Pancake Jack, Jack and Jill: #21 June 2: Techno Wonders at Salt Creek Campground

In June we packed up the car and headed off on another ferry trip, this time over to the Olympic Peninsula to camp at Salt Creek Campground, which sits right on the Straights of Juan de Fuca, just west of Port Angeles. For some reason I have a hard time judging distance on the peninsula—distances look so close on the map, but somehow my calculations for 20 minute drives seem to take three times as long, and I learned on this trip that not only are the distances further than they appear on the National Parks Map, but that the Prius gets pretty crappy gas mileage when it is filled with family and family camp gear.

It took a couple of hours after disembarking from the ferry before we got to the campsite and starting setting up camp, right next door to our regular neighbors, David, Sharon, and Justine. That night we had some delicious Japanese curry and challah and a campfire, and everyone turned in before it got late. Until then, we had had a pretty good set of camping trips without rain, but this time we hit reality: rain through the night, continuing into the morning. Despite the deluge, I was pleasantly surprised that our $60 tent weathered the storm just fine. While I’d be the first to say that our Coleman tent is a piece of junk, and made from the cheapest and weakest materials available, but it did well in the rain. As long as the zippers hold up for one more trip, I think I will have gotten my money’s worth.

For the morning, we explored Salt Water Creek at low tide, finding lots of neat shellfish and scattered logs. Lunch was crunch peanut butter, jelly and beachsand sandwiches, and then we all hopped into the car for a “20 minute” drive to Sol Doc Hot Springs. When we finally got there 2 hours later, Yuken and I were ready for naps, so we snoozed in the car while the rest of the family went in to soak. The hotsprings were nice and hot, the water full of minerals that make you feel clean and healthy…unfortunately there are too many age restrictions. Under 1 not allowed in the pools, under 4 only allowed in a ankle-deep pool, and the all ages pool is unheated. We pushed the limits of the rules: we passed Yuken off as being twice his age, and had Issei dangle his feet in the hot 4&up ones until the life guaurds rushed over to remind us of the rules. Being in what appears to be a remote part of the country—and a long drive from gas stations—it felt strange to have so many rules. We left happy, though, and went back to camp for tacos and campfire roasted chocolate-stuffed bananas. Goopy goodness.

Breakfast on our third day was the next level of instant pancakes: pancakes from a pressurized whip cream can. And organic!? My first thought was that this is an abomination. But the pancakes taste just fine…better than Krusteaz and the other mixes, anyway. Plus you can make neat shapes and designs, like flowers, names and people. And no mess—you just have a pressurized can of batter residue to toss in the trash. Or the woods. It’s organic, so no worries, right?

I did find a recipe for making your own instant pancake mix. I will have to give it a try on our next trip out to the woods.