Lots have been going on lately, thus the lack of anything remotely resembling a post. I decided to pick the best of most recent, and decided upon the recent camping trip Karen and I recently took...
Once morning hit, we woke up to cloudy skies, but came prepared with a tarp and rope. We quickly put it up and had breakfast of ham/egg/cheese crepes. Afterwards, we went down the road to start our newest hobby, clam digging!
With shovel, bucket and shellfish licenses in hand, we started getting to work. On our last clamming trip, we dug up butter clams, which were about the size of your palm. This time around, we dug up your standard super market manila clams. We also found that there was quite a bit of oysters, but came without oyster shuckers (state law requires that you shuck the oysters on the spot). As time went by, the tides pushed us back further in and the clouds started sinking lower. It was a clear sign that it was time for us to head back to our camp site for lunch.
As we got back to our camp site, it started sprinkling. We tightened our tarp rope, with each tie getting progressively more and more elaborate. Despite our efforts, there was still ponding on the edge of one part of our tarp and I was forced to poke a hole. We took advantage of our dripping fresh water by placing our bucket of clams underneath for them to spit out their sand.
After getting our tarp situation straightened out again, we prepared and ate our lunch of Korean BBQ. This idea stemmed from our love of Korean BBQ and last year's camping trip at Lake Wenatchee. Last year, we were bestowed by the deliciousness of Soo's cooking and her idea of having Korean BBQ for dinner...while camping. This year, we took the Korean BBQ out of the campfire, onto a camping stove, with a grill. It's amazing how simple it is and makes me wonder why anyone would ever want to eat a burger or hot dog while camping. It might even be easier to prepare and make than most camping foods, just bring the grill, the meats (some pre-marinated) and bring some potato salad.
Two weeks ago, Karen and I decided that we were to go camping with only a few days to plan. We found Dosewallips in the Hood Canal area as one of few places still available.
With only Karen and I going, we found that packing was incredibly easy. With gear for just two and our cooler barely packed, we found that all we needed was to fold down the seat of my car, with plenty of room to spare.
With only Karen and I going, we found that packing was incredibly easy. With gear for just two and our cooler barely packed, we found that all we needed was to fold down the seat of my car, with plenty of room to spare.
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| On the ferry |
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| Campfire lil smokies |
We got out of work on Friday evening and immediately left for the Fauntelory ferry to Hood Canal. It has almost become a standard for Karen and I to have to take the ferry to go camping. Even though we're less than a hundred miles away, riding the ferry certainly adds to the feeling that we're getting away from it all.
The closer we got to Dosewallips, the darker it got. We barely had enough time to set up our tent and put up a campfire to enjoy our marshmallows and lil smokies.
The closer we got to Dosewallips, the darker it got. We barely had enough time to set up our tent and put up a campfire to enjoy our marshmallows and lil smokies.
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| Tarp then clamming! |
With shovel, bucket and shellfish licenses in hand, we started getting to work. On our last clamming trip, we dug up butter clams, which were about the size of your palm. This time around, we dug up your standard super market manila clams. We also found that there was quite a bit of oysters, but came without oyster shuckers (state law requires that you shuck the oysters on the spot). As time went by, the tides pushed us back further in and the clouds started sinking lower. It was a clear sign that it was time for us to head back to our camp site for lunch.
After getting our tarp situation straightened out again, we prepared and ate our lunch of Korean BBQ. This idea stemmed from our love of Korean BBQ and last year's camping trip at Lake Wenatchee. Last year, we were bestowed by the deliciousness of Soo's cooking and her idea of having Korean BBQ for dinner...while camping. This year, we took the Korean BBQ out of the campfire, onto a camping stove, with a grill. It's amazing how simple it is and makes me wonder why anyone would ever want to eat a burger or hot dog while camping. It might even be easier to prepare and make than most camping foods, just bring the grill, the meats (some pre-marinated) and bring some potato salad.
Post awesome lunch, the rain decided to definitely set in with no end in sight. Under the protection of our tarp, with a warm rain, a nice campfire and stomachs full, we sat back and relaxed with our own favorite books. Despite the weather, it was definitely nice to be clamped down by the rain and forced to open up a book, reading is something I definitely do not do often enough.
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| At Xinh's |
With some solid reading time in, we cleaned up and headed one hour south towards Shelton. It is here, where we got to enjoy one of our favorite restaurants, Xinh's. The first time we came here was last year while at Alderbrook Resort. We've been trying to find a reason to go here ever since, but due to Shelton being close to nothing, we had been unable to find a reason to go or pass through there. Camping was a good enough reason for us.
