This past weekend was spent on an exploration trip around the Olympic National Park in Washington State, following the 101. The trip began in Seattle, taking the ferry commute to Bainbridge Island, meeting up with the 101 and moving on from there. Some of the best landscape of jagged mountains, dark blue lakes, and old growth forests was waiting to be found. That alone was worth the trip alone, but the next part of the trip brought us to the small town of Forks, Washington where the book and eventually movie,”Twilight” takes place. When we arrived in Forks, a small town on the northwest side of the Olympic Peninsula, I was expecting a parade of obsessed Twilight fans. Instead there was a simple one road town with promises of a cement park. The park was easy to find, almost directly off the 101 as you enter town. There was an amazing bowl complete with three levels and a full range of pool coping. As to be expected bikes weren’t allowed in the bowl, but it didn’t keep me from rolling around in it a little. One unique fixture where bikes were allowed was the whale tale;
an awkward roller to mellow quarter wave structure. There were some other little street obstacles that were fun also. The park was well built and worth checking out if you find yourself up in the area. Beware of the bowl though. Local word is the cops are on patrol and there is a steep $100 fine for riding it. The most interesting thing in town besides the park was a garage which sold Twilight Firewood; well that and the weekend warrior bikers that were in search of vampires. What the hell is Twilight Firewood supposed to be anyways?
Mark Rainha
Photo by Sherry Keith