Ruby Beach

Ruby beach gets its name from the ruby like crystals that get washed to the beach from the fresh water leaching onto the beach. These crystals are the by-product of the glacier activity that used to happen in this area. I didn't actually see any of these crystals, but I did see lots and lots of rocks. Rocks everywhere. Little rocks, big rocks, huge rocks...

When we first arrived at the beach on a very rainy, chilly morning my concern was how to keep my camera dry. I spent the majority of the morning with my camera in hand, tucked into my raincoat. For the average person, this would be the only major concern - but not for the queen of clumsy. My biggest concern then became, how to keep from slipping on one of the very wet, moss covered rocks, and how to avoid breaking the camera that I was trying so desperately to keep from getting soaked.(and from breaking my arse.)

Needless to say, the camera was fine, and I got some great photos on such a dreary morning. Since the tide was low, we were able to walk/wade out to one of the bigger rock formations to explore. I saw my first (living) starfish, and a couple sea anemones (I think that's spelled correctly.) Teeny tiny baby clams (or maybe mussels?) covered some of the formations and others were covered with mossy barnacle looking stuff (technical term.)

We also saw lots of little stacks of rocks that had been left by other visitors to the beach. So, we each picked a rock and added our own to the line. I often wonder if it's still sitting there today, or if it's been washed away.




















To try and remember the size of this formation, I made Liz and Tracy pose in the bottom corner of the photo. This formation was actually out into the ocean, we had to walk through water to get out to it, but it was so very worth it! Thank God for waterproof hiking boots.

Here's where Ruby Beach is located: