Burnout Point Trailblazer hike

Today's hike start location was to be at the Cyrus Gates Overlook parking lot but that had to be changed because the Cleator road is closed. So the nine of us that met at the Senior Center got in the carpool cars and headed to the Lost Lake/Larrabee State park parking lot. Today was a dress in layers and be prepared for rain type of a morning.

When we got to the parking lot the wind was blowing and it was a little brisk, so hats and gloves it was. Just like last week's hike it seemed to be a dark day.

We walked up the Fragrance lake road and past the Waterfall, not looking nearly as cold as it did a couple of weeks ago. You can check out those "icy" photos HERE.

A lovely Madrona tree.

Lesley showing us the route that we would be going.

I don't ever tire of ferns on rocks 💚.

As we made our way up the Lost Lake trail we began to see more and more snow along the trail. 

A great downed log with moss and lichen on it. I now can identify "Rag Bag" Lichen. Can you find it on the log?

I love the color in this crack in the fallen Red Alder.

When we arrived at Burnout Point, our lunch destination I was pleased to see that there was a view albeit a very dark one. My folks live in Sequim, it's way off in the distance. I waved in their general direction, I wonder if they saw me ;-)

Before we ate, it was photo time!

Me and Jean (Thanks Owen for taking the picture).

There was a strong cold wind blowing and a few hunkered down behind a log for shelter, but Jean was a trooper and sat out in the wind with me and "enjoyed" it! We gathered ourselves up when we felt a few drops of rain and a few snowflakes raced by in the wind. Time to head back, it was getting downright cold!

I took a video of the road we were walking on. 

https://youtu.be/F7qpW75K3hE

We continued on up until we got to the road leading back to the Fragrance Lake road and the parking lot. It was about 4 1/2 miles of downhill walking.

After a couple of miles the snow was no more. Just a nice wide path er logging road ;-) for us to enjoy our way down the hill.

I took this photo of our group looking out at the bay for one last look at the view.

Lesley did a great job leading our hike today. Layers were indeed our good friends today!

Garmin stats -

total miles hiked - 8.6

minimum altitude - 191 feet

maximum altitude - 1934 feet

total ascent - 1936 feet

total descent - 2136 feet

Mon Oeuvre - en provence Mystery Quilt progress 4

"Oeuvre" (the works of a painter, composer, or author regarded collectively: "the complete oeuvre of Mozart" a work of art, music, or literature: "an early oeuvre" ORIGIN late 19th cent.: French, literally ‘work.’ - Oxford Dictionary.)

We've been given 5 week's of clues now. The clues are given each Friday morning and there is an online link up party on Monday's for us to submit what our progress looks like. It's fun to see the variety of fabrics people have chosen and it makes each one look unique even though we're working on the same quilt. You can check out the Monday link up photos HERE.

I haven't done clue 5 yet as I'm awaiting the arrival of the Essential Triangle Tool ruler I had ordered from Quiltville. I already know how to make half square triangles, but am excited to learn how to make them using this ruler method.

https://youtu.be/UDUbcC17cFY

Waiting patiently music.......

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=73tGe3JE5IU

Picture of the week ~ Cinderella Elf?

Some "Elf" lost it's shoe at Lynden's Post office stairs.

Stimpson Reserve Trailblazer hike

Our volunteer leader system seems to be working. Janet led 15 of us on the Stimpson Reserve trails today. 

It was dark and gloomy in the forest today, fitting since this is the week of the Winter Solstice. 

Janet lead us in a counterclockwise direction from the way we usually hike. My brain was discombobulated the whole time. We saw many mosses, and I did hear the scientific names for each of them but I couldn't tell you what they were now. 

The one in the photo below was interesting to me, the white specks looked like snow but it was just the way it grows.

Walking among the giants. 

 

We saw bits of snow in the ferns near the top that reminded us of our recent snowfall.

 I found this little sprig that was hanging on to it's leaves tightly, even though it was long past time for them to have flown in the fall winds. 

There are several footbridges on the trail and I always love to walk over them. 

Geneva Pond and the other boggy areas were still very much encased in ice. 

 I've been here many times and I enjoy it each and every time. 

We are lucky to have such a place set aside for us to enjoy.

 Garmin stats:

total miles hiked 4.7

minimum altitude - 556 feet

maximum altitude - 853 feet

total ascent - 728 feet

total descent - 682 feet

Mon Oeuvre - en provence Mystery Quilt progress 3

 "Oeuvre" (the works of a painter, composer, or author regarded collectively: "the complete oeuvre of Mozart" a work of art, music, or literature: "an early oeuvre" ORIGIN late 19th cent.: French, literally ‘work.’ - Oxford Dictionary.)

I'm caught up with the clues of the en Provence Mystery Quilt - Hurray!

We've been given 4 week's of clues now. The clues are given each Friday morning and there is an online link up party on Monday's for us to submit what our progress looks like. It's fun to see the variety of fabrics people have chosen and it makes each one look unique even though we're working on the same quilt. You can check out the Monday link up photos HERE. 

This past week I was cutting strips for the light/dark purple 4 patches, the dark purple/neutral & for the tri recs triangles, sewing the blocks together and trimming them all square.

When I was spinning and pressing the back center seams of the purple 4 patches I saw something in some of the center mini block that made me smile.

Front

Back - do you see it?

Clue #1's -  neutral 4 patches ✓

Clue #2's -magenta/neutral triangles ✓

Clue #3's - light/dark purple 4 patch ✓

Clue #4's - dark purple/neutral 4 triangles ✓

All of my 3 1/2 inch blocks waiting to see what will join them this Friday.

Picture of the week ~ "Cold" Moon Shadow on the snow

If you want to know more about the "Cold" aka "Long night" Moon.

You can read about it HERE.

Fairhaven park Trailblazer hike

How to describe today's hike? A little bit of this and a little bit of that....

9 of us met on yet another frigid day for our hike. We were joined by one more at Boulevard Park, so really 10.

I took a screenshot from my phone's weather app when I got to the Senior Center this morning. BRRRR.

Today's hike was shorter, so we could attend the annual Trailblazer Christmas party afterwards.

Our hike today began at Fairhaven Park. We parked up by the tennis courts. 

There is a Labyrinth across the road from where we parked. The star in the lower right photo is in the center of the Labyrinth.

We followed the Interurban trail to Fairhaven till it connected to the South Bay trail.

Pam, Karen and myself showing how we bundled up for today's hike. Yes, we are smiling for the camera.

I've never seen snow on Taylor dock or the Over water walkway, so it was a treat today for me. I zipped two water trail pics together (not so neatly) to show how long it is.

I love this picture of our group walking on the trail with the Canadian mountains in the distance.

We found Christmas on the South Bay trail!

After walking around Boulevard park we stopped in Woods coffee for a nice cup of warmth and warmth for us as well. There was too much glare from the 2nd floor window to see the water view on the photo, but it was a pretty view of the bay.

When we got back to Fairhaven park we still had some time on our hands so we headed out towards the 100 acre woods and did a loop to the Interurban trail and back to the park again.

When we got back to the park I saw some Ribbon ice erupting out of the ground.

At the Christmas party our group presented a memory book for our "Fearless leader" Pat. He will be stepping down as our leader. Owen made him a wonderful book to show him our appreciation.

We hope to see him on the trails with us again as a member soon.

*Side note - Last week on our Fragrance Lake hike, I had mentioned to those around me that my nose was very cold and that I would really like to have a nose warmer knitted for me with ear-loops and a tassel. I didn't really expect anyone to act on it and was so surprised and happy when Penny dropped a little red item in front of me.

Quite a fashion statement I think ;-)

I can't thank Penny enough and thanks to Carol for taking my picture.

Endomondo stats:

total miles hiked - 4.5