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 :-)

Goose Rock Summit ~

Deceptive signage :-)

Starting off on Sat., it was blustery - but not out & out raining!  Good enough that we were not about to postpone the hike we had in mind!  We'd hiked the Goose Rock perimeter trail, but never the trail that goes up to the summit & highest point on Whidbey Island.

Butch & Nika on the trail~

This view almost looks like spring - with the light green of the under-story trees.  It was warm, warm enough that we decided not to take rain gear.  If we were going to climb, we wanted to stay cool.

Disgusting~

 As we came around a corner, just before the summit trail breaks off from the perimeter trail - this graffiti was hard to miss.  I hope the Rangers get time to remove it - just disgusting what people do to promote there personal agendas...

Starting up~

When this trail is described as steep - they're not kidding :-)  Nika lead the way, next Butch, then Rascal & finally me.

Rhododendrons everywhere~

I was amazed at all the Rhododendrons!  We'll have to come back in the spring/summer when they're in bloom!

Madrona

The Madrona trees are amazing!  Their branches twisted almost like corkscrews & sticking out over the hillside.

Rock!

By the time we'd reached the beginning of the rock outcroppings, the wind had picked up & the rain was coming down hard.  We were both soaked in minutes!  Both our dogs thought we were crazy by now - giving us the look :-)

This Madrona - now endangered...  This is one of the most beautiful I've seen~

We were nearing the summit - we could tell, because the sky was getting lighter - if stormier!

Nice signage~

Seeing this sign, we knew we were close to our goal~

View from the Summit~

What the guide book doesn't mention, is that a lot of the view is degraded by power lines that run across the area of the biggest bald rock.  Regardless - it's breathtaking - especially in stormy weather!

Bald Rock!

The trail got a little slippery, but soon we were back into the forest & out of the worst of the rain.  We only saw one other hiker & he too looked as soaked as we were :-)

Uprooted Douglas Fir

This huge Douglas Fir was uprooted along the side of the trail, no wonder - since it was growing over solid rock!  No soil to speak of at all - so amazing that a tree of that size would have even had enough soil to get started here.

Under the Deception Pass Bridge

The trail brings you to the bridge.  Up on top is the popular parking area from which hikers can access these trails easily - in other words - without hiking the way we'd come :-)

Fishermen on North Beach

From up on top, we could see that the beach was a busy place.  I wanted to go on down to get the view of the bridge from the shore.

From North Beach

No one was catching anything :-)  Everyone was trying hard though :-)

Rascal wants a wind break :-)  Nika is embarrassed :-)

By now, there were a few sun-breaks & the rain had stopped!  We started to dry out a little, thankfully my hoodie had dried enough that I put it back on to start the hike back!

Hum...  back up this way!

Looking at the climb back up to the top - I was thinking that Farah would have done it much quicker & with less effort on my part!

We decide to take the Discovery Trail back~

We've been on this trail a couple times before, there's a big climb up to the top - then it's all downhill back to camp.

Perfect little shroom~

This beautiful little mushroom caught my eye.  We soon saw the sign for another trail that we'd by-passed on our other visits here & decided to take it.

Lower Forest Trail~

This is a much less heavily used trail & it's beautiful!

Douglas Fir & Huckleberries

It didn't seem to take us long at all to get back to the perimeter trail & head back to camp.  The rain started again & we just got back without a second soaking!

Rascal

The dogs were happy to be back in time for dinner!  We were lucky & sat out to enjoy a beer & smoked oysters from Seabolts.  The rain came back, we retreated to the camper - then as if by clockwork, it stopped & Butch had time to grill our steaks!  I'd baked organic russet potatoes to go with & we enjoyed every bite! 

Our hike~ Just over 4-mi. round trip~

It rained while we were eating, the wind never stopped blowing - but we did get enough of a break between systems for another fire & even saw the stars from time to time.  Listening to the wind through the big trees is always so grand!

Post Script~  Today, Monday, a melancholy day for me - three-years since my Dad's passing...  Still not a day goes by that I don't miss him...

Quarry Pond~

Nika - with Dad's flag flying~

Our anniversary weekend!  Butch took an extra day off, we wanted some time to kick back & didn't want to spend it on the road.  We'd made a reservation on Whidbey Island - so close, with hardly any traffic to get there.  It was almost lunch time, I'd told Butch about Seabolt's Smokehouse in Oak Harbor - fish & chips always sounds so good when you're near the water :-)  After a yummy lunch, we drove back to the park - where it didn't take long to set up at our favorite spot in the Quarry Pond camping area.

Late afternoon sunshine~

The wind was blowing, clouds moving in - we wanted to get out & onto the trails.

As you can see, the trails are easy to find :-)

Cornet Bay is tucked away behind this camp ground.  It's a private camp, with cabins & a large kitchen building.   This was the first time we'd seen a group actually using the camp, so we skirted it & headed out toward the bay.

Cornet Bay

Though heavily used, it retains the beauty of this amazingly diverse area.  Last time we were here, there was a Great Blue Herons near the water.

Here he is!

Just as we said it, we saw this guy - not too far away.  I'd only brought my small camera - but it has a decent zoom.  I was happy to snap this before with a swoosh of his big wide wings, he took off across the bay.  The sound of his flight over the still water was eerie~

Butch with Nika & Rascal~

We'd found a perfect spot to sit & watch as the setting sun turned the trees on the far side of the bay to shades of golden brown.

Marina on the bay~

It was almost dark as we hiked back to camp.  It was a perfect evening, stars coming out in the blue/black of the sky.  Time for a bonfire~

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!