Enjoy a mini cruise on your birthday

By Anne Draper

A birthday at any age can be a cause for celebration! And an 84^th birthday became one of the best ever on September 23, 2015. Word of mouth information explaining Victoria residents are eligible for one free round passenger fare to Port Angeles, Washington on one's registered birth date found the writer ready to board the classic 1959 MV Coho Ferry. Valid ID was presented at the Belleville Street Black Ball Ferry terminal a half hour before the 10:30 am sailing time that took 90 minutes on a sunny September morning. Finding a seat beside a friendly couple using mobility aids - a folding three wheel scooter and a cane, triggered an instant conversation when they saw the writer's Nordic Poles usually used for hiking or cross country skiing. We boarded the Coho via the special ramp provided for mobility-challenged passengers, sailing from Victoria's busy Inner Harbour where a coastline of clustered buildings, old and new, were being recorded by cameras, smart phones and ipads. A pod of magnificent fast moving whales were sighted as we reached open water in the Strait of Juan de Fuca! Most passengers rushed to the side of the ship to snap more photos. We three passengers missed the scene. Story telling conversation made time disappear and we arrived in the quiet Port Angeles harbour during the noon hour.

Donald and Phyllis Darling who met in Paris, married in Las Vegas 38 years ago, were returning from a visit to Victoria and had parked their vehicle at the quiet ferry terminal lot. They kindly offered to drive their Canadian visitor to Hurricane Ridge located in Olympic National Park, an 18 mile drive from Port Angeles. Phyllis, who uses a folding scooter for travel, apologized for her need to prepare for Yom Kippur, an annual Jewish holiday, when we reached the lovely home that commands a breathtaking view of the coastline. Donald drove on quiet smooth switchback roads that are patrolled by US Forest Rangers located at the entrance of Olympic National Park. A scenic route of green/gold forest unfolded under a blue cloudless sky that September afternoon. My volunteer American Tour Guide offered to snap a photo at the first viewpoint where the air felt fresh and clean. The newly paved road took us higher and higher until Hurricane Ridge came into view. There we met a young couple from Europe who marvelled at the bird's eye view of Canada and our City of Victoria coastline. We learned about the 600 miles of trails that weave throughout the park; from short easy loop trails to rigorous primitive hikes along high passes. One hundred and sixty eight miles of paved and gravel roads are currently listed. Visit .

A stop at the friendly Port Angeles Tourist Bureau provided reams of information, including the history of Port Angeles: "Port Angeles became the customs port of entry in 1862 which it lost 4 years later. After the Civil War, a war weary nation was on the move; and by 1893 Seattle had an eastern rail link. Port Angeles boosters encouraged settlers and newcomers. Its harbour was growing in importance as more logs, raw and milled, were shipped out. It was hoped a major railroad terminus with logging and mill businesses would locate. The Depression dashed those dreams." (by John Kendall, Volunteer Researcher with the Clallum County Historical Society) . Today this active deep water seaport with its proud and colourful history is the gateway to Hurricane Ridge. Olympic National Park often is called "three parks in one." Where else can you view breathtaking mountain vistas, colourful tide pools and some of the largest remnants of ancient forests remaining in North America in just one day? The park protects 922,651 acres encompassing three distinctly different ecosystems - rugged glacier - capped mountains and more than 70 miles of wild Pacific coast and magnificent stands of old growth trees and temperate rain forest. Olympic National Park is a United Nations World Heritage Site and Biosphere Reserve: "Led by NASA and the University of Washington; Ground instruments have begun collecting data that is measuring raindrops and snowflakes for science! A number of partners are involved in the project, including the Quinault Indian Nation, Environment Canada, the National Park Service and the U. S. Forest Service." (Times Colonist November 26, 2015) Port Angeles is a city of friendly residents who are involved in helping visitors from Victoria enjoy the special beauty of the North Olympic Peninsula. Peninsula Trails Coalition operates an all-volunteer organization dedicated to building and improving access to the scenic wonders of the area.

A birthday would not be complete without enjoying a special meal. Smugglers Landing Restaurant with its collection of NHL hockey pennants and televised game between Winnipeg Jets and Minnesota Wild on a late Wednesday afternoon proved yet another reminder of the relationship Canadian visitors are able to experience. Traditional halibut fish and chips dinner, plus a 90 minute smooth sailing to Victoria, found a happy, tired birthday senior counting her blessings upon arriving in James Bay neighbourhood. A neighbourhood where, carved in stone, we find: "MISS MARILYN BELL WHO LANDED IN THIS BAY 23rd AUGUST 1956 TO BECOME THE FIRST WOMAN AND FIRST CANADIAN TO SWIM JUAN DE FUCA STRAIT FROM PORT ANGELES USA TO VICTORIA CANADA" Photo Hurricane Ridge viewpoints

Black Ball MV Coho resumes daily service February 29 2016 after a major refit.