409 7/20/1941 Albert Erwin to Helen Carlson

Albert Erwin Port Angeles, Washington Sunday, July 20, 1941

Helen Carlson Holly Hill, South Carolina

Dear Helen, Well here we are on our vacation trip. We left home at noon yesterday. We ferried from Tacoma and then drove through Gig Harbor and Bremerton and up to Port Gamble up at the end of that strip of land. Then we ferried back to the Olympic Peninsula at a little settlement called Shine, then we drove to Port Ludlow, a sawmill town. The big mill and lumber yard burned down several days ago but the ruins were still smoking. We were going to make a short cut back to the main highway but got into two dead end roads. You see the road was high up and along the water so we missed the turn on account of watching the Sound. We made several miles, though. We then left the highway again at Sequim, Washington and drove out to Dungeness. I have heard so much about that place as they catch a lot of big crabs there, but it was only a little shack town. There was a long pier (about half a mile) out into the Sound so wee drove out to the end. It was narrow and had three places built out so that cars could pass. It was quite thrilling out though the water was rough. We then headed for Port Angeles. Got there at six o’clock. We didn’t want to go further on account we knew there would not be any cabins along the Sound and we didn’t want to go inland past Lake Crescent. Do you remember that lake? We drove around the town and then out on the harbor breakwater and out to the lighthouse. The wind was blowing hard and the big waves were rolling in. Some fishermen started out but came back in a hurry. They said it was too rough for their small boat. It was getting dark by that time so we came back to town and got a small cabin for a dollar. Nothing fancy, but had a good bed, running water and a cute little wood stove. I forgot to mention that we drove to Port Townsend also. There is a Coast Guard station there, also Fort Worden. We had hamburgers and coffee there and then ate some more after we got settled in the cabin. We had coffee, bacon and pancakes for breakfast. Mother has washed the dishes and has been packing up. We will start for Neah Bay soon. Cape Flattery is just beyond Neah Bay on the ocean and in the Juan de Fuca strait. It is cloudy and foggy now, was the same yesterday but cleared up about noon. Last night we could see Vancouver Island across the strait. Love, Pop My dear Helen, Papa has written you such a nice letter I will not have to say much about our yesterday trip more than that. It was lovely and I enjoyed it very much. It was fun ferrying at Gamble to Shine. Friday we went to Mt. Adams with the Dahlstroms. We got up early and were at their place at 7 A.M. Cully had gone fishing the day before with Pat into Lost Lake. We had a good fish breakfast and then started for Adams. It was grand up there. We saw ever so many lovely lakes. Cully kept saying he liked Rainier, but thought Adams was even more beautiful. It is all so wild up there and there are so many beautiful trees. The Western white pines were covered with little orange-colored cones about two inches long. In among the green needles they looked like tree trimmings. Ruth was good. We had lunch at the park entrance by a stream that reminded us of Greenwater and there ___ at Ohanapecosh. Had a letter from you Friday. Will write more later. Love, Mother.