We moved to a new spot on Washington’s beautiful coast yesterday.  It’s right on the North Bay shoreline and is owned and managed  by the Quinault Indian Tribe.  (Known as Point Brown in the Washington Gem Trails book)  How wonderful it is to walk right out onto the beach from our camper.  We can see Mt. Rainier way in the distance when it is clear.

And the Olympic Mountains with Mt. Olympus.  There is a sandspit with driftwood and beach stones.  Beach walking as the waves work the stones around in the sand is a delight.

The Nisqually Glacier, one of the largest glaciers on Mt. Rainier, once carved out this valley and deposited many rounded stones here.  This makes for some rockhound fun!  I found Petrified Wood, Red Jasper, Chinese Writing Stone (Porphyry), Granodiorite, Basalt, Dassasite, Breccia, Fossils in Limestone & Sandstone, Chert & Epidote.  I did not find any agates, which are here (Carnelian type).

This is a super doggie-friendly place.  Angie got to run off leash on the beach and got totally tuckered out.  We also found a silver ring and a pocket knife metal detecting on the beach.  Tonight’s sunset was the perfect ending to a perfect rockhounding day.

Tomorrow we cruise south to Oregon’s beautiful coast.  Friends Herb and Dawn, our neighbors at the campground in Kalispell, spent a couple hours giving me invaluable tips for making our upcoming tour of Oregon and California fantastic.  Huge thanks to Herb and Dawn for their kind help!  You guys rock!