OK, so I am trying to figure out the best (read easiest and cheapest) way to move from Alabama to Washington. 3,000 miles. Gas is $3.30 a gallon. I am counting pennies, figuring and re-figuring our budget. Never planned a move this complicated. But it will work out. This may sound odd, but it just "feels right." It feels like this is something that is supposed to be, so everything else is just details. Granted, the details are complicated and giving me a migraine. But still are details.
This will be a blog about Forks, Washington. I promise. I will have first hand info when we get there. In the mean time, I have my wonderful niece's account to share:
"It is very much the country, if you haven't been there before you may be surprised at how quiet and unoccupied it is for being so close to the ocean. Lots of land, not a lot of populated areas, not a lot of money in the area considering how beautiful it is and how all the beautiful places seem to get snatched up by those with the money to spend. That's what I love about it the most, although I fear if we really do have global warming that in the next decade or two that dynamic will change as the Californians move north.
With that said, we LOVE LOVE LOVE the peninsula. And you'll be in the middle of Native American country which is cool, lots of reservations around the area. We also Love the area because of Olympic national park, mountains and rainforests, old-growth forests, hotsprings, etc. with lots of animals like elk, bear, deer, etc. etc. The ocean right there is great, totally love it and hear that in the winter it's great fun to watch the storms roll in off the ocean (we haven't done that yet). I will say the water is COLD and never warms up enough to really swim in, although from time to time you'll see some brave kids try it. Surfers wear wetsuits even in the summer. BUT we love to take our dogs to the beach particularly fall-spring because the beaches are so empty they can run and go crazy. I can't even tell you how much we love it there, we'd love to buy vacation property out there but can't really afford that. :) Maybe retire out there some day. We go camping out there on the peninsula all the time, mostly in areas a bit south of Forks, and we've done the backcountry hiking, etc. The great thing is you can go to the beach and then climb a 10000 foot peak and not have to go very far to do it! I get rejuvenated every time we're out there because it's so natural and beautiful and the people are real and mostly friendly but not overly so. The only thing we don't love is seeing the logging that happens out on the peninsula, but people have to make a living and it's not like I've boycotted all things made with wood. "
Here are a couple of interesting websites:
http://www.forkswa.com/ the local chamber of commerce
http://www.forksforum.com/ the local newspaper link
Now, I am going to take some Tylenol and lay down and stop thinking about the complicated details of moving! :o)
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2 comments:
love the pug!
Well HEY BamaLaura!! Good for you, girlfriend, you're jumping in there and doing it!! I am so pleased to see both this blog and the fact that you are moving to Washington State. It's not Alaska, but it is definitely the next best thing, IMHO. And Forks is in a gorgeous place. I lived in the Seattle area (Vashon Island, actually) for nearly 20 years, and the Olympic Penninsula was my playground. I've been through Forks many times, and camped and hiked all over that area. It is mind-blowingly gorgeous. The beaches are awesome, especially in winter when no one is there, magnificent stretches of sand and crashing surf with no humans in sight. If Dutch and I ever leave Alaska, the Penninsula is high on our list of where we'd retire to.
You haven't commented on my blog, Tundra Medicine Dreams, lately and I've missed you. I can see that you've been busy! Good luck with your move, it is a huge undertaking, but so worth it. You are coming to one of the most beautiful places in the world. Happy Trails!
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