Kalaloch

Land of Slugs. The Northwest of the US receives a lot of rainfall during the year, which explains why there is an abundance of slugs. In the Kalaloch (pronounced Clay-lock) campground the slugs were everywhere! I am not the squeamish type, but gimme a break already. 

As we rolled up to the campground, an awful smell wafted in our direction. I shouted to Cristina that the park must be having sewage issues. The ranger wasn't on duty so we saw the camp host who explained that a grey whale was rotting on the beach- thus the noxious fumes. Further north, in San Juan we learned that the orcas are starving because their main food source is salmon- which is now scarce due to human consumption. Whales washed up alive or dead is not uncommon in these parts, which really depressed me and got me thinking about what I contribute to society and how I try to make the world a better place each day. I feel like we all need to do something- however small- to make the world suck a little less, and make it better for others, especially future generations.

Kalaloch Campground didn't have showers- which didn't thrill me since we cycled 50 miles in the hot sun that day and we were camping two nights there. Oh well. BUT I did remember to pick up a bag of marshmallows.

We made friends with our neighbors who invited us over for s'mores at their campsite. They had the giant marshmallows- which it turns out aren't that great for roasting because its almost as if they come out of their skin and slip off the stick. BUT they are delicious.

We did a little bike maintenance while we were there. We also visited the tree of life- that incredible tree with exposed roots on the beach. 

Kalaloch is where I started being a jerk to my girlfriend. I had stopped doing my morning meditations and had not been to a meeting in two weeks... Even though I wasn't using drugs or drinking booze, my character defects were flaring up.