Circle the Olympic Peninsula

[The Mangonel]

Hey gang;
I'm planning an event for June (probably 28-29) to circle the Olympic Peninsula in Washington. Preliminary plans call to start at Little Creek Casino around 8 AM-head up Hwy 101 to Quilcene then back roads to Port Townsend. Short visit in Pt. Townsend then return to Hwy 101 and continue on to Pt. Angeles for the night. If we have time, we'll do a side trip up to Hurricane Ridge in Olympic National Park.
On Sunday we continue on 101, past Lake Crescent and turn off to La Push for a short visit. Return to 101 heading South and turn off to Pacific Beach. take109 down the oceanside to Ocean Shores for a short stop. Depart OS on 109 and return to 101 toward Aberdeen. Continue on 12 East to McCleary and turn off on 108, which returns us to Little Creek Casino.
There is a bit of backroading on this trip, just to keep the interest up. So, what do you think. Is the date okay with everyone? Let me know.

UPDATE for 29 January;
Hotel is ready for calls. We will be staying at the Red Lion in Port Angeles. You can now make your reservations by calling (360) 452-9215. Tell them you are with the S2000 Club. Rates are $119 for a waterfront room and $109 for non-waterfront. There are 5 rooms of each being held until 28 May. After that they return to their normal rate ($179-199) Get 'em early, summer is really popular around the peninsula.

UPDATE for 11 February;
If you want to check out the hotel here's their website: http://www.redlionportangeles.com
2 Rooms are reserved already, 8 to go.

[Alexei]

I wanna go... too bad I live in SoCal.
Maybe I can convince my wife that June would be a good time to "visit my Mom" in Seattle.

[KRPalmer]

Sounds like fun, count us in, I'll mark the calendar.

[The Mangonel]

First the bad news, hotels aren't cheap in Port Angeles. The best deal is actually at the best hotel. The Red Lion (on the waterfront) is cheapest. They want $109 for non-waterfront rooms and $119 for waterfront. That's a lot less than the normal $179 and $199. Everyone else is more expensive.
So here's the choice. We can go with the Red Lion (it is a nice place, I've stayed there before) or we change directions. We would start in Kingston (easy ferry access North of Seattle) and head South on 101. Then we would stay in Ocean Shores. Haven't checked rates yet, but I'm sure they are cheaper.
:mail: So there are the two ideas. I need input on what people prefer. Let me know here or by PM or e-mail. I'll also send out e-mails to all local members I have addresses for. :mail:

[WestSideBilly]

$119 seems quite reasonable to me. The mediocre hotels we stayed at in Vancouver were a lot more. :think:

[photodavo]

Plus there is a nice seafood place right next door. I had such an enjoyable dinner there with friends that we ended up barely missing the last ferry back to Edmonds and had to drive all the way around over the Tacoma Narrows bridge to get back to Bothell. :willynilly:

[WestSideBilly]

Ray, are you sticking with June 28-29?

[VinhPham]

I know for sure that Ocean Shore is alot cheaper. The place my girlfriend and I stayed has an indoor pool and a jazcuzzy. I can get the name of the place later if you guys are interested.

[The Mangonel]

Still on for the 28th/29th. The only place I checked so far in Ocean Shores is the Quinault Resort and Casino - $159. They offered $99, but only on Sunday through Thursday.

[The Mangonel]

Ocean Shores proved more expensive! So tomorrow (Monday) I'm going to call the Red Lion and reserve 10 rooms under "The S2000 Club." You should be able to reserve rooms starting Tuesday. Rooms are supposed to be: $109 for non-waterfront and $119 for waterfront. There is a decent restaurant in the hotel, but a really great one next door (just ask Davo!) Hope to see many of you there. The hotel is a bit more expensive than I wanted, but it's about $80 off their normal price in the summer season, so it is a good deal.

[bimdub]

:headbang:

keep me posted! I will see what I can do to attend this!

[WestSideBilly]

Sounds great Ray. I really don't think $119 is bad at all. How long is that price good for?

I have this on the calendar and I'll get a reservation in soon.

[The Mangonel]

Updated info is in the first thread. Looking forward to this trip. Further info to come!

[The Mangonel]

February 11 update on first thread. Two rooms are now taken, eight to go. These rates are only good until 27 May. Hey Davo, that restaurant is called the Downrigger. Donna and I ate there (again) when we went by a couple of weeks ago. Great food!

[GLTYFUN]

Just made reservations. Thanks Ray for all your work. :rockon:

[The Mangonel]

Just got e-mailed from the manager of the hotel. Three rooms down and seven to go. Remember, if you are thinking of doing this trip, hotel rooms go away on 28 May. And believe me, they are much more expensive if you get your own rooms in Port Angeles.

[WestSideBilly]

One week left before rates go up.


