Picture of the week ~ Poppies by the shore

North Lake Whatcom trail hike

Today we went for a nice hike along the North Lake Whatcom trail or Hertz trail. The longer we were out the better the weather.

Our first views of Lake Whatcom had some clouds in the sky.

It didn't take long for the sun to begin to shine on the trail before us.

When we got to the first bridge we were surprised to see the barricade before the creek. Apparently it is now a protected area for the Kokanee Salmon.

Some Madrona's here and there in the forest.

Mushrooms climbing a tree.

Another barricade at the second bridge for the Kokanee.

The view upstream from the bridge.

Another peak at the lake.

There were a few early signs of fall on and along the trail. The leaves are beginning to turn color.

Orange Jewelweed still in bloom.

We watched this large spider spin a web.

A look back at the spider in it's web against the lighter forest view behind us,

The end of the trail and our lunch spot. Such a nice view.

Making our way back with a nice blue sky!

Glimpse of fall color.

More mushrooms.

One last view of the Lake.

An often visited & enjoyed local trail.

Garmin stats:

6.37 miles

174 feet ascent

184 feet descent

Cedar lake fishing hike

The weather was so nice this morning I feel an urgency to get out and enjoy it. The gray gloom will be here soon enough. I want to enjoy the good weather when we can. I asked my husband if he felt like hiking up to Cedar lake with his fishing pole. I thought I'd bring a book and enjoy reading while he fished. Sounded like a good idea to me. He said yes, so we packed up and headed for the trailhead.

Such a beautiful forest walk today with many mushrooms along the trail.

We found our way to Cedar lake.

His plan was to work his way around the lake. The first spot to fish was where we stopped for lunch and where I stayed and read while he worked his way around.

My perch for the day, I couldn't have found a better reading room.

My constant companion while my husband was away. No, I didn't feed it. I don't believe in feeding any animals in the wild. He was persistent so I believe he's been fed before - too bad.

The book I read was "I promise not to suffer" by Gail D. Storey, I'm only a few chapters into it but I'm enjoying it.

I had over an hour to myself to enjoy the lake, my book and my little chipmunk buddy. I tried to have a conversation with him, but he just stared at me like he didn't understand my words. After he decided his begging wasn't doing any good he retired to this stump to enjoy the lake view with me.

My husband made his way back to where I was and hadn't caught anything but had some really good bites, so we packed up and I walked around the lake with him so he could give it one more try before we left.

Yay, he caught one - a Cutthroat trout.

Off to another fishing spot,

Another strike and another catch!

Cutthroat trout again.

I told him I was his good luck charm, since he caught them when I walked around the lake with him. He agreed!

A nice view and reflection looking across the lake to where I'd sat earlier.

Very red little mushrooms.

I thought this old torn branch area of this tree looked like a head with moss hair. "The old man of the forest"!

My husband always like to tidy up the trails when he can. There was a log across the trail as we made our way up, so when we came back down he found a branch to use as leverage to move the log to the side of the trail.

Well done!

Fish for dinner!

What a nice day in the woods, just what I had hoped for.

Garmin stats:

5.7 miles

1473 feet ascent

1499 feet descent