Ruby Beach, Kalaloch on the Pacific side of the Olympics and Apple Cider Harvest Celebration

We went to get a change of scenery this past weekend and to try to get rid of our mouse problem which Pat (knock on wood) seems to have done with steel wool next to openings they seems to be getting into. They don't like to go pass those blocks.
  If you look at the map above you will see the trip loop route from Port Ludlow to Vashon via ferry, then to Tacoma by ferry and then to Kalaloch then up to Port Angeles and SUNNY Sequim and back to Port Ludlow.  It is over 350 miles, Olympic Pennisula has 3,600 square miles of total wilderness, no roads into the interior. PS Yes Sequim is way more sunny than Stony Brook and many places on the east coast with only 16 inches of rain a year, Port Ludlow gets between 22 to 29 inches and that is a good 10 inches below the National Average. Vashon has 49 inches because it is not in the rainshadow of the Olymics. Ben and Kelsey work a lot in the rain, but only in the winter.  Find Tacoma on the Map and you will see the Island of Vashon where Ben and Kelsey live. We ferried from Port Orchard dotted lines to Vashon not Seattle.
At Ben and Kelsey's a celebration of the harvest with a sacred ceremony and blessing of the apples took place.  (see photos below). The celebration has come become an annual tradition of theirs and an Island Event.  At this ceremony each of us took a half of an apple and look at one side and said thanks for the grace of our lives and all we are given. Looking at the other half we were reminded we have struggles and things to overcome in the time remaining in our lives but to also feel blessed that our struggles are not as hard as others.  One man there was separated from his family because of immigration problems. About 50 people came together, brought a cover dish to share and their music and poetry and apples were pressed all morning.  Pat sang his song "GIVEN" and everyone clapped.  Funny it was hard not to clap even though it was a "holy" moment. Each family took home a quart of cider and the promise they can come back any time in the spring once the fermentation process is done and have apple cider beer.  Apple beer and wine are big here in the Pacific NW as well as legal marijuana.

Then we took the long drive to  Kalaloch Beach Campground and Ruby Beach (above) ain the Olympic National Park on the Pacific Ocean.
They have a beautiful tree there on the beach that is holding up the bank and still growing ;some call it The Tree of Life and others the Tree Cave.  It is a Shore Pine and pretty spectacular.  Kalaloch is Quinault Native American for “a good place to land.” The campground is open all year long and has 175 campsites. The Hoh Forest, an old growth Temperate Rainforest, is nearby, but we gave that a pass this time because Minke Whales were dancing in front of our RV right offshore all day.  We could not take our eyes off them.  We had a view from site D 25 you would not believe. 

Pat's Sun Art on the picnic table.  Kelsey and Pat collecting apples to pass to the next group which cuts and then on to the apple cider press. 

Above the small wood press and there is another mechanical modern looking one they use as well.  I stood for a good 7 hours watching and helping with the food.  I hate this back injury I have.  I am not taking the prescribed drugs because of the too dangerous side effects. This is the first week  since we've been here that its raining.   But still the construction guys work, the house is almost ready for the framing. More to come soon.