The next stop on our journey was the town of Westport, where we stayed in a small cottage overlooking the ocean. Unfortunately--as we'd already found to be true most of the time on the west coast--it was gray and drizzly as we arrived, and we were unable to appreciate the coastal view just steps from our back door. As we stared into mist, our hostess assured us that the signature "Steeples Rocks" were standing just beyond. We opted for a game of scrabble that evening.
Cottage Garden
The next morning, we drove two hours to another national park, where we took walks in the forest to see two different natural rock formations along a stream. The first was a giant arch that extended far overhead. The second was more like a cave that you walked down to. The stream roared beneath each.
Impressive as they were, these rock formations were really only a cover for the real reason we had come to the park: Jeremy was hoping to spot a rare type of duck. He scanned the stream and banks as we walked, and was finally rewarded on our way back along the trail. The uniquely colored "blue duck" stood cleaning his feathers for several minutes, standing on a rock in the middle of the stream.
Blue Duck
Moss-Covered Tree
The next day, we were surprised to wake to a beautiful sunny day, so we took a morning walk to the nearby beach and lighthouse before setting off for stop number four: Franz Josef.
Beautiful View After All
