By Phil Rowe
This was our second visit to magnificent Crescent Lake, out on Washington State's beautiful Olympic Peninsula. We stayed, this time, at the Crescent Lake Lodge along the southern shore. On our previous visit we were in a campground on the North side. Last time I paddled my trusty old aluminum canoe. This time it would be my 17-foot sea kayak.
We were to spend two nights, the first on our late afternoon arrival that September day. The second would be after a day of sightseeing, paddling and relaxing in the delightful area around the lake. Our accommodations were comfortable in the motel-like facility just yards from the shore. We had a grand view down the lake in both directions of the east-west oriented lake.
The facility includes both a main building, with its reception, office and restaurant areas, and low motel accommodations. The dining room is warm and comfortable. The food was delicious, and the service friendly and efficient.
It was late that first evening that I put my kayak onto the water. Winds were fresh but not threatening, as I made my way across the lake to check out the place where we stayed on our previous visit. Shadows lengthened as the sun ducked below the surrounding hills and the stillness of night approached. I had the lake to myself, except for one small outboard fisherman's boat that passed by.
