Date:
Tuesday, March 21, 2006
Contact:
Tonia Buell, (360) 705-7439, or buellt@wsdot.wa.gov
Olympia Transit Center
Aboard a Grays Harbor Bus.
Elma Transit Station.
Grays Harbor Transit stops at the Lake Quinault Lodge.
The view from the bus stop at Kalaloch.
Forks Transit Center.
Sequim Transit Center
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OLYMPIA - If you like to explore Washington and want to add some adventure to your travels, consider taking public transportation on your next outing. That's what retired WSDOT employee John Daughters and his wife, Cathy Lykes, did recently on a trip around the Olympic Peninsula by bus and ferry.
On previous trips around Western Washington, the couple had found using public transportation was a relatively easy and inexpensive way to go. Figuring out schedules had not been too difficult using the web site for the Washington State Department of Transportation to link to local transit systems for information. They found the Olympic Peninsula loop would make a great, short vacation with a couple of overnight stops. Leaving West Seattle on a 6:15 A.M. Metro bus for downtown Seattle they hopped on the Sound Transit No. 590 that took them on an express trip to the Tacoma Dome Station for a connection with the Olympia Express operated jointly by Pierce and Intercity Transits.
Pulling into Olympia at 8:45, they had plenty of time for a late breakfast at a downtown cafe before boarding their next bus at the Olympia Transit Center. Just a short walk from cafes and shops, the transit center, with its restrooms, covered waiting area and customer service counter is one of many such transit facilities they have come to appreciate on these trips. For a buck and a half, the traveler can go all the way from Olympia to Lake Quinault on Grays Harbor Transit and be treated to a stress free, scenic and slice-of-life ride. The connection at the Aberdeen Transit Center was seamless - the No. 60 for Lake Quinault was already there and the driver patiently waited while passengers transferred from one bus to another and they were off. The professional behind the wheel said she had found her purpose in life driving the bus. "I've been a driver for over 22 years", she said with obvious pride. "I carry over 250 passengers on an average day and can tell you this service means a lot to folks out here."
The bus pulled up to the stop in front of the Quinault Mercantile at 12:30 allowing for an early check-in at the Quinault Lodge across the road. They had lucked out and caught one of those mild, blue sky breaks that sometimes come our way in February, and enjoyed the network of trails around the lodge and later relaxed in front of the lobby's fireplace, never missing their car. Ready to go again after the Quinault recharge, they took the bus a short way up to Amanda Park on highway 101 for a connection with East Jefferson Transit service into Forks. This leg of the trip brought them out to the coastline with its beautiful beach views. A 15 minute stop at Kalaloch was a chance to stretch and take in the beauty of this place where forest comes down to the sea.
Daughters and Lykes say the trip reminded them again of what we sometimes miss when separated from the world in our cars. A passenger getting on at Queets exclaimed, "Oh, I forgot my purse and I need it to shop at Forks". Indicating it was no problem, the driver backtracked the five minutes to her home where they were met by the women's husband, purse in hand. The unplanned tour of the neighborhood was something they would have missed whizzing by in a car. Ah, the service of rural transit! Arriving at the Forks Transit Center, a 20 minute wait for the Clallam Transit bus to Port Angeles was just enough for a stretch, and a conversation with the National Park Service employee whose information counter shares space in the attractive transit center building. "I used to live in Bellevue and commuted to downtown Seattle by bus every day", he said. "But I love it out here", he added.
Clallam Transit operates a terrific service between Forks and Port Angeles that utilizes a comfortable bus with reclining seats and footrests. The real treat on this portion of the trip was the freedom to gaze out the window at the beautiful scenery as they traveled along Lake Crescent's winding shoreline, not having to focus on the road. Port Angeles was the next over-night stop, and a room in one of the harbor-view motels provided a vantage point to track the comings and going of the marine traffic that includes the ferry Coho and the pilot boats that meet the freighters passing offshore. Leaving on a 10 o'clock bus the following morning, they connected at Sequim with Jefferson Transit, arriving in Port Townsend just after 11:30. The bus for Poulsbo was 3:10, leaving plenty of time for lunch, some browsing in the many shops and a walk around town. Using the Downtown Shuttle to return to the Park and Ride transfer point, they took the No. 7 Jefferson Transit for a ride into Poulsbo where Kitsap Transit carries on to the Bainbridge ferry terminal and the boat ride home.
The get-away by bus was a leisurely and fun way to see the Olympic Peninsula and at $8 and change apiece, it was well under what taking the car would have cost. Daughters and Lykes say they never felt as if they were stuck without their wheels. In fact, the buses with their interesting routes and conversations created a moving sense of community that gave them a new perspective on the Peninsula.
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