Our Favorite Places: Ruby Beach, Part One

The Smallest I Had Ever Felt

People often ask which is our favorite destination after traveling the country from coast to coast a countless number of times. Dan and I used to glance at each other helplessly and ask, in which state? When we landed at Ruby Beach, located on the Olympic Peninsula in Forks, Washington, we knew we had found the answer. Or at least, one answer.

We have many favorite places. I thought I would share some now and then, to whet your whistle for your own grand adventure. Be advised that I have many great shots of these places, so some spots might earn more than one post. Ruby Beach will be a two-parter.

We were spending a summer winding our way down the West Coast, having traveled from the U.P. of Michigan to the Northwesternmost tip of the United States at Neah Bay and Hobuck Beach, which will certainly be another “favorites” post. Ruby Beach was a planned stop, but the plan was to be there shortly before sunset, and then hurry to our camping spot before nightfall. This tops the list of travel oversights for this rambling two. We had no idea how wondrous it would be, and how fully enchanted we would become with this jewel of a beach.

The little sand path from the parking lot was steep, but manageable. Unfortunately, at the end of said path, Paul Bunyan had tossed a few dozen giant sized driftwood logs down as Pick-Up-Sticks and never came back to fetch them.

As a traveler who is often mobility impaired, I was heart-broken to realize that I had to straddle and clamber over these bleached wood behemoths to get to the beach. We had very little time left before sunset. We might have taken a longer, but somewhat less treacherous path. I have since heard of one, but we sure didn’t see one that day.

Grateful that we had left the pups behind on this adventure, we took our time getting down to the beach. It was hard to look down at my footing and hand placement when these were the views unfolding before me. I was hoping a ginormous flying lion would swoop down and carry me up to those shadowy peaks off in the distance. I wanted to see all of this from up there.

As I sat on a log as long as a school bus to rest, I felt smaller than I had ever felt in my life. We had not yet seen the Redwoods at this point. My short legs dangled and didn’t even make it halfway to the ground. The proportions of the driftwood logs, compared to little ol’ me, and even big, tall Dan, left us both awestruck. This stop was one that challenged me greatly and physically took its toll for a couple of days, but I sure don’t regret a moment spent there, taking that walk with Dan. We usually have the chance to rest and recover back at camp, so I was going to give it my best shot. I was an adventure girl on a mission, and I had the big guy for backup. What a relief!

Abbey Island and the cliffs of Ruby Beach, composed of sandstone, are behind me. They were created when an initially level shoreline was eroded by the ocean and cut by the waves, then pushed upwards by tectonic forces.

Sea stacks, made of volcanic rocks and debris flows, have also been deposited in spots along the beach. They are part of the Hoh assemblage and are the last big chunks of rock that were added to the western coast of the United States. To me, the rock formations here look like the shadows of tall ships preparing to dock, or maybe where Jack landed when he shimmied up the beanstalk.

Dan sat a moment to ponder the ways one might build a shelter in this type of environment. Luckily, someone was ahead of him on that idea and the weather was pleasant enough to not have to worry about that on this day.

Liberty and Layla sure missed a good sniff in this shelter!

Our stroll along the beach yielded more magnificent views and some treasures as well. Stay tuned! This beach stroll is a two-parter, as mentioned. Join us as we move further down the beach and back to the van in my next newsletter “Our Favorite Places: Ruby Beach Part Two", which will be posted tomorrow.

Best beaches to you and yours,

Brenda Cordray

“The Desert Rose”

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