Above is this weeks free desktop. This week we make a return trip to a wonderful place in the northwest US, the Dungeness Spit. Located in the Dungeness National Wildlife Refuge between Sequim and Port Angeles, WA, this is North America's longest natural sand spit at over 5 miles long, plus it's the world's longest spit into the ocean. This thin ribbon of sand that cuts into the Strait of Juan de Fuca, affords a haven for wildlife and gives us a wonderful opportunity to experience it. This is truly a wonderful place to take a relaxing day hike and for those seeking a real treat, making the 10 mile round trip hike out to the New Dungeness Lighthouse, a National Historic Site located near the end of the spit, and back is amazing. The lighthouse also offers a true mid-hike break as picnic tables are provided and a tour of the lighthouse is available from the volunteers maning it (and this is highly recommended). As you might expect with all the talk about the lighthouse, the photo this week comes from from it. Taken from the top of the 63ft tower (yes, you get to climb the spiral stairs and go up to the top of the lighthouse on the tour) back down the spit toward it's beginning on the Washington coast at low tide in May 2004. You will notice that it appears the spit splits not to far from here and it actually does. The Graveyard Spit cuts off into Dungeness Harbor to the left and what seems to end to the right is Dungeness Spit making a hard turn back to the coast, where it joins it about at the tip of that dark section of land. I truly like this place and find it a real gem for those looking for something a bit different. (;