Leaving Washington and Heading Into Idaho and Montana~

I don't know about my visitors to my blog, but I am running out of steam on this long journey we that took last month.
In over 2,500 images taken, I created over 250 mosaics to share on here.
I had enough to share for the next 4 weeks, but edited a bunch the other day and downsized them to this week and next week, with 2 individual post presentations each week.
I think that you will enjoy the post that follows this one as well...
Missed Step into Canada...ha ha, you will see what I mean, when you arrive there.
I so very much appreciate your stopping by each week... it is like having guests in our home and the only thing missing is seeing your kind faces and hearing your voices...
that is left to the imagination.
Living in KY, what kind of voice do you think I may have...you may be surprised ;)
After viewing this post, there is another one entered that connects directly to this one, so please be sure to stop by and scroll down through that one as well...it is worth the sharing.
Next week, the last 2 entries for this year's journey.
HURRAH~

Remember to double click on the image, to view a larger slide show of the images shared

 

I am linking up with Mary for:
"Mosaic Monday"

at: 

 

 http://dearlittleredhouse.blogspot.

 

and

 

 

I am linking up with Stewart at:

   Wild Bird Wednesday

        (http://paying-ready-attention-gallery.blogspot.com.au/)
 

I will also be linking up with Sylvia at:

SkyWatch Friday

 

I invite you to check out more 'Skywatch Friday' posts from around the world at:

 

http://skyley.blogspot.com/

 

 

Glaucous Gull at Ocean Shores in Washington, and my pup-cub Silveit~ 

Sunrise in Washington state and my Long Coat German Shepherds Meaka 5 on your left and  9 month old Silveit on your right~ 
 

 

Most may already know, but the majority of these images were taken through glass from a fast moving car...
sigh,
yet very pleased as to how they turned out~
 

 

 

 Fog met us at every turn in Washington, and it lasted hours and hours. 

Would you believe that not once, but twice in 6 days we drove right by Mt. Rainier and I never even saw it...it was that foggy...another huge sigh!

Western Red-tailed Hawk soaring~
 

 

I thought this image on left was too sweet 2  Common Ravens and a single Magpie, and I adore sheep in meadows always~

 

Sun coming up, showing it's morning light dance~ 

A Western Red-tailed Hawk hunting as the sun comes up. 
This was early for it...must have missed an evening meal~
 

 

This was taken before we left Ocean Shores, WA~

Somewhere between Idaho and Montana, we came upon a lake on a very cloudy day. 
I am guessing that this is a Red-necked Grebe, but will most assuredly accept correction, if I am wrong~

On the same body of water, with no name that we could find, were some American Coots as well~

 

 

Oh My, I had never seen this before...these Elk were on land, and enclosed in fencing and not roaming wild...how sad this was...bummers for them~ 

 

 

A Western Red-tailed Hawk peeking around, trying to see what I am up to.

The husby had pulled off into a scenic stop, so I could get a few nice snaps~ 

 

 

 

 

 A rancher was out talking to his cattle one afternoon. 

Does someone know what that thing is in his hand? 

He kept moving it back and forth and the cattle seemed to be interested.

 

Some Montana beauty showing up on the Northwestern section of the state~

 

I wanted to just bring this little one home with us. 
Between our pup-cub and this little one, they were keen to be playful with one another~

 

Enter the Hoh and Quinault Rain Forest...Well Sort of~

Well, if you are following my journey, you already know that this was our longest destination point...the Pacific Rain Forests, and Olympic National Park, in Washington.
My husby drove 500 miles plus a day for 5 days to reach Washington and this was day 6.
We were heading down the lane that takes you into the gates at Hoh Rain Forest and this particular morning, I must confess, I was sick at my stomach. 
I had watched the morning news, only to realize that the government SHUTDOWN was still in force and that this day, I would miss out on my long awaited 43 year dream of entering Hoh, Queets and Quinault Rain Forest. 
Chances are extremely slim, that this journey will ever come about again...
Just look at the colours unfolding in the image above, glorious beauty.
I hope that you will be sure to view the post prior to this one as well, for they go hand in hand on this journey made last month~


Remember to double click on the image, to view a larger slide show of the images shared

 

 I am linking up with Stewart at:

   Wild Bird Wednesday

        (http://paying-ready-attention-gallery.blogspot.com.au/)

I will also be linking up with Sylvia at:

SkyWatch Friday

I invite you to check out more 'Skywatch Friday' posts from around the world at:

http://skyley.blogspot.com/

A Common Raven rests upon a moss covered branch outside the gates~ 

The wondrous layers of colour and textures just took our breath away~  

 

 

Even snails and slugs grew larger here. 
An Oregon Junco is a subspecies of the Dark Eyed Junco and this was the only one that I saw, but hey, it was a bird...yea.
OK, did I go around the gates, did I step around them and defy the law...I will never tell.
Here I am with our 2 Long Coat German Shepherds.
9 month old Silveit to my right and 5 year old Meaka to my left~

Each of the images showing these trees and ferns and mosses, just totally mesmerized me.  I so wanted to just take off and wonder a bit, but this is also bear country and other wild things and so I did not dare risk any chances~

 

 

I would so appreciate a good ID on these birds in flight.  
The images were cropped, as the birds were far out and we were not allowed on the National Park beaches either...sigh!
I thought possibly White-winged Scoters, Wigeons, Scaups?
My guide does not show all of the possibilities in flight.
Thanking Phil Slade for proper ID...yea...White-winged Scoters~

Well at least Ruby Beach had a couple of pull offs to be able to at least stop and view some of the beauty, even if you could not poke your toes in the sand~

And then, there they were...we had not been able to view any whales along the coast so far and even though they were far away, they were there...yea!
I checked on Bing and Google and I am pretty sure that these would have been Gray Whales~

 A Common Raven perched atop driftwood at La Push~

We have now made it down the coast to Quinault Rain Forest area and yes, we cannot get in here either...the whole SHUTDOWN was absolutely miserable for many reasons, of which do not get me started, sigh, you would never hear the end of it~

 

 

 

A Pacific Northwest Song Sparrow~
 

 

 

We drove pretty far back on the loop and then came upon a couple driving toward us.  They had gone 6 more miles in and said, it was not worth the trip back in mostly a muddy dirt road way.  

It was us stopping to speak with them, that I heard a rush of water.  

It was not a large waterfall by any means, but there was just something about the timing, that really made me happy.  

We were missing the larger picture, but we were also viewing the smaller ones, and I had to smile~

Another little Pacific Northwest Song Sparrow in the Hydrangeas~