Xinh's was opened by a Vietnamese lady (named Xinh of course), who worked for Taylor's Shellfish Farm as an oyster shucker. She also just happened by to be the oyster shucking champion for something like ten consecutive years. Along with being known for her oyster shucking, she was known for her good cooking. As a result, Xinh's was born.
The food is quite simply amazing here. I'm not sure if it's the fact that it's in the middle of nowhere, or that Xinh is right there to greet you, or the massive amount of food that is what makes this place terrific. But the three combined does make for something quite delicious. Karen ordered some mussels, which meant she had a plate of literally 40 mussels. I ordered the oysters, which meant I had a plate of literally 30 oysters. All the dishes are cooked in distinctly familiar southeast Asian flavors. It is definitely worth the trip if anyone is able to find a reason to pass through Shelton.
One of the most enjoyable parts of this trip was driving back from Xinh's. As the sun was setting, the clouds started to clear. There is something unexplainable about driving through fresh evening air, through windy roads, while taking in the waters of Hood Canal. Karen and I have been through Hood Canal three times, twice for camping and once at a resort. Every time, there is something new to see, and every time I look forward to the consistent beauty of driving through there. As we got back, we set up our last campfire of our trip and enjoyed our last smores and lil smokies.
The next morning Karen and I packed up and headed out. As we drove back, trying to soak in the final views of Hood Canal, we ran into a herd of elk. Cars were pulled over with everyone struggling to keep their distance. There must have been at least 50 in total, mothers, fathers and baby elk. They struggled to get across the road, which really explains the elk crossing signs and eventually gave up. We eventually gave up on them crossing also and headed towards the ferry.
While waiting at the ridiculously long ferry line, we ran into one last surprise, Mora Ice Cream. This is a place Karen and I had heard of before, but never thought we would have a chance to try. There are a couple of locations, all of which are located in the Hood Canal area. The ice cream was creamy and smooth; and absolutely helped in our long wait to get back across towards Seattle. This place could give Molly Moon's a run for their money.
Going to Hood Canal has definitely become a once a year affair for Karen and I. Despite the fact that we couldn't fly our kite or see the stars and milky way, because of the rain and clouds, it was a successful trip. Summer is coming to an end soon, but we will for sure look forward to another trip next year full of camping, shellfishing, eating, reading, kite flying, star gazing and whatever else might come up. Who's in for next year? Rain or shine.
Xinh's was opened by a Vietnamese lady (named Xinh of course), who worked for Taylor's Shellfish Farm as an oyster shucker. She also just happened by to be the oyster shucking champion for something like ten consecutive years. Along with being known for her oyster shucking, she was known for her good cooking. As a result, Xinh's was born.
The food is quite simply amazing here. I'm not sure if it's the fact that it's in the middle of nowhere, or that Xinh is right there to greet you, or the massive amount of food that is what makes this place terrific. But the three combined does make for something quite delicious. Karen ordered some mussels, which meant she had a plate of literally 40 mussels. I ordered the oysters, which meant I had a plate of literally 30 oysters. All the dishes are cooked in distinctly familiar southeast Asian flavors. It is definitely worth the trip if anyone is able to find a reason to pass through Shelton.
One of the most enjoyable parts of this trip was driving back from Xinh's. As the sun was setting, the clouds started to clear. There is something unexplainable about driving through fresh evening air, through windy roads, while taking in the waters of Hood Canal. Karen and I have been through Hood Canal three times, twice for camping and once at a resort. Every time, there is something new to see, and every time I look forward to the consistent beauty of driving through there. As we got back, we set up our last campfire of our trip and enjoyed our last smores and lil smokies.
The next morning Karen and I packed up and headed out. As we drove back, trying to soak in the final views of Hood Canal, we ran into a herd of elk. Cars were pulled over with everyone struggling to keep their distance. There must have been at least 50 in total, mothers, fathers and baby elk. They struggled to get across the road, which really explains the elk crossing signs and eventually gave up. We eventually gave up on them crossing also and headed towards the ferry.
While waiting at the ridiculously long ferry line, we ran into one last surprise, Mora Ice Cream. This is a place Karen and I had heard of before, but never thought we would have a chance to try. There are a couple of locations, all of which are located in the Hood Canal area. The ice cream was creamy and smooth; and absolutely helped in our long wait to get back across towards Seattle. This place could give Molly Moon's a run for their money.Going to Hood Canal has definitely become a once a year affair for Karen and I. Despite the fact that we couldn't fly our kite or see the stars and milky way, because of the rain and clouds, it was a successful trip. Summer is coming to an end soon, but we will for sure look forward to another trip next year full of camping, shellfishing, eating, reading, kite flying, star gazing and whatever else might come up. Who's in for next year? Rain or shine.
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