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  3. TRAVEL: 2007 through 2011
  4. JULY AND AUGUST, 2010 STATESIDE TRIP

AUGUST, 2010: WA AND RETURN HOME

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This old railroad tunnel was, until recently, open as a part the John Wayne Pioneer Trail. At 2.3 miles long, it is totally cool to stroll through. It is straight enough that from one end you can (once your eyes adjust a bit for the darkness) see the far end, which appears to be a distant star in the middle of the darkness of the tunnel. Apparently recent inspections have shown risk of cave-in's, so the tunnel has been closed. I was disappointed at this, but the disappointment of not walking through it again was preferable to the possibility of experiencing a cave in.<br /> <br /> It is quite cold inside the tunnel, and you could feel the frigid air mixing with ambient air far from the opening. As the tunnel air contacts the outside atmosphere there is instant condensation, forming the mist you see here in the sunlight.<br /> <br /> Curious about location? Click on the little "i" in the circle, then on "Map" in the pop-up.<br /> <br /> UPDATE: If you would like to see what the tunnel looks like from the inside, take a look at the last 4 photos of the following gallery:<br /> <br /> <a href="https://www.optimimagery.com/THIS-IS-ME-Vacations-around-Sa/TRAVEL/TRAVEL-2016/JULY-2016-WASHINGTON-STATE/i-6JLCCC6">https://www.optimimagery.com/THIS-IS-ME-Vacations-around-Sa/TRAVEL/TRAVEL-2016/JULY-2016-WASHINGTON-STATE/i-6JLCCC6</a>
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This old railroad tunnel was, until recently, open as a part the John Wayne Pioneer Trail. At 2.3 miles long, it is totally cool to stroll through. It is straight enough that from one end you can (once your eyes adjust a bit for the darkness) see the far end, which appears to be a distant star in the middle of the darkness of the tunnel. Apparently recent inspections have shown risk of cave-in's, so the tunnel has been closed. I was disappointed at this, but the disappointment of not walking through it again was preferable to the possibility of experiencing a cave in.

It is quite cold inside the tunnel, and you could feel the frigid air mixing with ambient air far from the opening. As the tunnel air contacts the outside atmosphere there is instant condensation, forming the mist you see here in the sunlight.

Curious about location? Click on the little "i" in the circle, then on "Map" in the pop-up.

UPDATE: If you would like to see what the tunnel looks like from the inside, take a look at the last 4 photos of the following gallery:

https://www.optimimagery.com/THIS-IS-ME-Vacations-around-Sa/TRAVEL/TRAVEL-2016/JULY-2016-WASHINGTON-STATE/i-6JLCCC6

johnwaynetunnel

  • This old railroad tunnel was, until recently, open as a part the John Wayne Pioneer Trail. At 2.3 miles long, it is totally cool to stroll through. It is straight enough that from one end you can (once your eyes adjust a bit for the darkness) see the far end, which appears to be a distant star in the middle of the darkness of the tunnel. Apparently recent inspections have shown risk of cave-in's, so the tunnel has been closed. I was disappointed at this, but the disappointment of not walking through it again was preferable to the possibility of experiencing a cave in.<br /> <br /> It is quite cold inside the tunnel, and you could feel the frigid air mixing with ambient air far from the opening. As the tunnel air contacts the outside atmosphere there is instant condensation, forming the mist you see here in the sunlight.<br /> <br /> Curious about location? Click on the little "i" in the circle, then on "Map" in the pop-up.<br /> <br /> UPDATE: If you would like to see what the tunnel looks like from the inside, take a look at the last 4 photos of the following gallery:<br /> <br /> <a href="https://www.optimimagery.com/THIS-IS-ME-Vacations-around-Sa/TRAVEL/TRAVEL-2016/JULY-2016-WASHINGTON-STATE/i-6JLCCC6">https://www.optimimagery.com/THIS-IS-ME-Vacations-around-Sa/TRAVEL/TRAVEL-2016/JULY-2016-WASHINGTON-STATE/i-6JLCCC6</a>
  • Yum! Salmonberries!
  • Sweet morsels. Not available in stores, you've got to pick these yourself for the experience.
  • Pike Market in Seattle.
  • The last photo captures the true visual better. This one captures the "feel" of the place better. For more on Seattle's remarkable and historic public market, click on the following link:<br /> <br /> <a href="http://www.optimimagery.com/Travel/JULY-AND-AUGUST-2010-STATESIDE/August-2010-Pacific-NW-vol-I/13734055_WkssD#1004324696_8Ughu">http://www.optimimagery.com/Travel/JULY-AND-AUGUST-2010-STATESIDE/August-2010-Pacific-NW-vol-I/13734055_WkssD#1004324696_8Ughu</a>
  • Pike Brewery Restaurant. Bri discovered this place, which has become one of our favorite Seattle food establishments.
  • One of many beer quotes from famous folks proudly displayed at Pike Brewery.
  • Chrome sculpture at SeaTac airport. I like to get through security early so I know that there will be no glitches. That gives time on the "inside" with a camera. You know what I do in THAT situation!
  • Black and white self portrait, of sorts. Do you see both of me?
  • Bellevue in the foreground. Glacier Peak in the background. <br /> <br /> I usually place the marker (for the Map This feature) at where I was when I took the photo. For this photo, however, I have marked Bellevue. I am over central to northern Seattle.<br /> <br /> Chelan (not visible in this photo, of course) is just over Glacier Peak, and maybe a little to your left (north).
  • Northern Seattle. Mount Baker on the horizon to your left. Glacier Peak to your right. Lake Washington between us and Glacier Peak. If you follow the bridge over Lake Washington from your right to left, once you get just beyond the little "bay," that area just beyond the road is the University District. The large structure with the 2 parallel white roofs is Husky Stadium (left of and slightly below center).<br /> <br /> It's always a treat to see any of these giant mountains, from any distance or any altitude.
  • The magnificent Olympic Mountains.<br /> <br /> You will see the road to Hurricane Ridge (Heart O' The Hills Road) enter the screen (to your upper left) just as this video ends.
  • The land in the background is Vancouver Island (the area around Victoria). The water is the Strait of Juan De Fuca. The Heart O' the Hills road is one of my favorite drives: You can see Hurricane Ridge at the left end (better view of it in the next photo). <br /> <br /> Again, Hurricane Ridge, and not my location, is marked on the Map This feature.
  • Here you can see Hurricane Ridge a little closer. While it is one of the most spectacular places you can drive to, the name comes from the fact that the wind nearly constantly howls like a hurricane. I can remember only once in my experience when it did not live up to its name.<br /> <br /> The long peninsula you see extending into the Strait of Juan De Fuca is the Ediz Hook, Port Angeles, WA. Victoria, B.C. is straight up, across the Strait. The land you see to the right of Victoria is part of the San Juan Islands. All of this makes up some of the most spectacular part of our fine planet.<br /> <br /> I love living on Saipan, but I've gotta admit that I also miss being able to jump in the car and drive to these places. They are a ways from Chelan, but they are within a day's drive.
  • Port Renfrew, B.C., along the West Coast Trail. I've never been to Port Renfrew, but did hike a bit along the western end of the trail to it (which is off the photo to your left) around Bamfield. Another place I would like to return to, one of these days.
  • Pachena Bay (the small, sort of "squarish" bay just in front of the engine). Bamfield is just a little more up and to your left from Pachena Bay (look closely and you can see that there are houses there). The trail from Bamfield to Port Renfrew is also called The Lifesaving Trail. It was put in because of all the ships which ran aground in this area. For most of its length, it actually consists of two trails, one for low tide and one for high. Hikers wanting to hike portions of the low tide trail carry tide tables with them, because there are places where as the tide comes up hikers on the lower trail can be totally stranded against sheer cliffs as the water slowly approaches. Actually the word stranded describes what happens if they are lucky: In some places the lower trail is over areas totally inundated at high tide.<br /> <br /> The Map This feature marks Bamfield for this photo.
  • The town of Tofino is the farthest north I have ever been on the west coast of Vancouver Island. There are ferries which will take one further north, and some places on up which sound downright enchanted. Another area I plan to see sometime.<br /> <br /> Thanks for joining us on this journey! I hope you enjoyed it. See you next time!

  • BeverLi

    on October 1, 2010

    We drove by here on our way home from NY......they are widening the road and doing all kinds of work. Would NOT want to be in there while they are doing that!

    Great pick for BW shot. It's always nice to know the light is shining on Bri

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