We met Jerome and Philippe for breakfast - no matter how many times we checked the weather forecast it consistently predicted heavy rain all over Western Canada and the Northern Cascades in Washington, USA. In the end we decided to proceed with Chris’s carefully researched plan A - A long drive south over the Canada / USA border to Mount Baker in the Northern Cascades, and hike up to the Hidden Lake lookout with a view to staying overnight in the fire lookout h...

Sunday 24th September - day 5. Hurricane Ridge to Sol Duc Falls, Hoh Valley and the Pacific Coast. We woke late - about 9am - in the peaceful forest of Olympic National Park. The spot where we camped was deserted apart from a small chipmunk. Tall trees stretched up to a bright blue skies. Chris (in training for the Moab trail marathon in November) went for a run whilst we made breakfast and then we sat in the forest to eat. There have been emails from China whi...

Saturday 23rd September - day 4 - Vancouver to Everett, Washington, to the Olympic National Park. 105 miles. Well, that was a very short night! Another one! We woke at 4.30 ready for our 5.15 taxi. After an 'eat the fridge' breakfast we were outside with our bags and away to the station. As our train is travelling from Canada into USA there is a lengthy check in process with photographs and finger prints and bag check in, but eventually we are on board and se...