Port Townsend

We had planned to take a little trip up to Port Townsend and take in some of the Olympic National Forest this weekend, but finding a reasonably priced hotel proved to be quite the challenge so we just made it into a day trip. After a 2 hour drive our main stop of the day was to Fort Worden park. Spenser has some very fond memories of this place from a trip his family took up to these parts when he was young and so he wanted to take the kids there.

Fort Worden was an active US Army base from 1902 until 1953. After housing  juvenille detention facility for a while it was when opened as a State Park in 1973. Fort Worden is one of three forts in this area, with Fort Flager (on Marrowstone Island) and Fort Casey (located on Whidbey Island). These forts were built at the entrance of Admirality Inlet to create a "triangle of fire" protecting the Puget Sound from any hostile naval activity. It's guns never fired a single hostile shot, but it was useful in training military personnel and for other defense purposes. There are now a bunch of artillery batteries to run around and explore.

Eating lunch

Zach didn't understand the principle of staying

dry so we just let his look trashy in his diaper!

After we ate some lunch the kids spent a little time on the beach. I felt bad that I hadn't taken any swimming stuff since I didn't expect that we would have a whole lot of time on the beach. This made Thomas especially disappointed, but he soon got over it when we walked up to the nearby battery and he saw how much climbing and exploring he could do. 

Battery Kinzie

The battery was huge

The upper portion of the battery

Thomas climbing through the "secret" passage

Olivia had fun running after Thomas

Zach and Spense checking it out

Trying to keep up with his brother

Looking out

View of the inlet from the battery

Exploring with their light

The whole place reminded me of my vision

of a concentration camp. It was kind of eery to me.

Thomas and Olivia had lots of fun exploring everywhere. Thomas found a really cool "secret passage" that he could climb upstairs through. Spenser got a light out of the car and took the kids inside. It was pitch dark in there (and smelt like someone had probably used it as a bathroom) and so that helped to make Miss Olivia feel less scared. 

Zach and his Shadow

Zach trying to pull Shadow

While the others ran around Zach found a little friend. We met Shadow sitting with his owner over on the grass as he waited for his grandchildren. Zach was in absolute dog heaven, especially when he was allowed to hold the lead (leash). He tried to pull Shadow all over the place and commanded her to "sit." Since she was a bit of an older dog we couldn't let him do that for too long. Shadow finally left and Zach was broken hearted. He cried and screamed for his little Shadow and nothing seemed to console him. Luckily, he finally got over it.

Port Wilson Lighthouse

Thomas

Olivia

Zach

After exploring the battery we walked along the beach for a short while trying to find the trail up to the other batteries. We finally found where we needed to be and started our upward hike. Thomas was complaining that we always have to hike everywhere and so we assured him that it wouldn't be anything like Multnomah Falls. Fortunately it wasn't, especially since we had to carry Zach and Olivia a good portion of the way. 

Beginning the upward climb

Zach thought that hiding in the tall 

grass was so funny

There were a couple of batteries up on the hill so there was lots to run around and explore. I was a little more nervous up here though because there was nothing to stop Zach from suddenly diving over the side of one of the batteries. Of course he tried a couple of times, but Spense and I were keeping a very close eye on him.

The Ash battery

Running around

We had to use some of the 100 year

old stairs to get up and down. One of us climbed

down and then passed Zach down which scared me.

It was pitch black in here without the flash

The big heavy doors

The big open battery. Do you see why I was

nervous about someone falling over the edge?!

Heading out

After our explorations we drove into Port Townsend to find something to eat. Zach was fast asleep from all of his running around in the heat so we laid him down on the chair in the diner we found. We had some burgers and shakes and ended the meal with ice cream. Zach had woken up by this point in a very sweaty state to enjoy a quick cone. We had a short walk around the main street before heading back to the car. The old Victorian buildings were very pretty. After a long drive home we arrived tired and ready for bed. We had another enjoyable day together and we will definitely go back soon to enjoy some more of the Olympic Peninsula. 

Port Townsend had a great home town feel

Brick buildings will always hold a special

place in my heart

A sweaty boy enjoying his cone (and mustard)

Outside of Nifty Fifties diner

Boats in the bay