Rita and Molly are just two of 10 women who few weeks ago set out to explore the Olympic Peninsula using only public transportation. Referring to themselves as "old ladies with backpacks" they used a collective spirit of problem-solving and resourcefulness to travel around the peninsula over the course of four days.

It just so happens that the average age of the women is their 70's, with a few in their 80's.

When Metro held a public information meeting in Ballard about bus service, Rita Bresnahan was one of the Seaview Avenue residents who attended by chartered bus to make a plea for increased bus service to Golden Gardens. Their passion seems to be paying off, a service increase for the No. 46 was just announced, but it wasn't available the morning that Rita was due to meet the others at the downtown ferry dock.

The hiking group that set out "to leave as little carbon footprint on the peninsula as possible" doesn't have a name or any one leader; just ambitious itineraries and a good sense of humor. The groups' origins date back decades in the Gig Harbor area, but the members have become more geographically far-flung as they've retired and relocated. I only had a chance to talk with two of the participants. Rita Bresnahan lives at Sunset West and Molly Holmes lives on Phinney Ridge.

Molly was part of a group that once traveled by bus to Lake Quinault and she'd always wanted to circle the whole peninsula by bus. She mentioned it and then was surprised, "everyone wanted to do it." Worried their group size might overload a county bus on the peninsula; Rita and Molly were completely serious when they volunteered to hitchhike for that leg.

The group took an average of nine to 11 buses over the course of their journey and spent less than $10 apiece on transportation. They sometimes rode for as little as 25-cents for an entire day; everyone qualified as a senior and many were carrying the Gold Card for Healthy Aging that is a veritable passport to the local venues.

Molly and several other members did most of the pre-planning, coordinating the bus schedules and booking hotels. Rita described the group of women as, "raucous at times." When the first met at the ferry terminal the group was very excited. "What's going on? What is this?" a ferry worker was the first, but not the last, to ask, during their four days. The group included retired teachers, a social worker and a nurse, many with more than just exploring on their itinerary. They also wanted to interact with people who live and work on the peninsula.

So the women sat with local riders on buses, learning about the best place to eat in a town, the unadvertised movie screening, other peoples' problems. In a soft voice, Molly spoke of talking to people who were amazingly open about their problems with drugs and alcohol. When one woman on a bus spoke of her drug addiction Molly asked, what kind of drugs. Heroin, she learned, and meth; many people make their own. "She was the one success story," Molly said, and then added. "Well, the woman digging clams on the beach had been sober for six months. I hope she makes it."

The two women were matter of fact about drug use on the peninsula, but only met one person who was visibly drunk. Molly sat next to the man while watching the gear during a layover in Port Angeles. They talked about his past attempts in rehab and how he wanted to try again. Eventually her group got on the warm bus and the man remained drinking in the cold.

"I was moved by how open people are about their struggles," Molly told me. "If we'd been in a car we wouldn't have met these people."

"I was touched by their honesty," Rita said, "It added such dimension."

Molly added. "My group contains no homeless people, no drug addicts. Every once in a while you need to step out of your comfort zone. Some days when it's very cold I'll ask myself, if I were homeless, where would I sleep tonight?"

There is no photo record of how the self-proclaimed old ladies in backpacks looked to outsiders as they descended laughing together in Forks or Aberdeen, just one photo taken by a bus driver of the collective group. "Pat had a camera," Molly recalled, "but she mostly took pictures at our cocktail parties."

"I have to say," Rita said, "these are probably the best happy hour folks I've ever known."

"One person usually has a big room or suite that we make the party room," Molly explained, looking prim with her snow white hair and bright blue vest. "There's always wine and snacks."

"Lots of laughter," Rita added, "and singing."

All around the peninsula the group found the bus system flawless. "About the best I've seen." Rita pronounced. "And the bus drivers were all so, so gracious, jovial, helpful ... " There was a pause and a look between them, "except that one in Poulsbo."

Between details of the bus trip they speak of past outings, some through the hiking group and others with a separate Greenlake walking group. Specific hikes are planned all the way through the summer; the Greenlake walkers also meet and use their Gold Cards for reduced admission all over the region. They are always planning their next expedition; one that is sure to be filled with more laughter and singing, as they blaze through the golden years with backpacks and public transportation.

Peggy can be reached atlargeinballard@yahoo.com. She writes additional pieces at http://blog.seattlepi.nwsource.com/ballard.