure that is the place to head either!!

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  9. The first few pictures look great, the last less so. Snow is something we work very hard to avoid.

    Looks like a place we would like to visit in June/July.

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