Port Gamble WA – Sequim Daily Photo

Port Gamble color

Port Gamble is a colorful little town any time of year. It’s especially nice cloaked in fall brilliance.

I’ve shown you this Camperdown elm tree in Port Gamble, above, twice before, in winter and last summer. Since the trees around here are starting to show nice autumn colors I thought last week would be a good time to revisit this fascinating tree to see it in fall splendor. As you can see, I struck out.

It wasn’t as if I completely misjudged Autumn’s progress. This tree was strutting its stuff a couple of blocks away. Not bad, but not the Camperdown elm. But we had a second excuse to go to Pt. Gamble: Mike’s Four Star BBQ. We’ve been without barbecue since Jeremiah’s in Sequim closed some months ago. And occasionally barbecue is just the ticket. Mike’s had some good reviews online. So, no autumn Camperdown elm? Okay. I can live with that. Let’s go to lunch.

The sign on Mike’s door said something about being closed for personal reasons. I hope it was nothing serious…but there went the barbecue dreams. I had a chocolate chip cookie and coffee to keep from chewing the car upholstery on the way back home. 0 for 2. I don’t know if I’ll get back to Port Gamble this fall for another shot at the tree. The scene above was near the elm and showed the misty mood of the day.

Port Gamble day tripping

Here is a look at Port Gamble, the sweet little town where yesterday’s Camperdown elm tree grows. We have driven through Port Gamble many times enroute to and from the Kingston-Edmonds ferry but only recently stopped to look around.

Port Gamble is a privately owned National Historic Landmark, the oldest continuously operating mill town in North America. Founded in 1853, it was operated by Pope & Talbott until 1995. The town has a New England look to it, enhanced by its setting at the edge of Port Gamble Bay. Port Gamble is about 40 miles east of Sequim, not far beyond the Hood Canal Bridge.

The church in the top collage is a popular location for weddings. In addition to a cafe in the General Store, above left, another cafe serves afternoon tea. A museum is located below the General Store; it is open May through September. There are other small shops in the area around the General Store and Post Office (bottom right). The Post Office Building also houses a community theater.