Guess I should get a room. :doh:

[The Mangonel]

I was just contacted the other day from the Red Lion. Rates go up on the 28th. So yep, you've only got 5 days left. That means Tuesday is the last day for these cheap rates! Gas should still be less than $5 a gallon by then.:laugh:

[The Mangonel]

As long as you don't drive a diesel. That's already $5 a gallon around here. Premium is ONLY around $4.25.:shocked:

[WestSideBilly]

I have a room.

[GLTYFUN]

:clapclap: Pam and her husband just made reservations. And glad to see you are going West Side :biggrin:

[WestSideBilly]

Tracy, what's the picture in your avatar?

[GLTYFUN]

It is Sunset at the North Pole. Pretty cool huh ;)

[WestSideBilly]

Very... where's the 1600x1200 version? ;)

[GLTYFUN]

I only have 480 x 360. You going to the next meeting?? ;) ;)

[WestSideBilly]

Assuming it's the 14th, there's a good chance.

I was hoping for a big picture for a background.

[WestSideBilly]

http://graphics2.snopes.com/photos/natural/graphics/northpole.jpg

1024x768.

http://www.snopes.com/photos/natural/northpole.asp

The article discussing that it's CG.

[GLTYFUN]

Ok :( But I still like it. :( :(

Yes, the meeting is on the 14th at the Gig Harbor Puerto Vallarta @ 6pm.

[WestSideBilly]

Ah, not at Honda this time? Sweet, that'll give me more time to get over there. The sunset ferry ride was nice last time, except that I missed the sunset. :LOL:

[WestSideBilly]

Ray -

I was mapping out some of this, quick question - why the early start? Including side trips to Port Townsend and up Windy Ridge, I'm getting about 6 hours of drive time.. figure 8 hours total? Can we push back the start to a more humane 10am? :LOL:

[The Mangonel]

Good idea. Remember, I'm a tourist driver. A bit slower than your average S2000 trip driver. Plus we may not be able to stop in Port Townsend. Some car group is having a gathering and show there. We'll have to see how the parking situation is. We may end up visiting Fort Worden instead.
Anyhow, if we get a little behind it doesn't really matter. Sunset won't be until 8:30 or so, and I have been known to (slightly) exceed the speed limit at times.
I'm just drawing up plans now so I'll change the departure time until 10. That means I don't have to get up as early either. I'll have more info at the meeting next Saturday. Will you be there?

[WestSideBilly]

I'm planning on it. PV in Gig Harbor, right?

[GLTYFUN]

Yes PV in Gig Harbor. :D 6:00pm

Anyone staying at Little Creek Casino on Friday before the drive?

[The Mangonel]

I believe Steve and Sharon intend to stay there. For me, it's only an hour and 15 minute drive.

[WestSideBilly]

:doh:

Ray, any idea on our timing for Sunday?

I have TWO hockey games Sunday evening... first is at 5:15 in Kent (meaning I need to be in Seattle by about 4pm).

[SVPapillon]

Sharon and I will be staying at the casino of Friday night. See ya at the GH Puerto Vallarta on Sat.

[The Mangonel]

Sunday will probably be a pretty long day. It's a fairly long drive around from Port Angeles, and with tourist stops, it'll be a while. I really don't know time wise. It's too hard to predict. But we will probably depart earlier than on Saturday. If you really need to be back in Seattle at that time, there is a shortcut you can take that would get you back quite a bit earlier.

[The Mangonel]

The Chapter is off on the Circle the Olympic Peninsula trip. It's sunny, bright, (dry) and a temperature in the high 80's to low 90's. Everyone is driving with the roofs down. Beautiful drive today with stops at Hoodsport Winery, Port Townsend and Hurricane Ridge. Along with lots of beautiful scenery along the way. Hurricane Ridge was awesome, NO WIND! You should see the pictures - should because we still can't upload pictures.
Even without pictures - thanks guys for all the work to get the site back on line.
Tomorrow's weather prediction - a little warmer. We'll continue the loop tomorrow, ending where we began, only a few hundred miles later.
We'll post pictures when we can. If you haven't been here, you wouldn't believe how beautiful this area is.

[photodavo]

I've been many times Ray and you are correct - absolutely wonderful. The gallery won't be open until the admins can try to recover the photos from the old hard drives next week. In the interim you could upload some to a free account at Photobucket or something similar and link them here. Just a thought. I'm very jealous because that area is one of my favorite plces to photograph. I know you'll have a great time and keep us updated about the trip.

[The Mangonel]

Hey Davo! We had reservations at your favorite restaurant - Downriggers in Port Angeles. The food was great (blackened salmon pasta), but the desert was a scream! Eat Your Heart Out!

[photodavo]

Damn - now I'm REALLY jealous. :)

[WestSideBilly]

Light breeze on Hurricane Ridge today... even got to wave at Canada from 5500 feet. And my sunblock did the trick!

[s2keepup]

wow sounds like a great time!
cant wait to see pix! :clap: