Whidbey Island - Winter Visit~

Having missed our usual January camping trip to Whidbey - due to my unexpected trip to Colorado, we changed our reservation to this - our birthday weekend.  It was about noon on Fri. by the time we left in absolutely torrential rain!  Just a mile before the Conway exit, I-5 north came to a total halt.  We crept a few feet at a time for over 30-min.   A semi-truck was overturned & beyond, traffic was moving again.  It was a relief to take the turn to the island.  We stopped first in Oak Harbor to visit Seabolts for a late lunch.  While we ate, it rained more, the sun briefly appeared & as we left a stunning double rainbow lit the sky!

We're here!

We set up camp - all done just before dark.  Soon to kick back & enjoy one of the best movies we've seen in a long while;  Bridge of Spies.  Totally riveting & a based on a true story.  Only once did we have to backtrack after being buzzed by Navy Jets that about took the tops off the trees! 

 It rained off & on all night - Saturday morning dawned cloudy & foreboding - but dry!  With our usual lack of preparation, (thinking it would be a short hike :-) we put the dogs on their leashes & decided we'd hike over to Cornet Bay & check out the cabin remodels that had been under way our last visit. 

View from one of the Cabins at Cornet Bay

 Such a beautiful spot - the cabins turned out amazing!  All modernized, with stainless steel appliances!

One of the newly remodeled cabins~

Since the weather was holding, we took the Discovery Trail.

Salmonberry bloom~

On our way, I found my first Salmonberry bloom of spring! A bit bedraggled by all the wind & rain, but such a bright spot of color on such a colorless day!  The air was so fresh & it felt so good to be out & walking - after weeks of being sick.

The little Underpass

 Before we knew it - were at the little underpass that takes you over to a trail to North Beach!  This can be such a secluded little beach & it was on this day.  Lots of cars up in the parking area, but just a few people out on the trails, none on this beach. 

The "Cutter Rock" heading under the Deception Pass bridge~

This was one of only two boats that we saw - what a beauty it was!

Great Blue Heron~

Right on the tip of shore, just under the bridge, was this Great Blue Heron.  I had to zoom in to get this photo - grainy - but such an amazing looking bird.  He finally flew off as the boat went by.

Rascal checks out a smell...

Still not raining - so we climbed up to the base of the bridge & decided to take the perimeter trail back around to Cornet Bay.

Stunning trail~

Once we got away from the bridge & around the bluff, the noise of the highway faded - I love the quiet!  We did run into a couple groups of hikers, everyone friendly & out doing what we were - enjoying time outside!

Looking at the end of Cornet Bay - where we'd started.

Very low tide & by now the wind was starting to pick up, just a drop or two of rain.  The dogs were very patient waiting for me to take photos :-)

Nika & Rascal~

We were well past the mid-way point in our hike, we'd had a couple decent uphill climbs & I was still feeling OK!

Flowering Red Currant & Madrona

Our Valentine gift was to see these early blooming currants - so pink & springlike against the red of the Madrona bark!  The trail was lined with them!

On our way home Sunday, we stopped at what's become another of our favorite watering holes - the Skagit River Brewery!  If you haven't gone, Don't!  We've been told that there are days you can't get in the door!  It's a fairly small place with not only great beer, but good food too!  We enjoyed their fresh out of the tap Blackberry Cider!  A great end to our holiday weekend :-)

Island Time~

Coast of Whidbey Is. from Deception Pass State Park

Before "Endurance" & before horses in general, we used to do a lot of camping!  Lately - the draw of camping with only the bikes & the dogs has gained a certain allure.  With the convenience of having such an incredible place to visit, such a relatively short distance from home, (100-mile round-trip) it's easy to take advantage & go!

850-year old tree~

On our hike down the beach, we came upon this tree - with the informational sign below~

Saving a tree~

It was an incredible feeling to walk to the base of this tree & know that it had been holding this spot on the planet for such a very long time.   We were so lucky to have such nice weather!  We rode our bikes all over camp - lots of short steep hills & I have to say that I was a little relieved when my bike got a flat!  :-)

Nika enjoys the new place~

That put us on foot again & of course the dogs came with us.  The campground had a lot of visitors from Canada - lots.  This is the second time we've become aware of the many, many Canadian residents who come down to WA for their camping fun.  This summer when we were at Peregrine Lake, I had to go over after ten p.m. to ask a large group of them to quiet down.  When you can hear every word of a camp conversation & know how many drinks each person has had - it gets a little irritating - especially if you're one of the growing minority of people who enjoy "quiet".

Surf & Rock

We were lucky the first night, after at least five jets took off, it actually got quiet enough that we could hear the rocks rolling in the surf.  The stars were like diamonds against a dark sky & it got cold!

Sunset

The sunset was spectacular, something that Whidbey Island is famous for...

Coral hydnum fungi

Interesting fungi, edible too - though I doubt I'd have the nerve!  So lacy & beautiful!   No flowers this time of year, but plenty of amazing looking fungi & mushrooms on the trails!  Our anniversary weekend went quick!  We spent our honeymoon at Cannon Beach, OR.

At Cannon Beach~

Then - returned there for several years - until it the town & the beach became more discovered...  When we had to wait in long lines for our haystack rolls - it was time to quit.
Now, it's easier - more restful & fun too, to just kick-back & enjoy island time...

Camping, Hiking Fun! - Day 2

Route to the Coast - 5.3 miles

Sunday we woke to sunshine!  That & a light breeze motivated us to hit the trails again - this time with the goal of reaching the coast.  After checking out the maps, we decided on the short way out from camp to give us more time to get out to the point.

John Tursi's hand-hewn underpass

This time we crossed under Hwy 20 further south & were rewarded with a beautiful walk through very large Douglas Fir on the west side, before the trail reached the coast.

Looking at the Deception Pass Bridge

At the point above, we were already well beyond the beach where we'd stopped on Sat.  We were on the North Beach trail to West point.  This was a really nice trail, with several spots where you could access the beach areas.  We were moving at a pretty good pace when Rascal had to make one of his many stops to shake.  As he did, the clip on his lead came free.  In the next millisecond...  he was Gone!  Butch called for him, but we knew it was pointless.  Nika was unconcerned - we decided there was nothing to be done but continue on down the trail.  A few minutes later a runner coming from the direction we were headed said that yes, he had seen a Beagle traveling fast up ahead...  If any of you know Beagles, you know that the one thing they can be counted on to do - is follow their nose...  Visions of all the terrible things that can happen to a loose dog were flying through our heads as we hiked.  It seemed like hours but after what was probably only about five minutes I heard Butch say;  "Hi there Rascal!"  As we'd come around a corner, there he was waiting for us on the side of the trail!  GOOD BOY!  Did I say GOOD BOY?!  You can bet that Rascal got way more attention than he wanted!

What made him decide to wait rather than continue on we do not know...  but I do know that we were very happy that he was safe.  Yes, we'd forgotten the pinch collars...  never again & the leads are going to have those snap ends replaced with a bull clip.

Our reward~

The light was just amazing!  The forest was so beautiful!  It was a perfect day & the perfect place to spend it!

Red of the Madrona

View of the Bridge & Cascades

View from the West Point

We came out near one of the many parking areas along this section of the park.  It seemed strange to come off the quiet forest trail & suddenly find lots of cars, people etc.  We headed back the way we'd come & took a short break.

Beautiful old construction~

On the hike back, both dogs were on their "A" game!  Rascal in the lead, Butch, Nika & me :-)  No more pulling, just setting a nice 3.2 mph pace & having a fine time!

Nika, Butch & Rascal

We returned on the same trails that we'd started out on, the day was growing short & camp was a welcome sight.

Our camp through the trees~

After a hot drink & snack, it was time to pack up & head back home, both of us wishing we'd had another day.  The drive back started out beautiful with incredible views of the Cascades as we were leaving the island.  A few miles south of Mt. Vernon though - we drove right into a heavy, dark cloud of dense fog.  Speeds dropped from 70 to 50 mph. in less than a mile.  The rest of the drive home was slower & it was a relief to see the lights of home!

We're already making reservations for more camping & planning trips with both the girls & their families this summer :-)

Camping, Hiking, Fun! - Day 1

First days hike - 4.8-mi.

It had been years & years since we'd just gone "camping".  When the girls were little & we managed residential multifamily - our only inexpensive escape was camping!  Since we were on-call full time, we had two, three-day weekends a month for our get-a-ways.  Our little Apache camping trailer saw lots & lots of miles over the years until we moved to the Homestead.  The girls were grown, we bought horses & life changed!  Now it seems to be changing again as we transition from our competitive years to enjoying more varied pursuits.

Great Blue Heron

 We were more than ready to get-away from the cold freezing temperatures, fog & gray.  Years ago we discovered that the weather on Whidbey Island can be very different & I'd made reservations at the only camp that is now kept open in the winter.

The dogs accompanied us.  These two have never had formal obedience training, so the first few miles were more about dog training than anything else!  Butch took Rascal's lead - he was the worst!  Nika liked to pull, but finally figured out that only one of us could be in front!  :-)  At Cornet Bay we were thrilled to see this Blue Heron.  The first I've ever managed to get a photo of!  He was quite a distance down the beach from us, but the zoom brought him in close.

Sat. started out cold & hazy, but the sun began burning through & it was much warmer than what we'd left at home!

Rascal & Nika

By the time we had our lunch break, the sun was already getting lower in the sky to the west.

Deception Pass from the South end of the Bridge

We made really good time on the trip back.  One big climb where we felt the burn, then a nice wide forested path on the return.

From the Cornet Bay youth camp

Back at Cornet Bay, we enjoyed the late afternoon sunshine.   The day was starting to cool down, Butch built a fire & we had somemores after dinner!