Hoypus Tall Trees

 Yesterday we thought we'd go for a hike. The weather here was set to be rainy and windy, so we headed south to Whidbey Island. Our place of refuge in times of storm.

We decided to spend the day in the forest with tall trees.

I don't know how the weather turned out at home, but again we went to the right place. If it had been windy at Cornet bay/Hoypus we didn't know because we were on the protected side and we had just a slight mist in the air as we finished.

I love the forest and trees at Hoypus. 

Enjoy the photos of the day, click on the tree photos to enlarge them to see just how majestic they are.

Our start at Cornet bay.

Into the forest we go.

Always look up....

The tall trees in the photo below are distorted because I had to use the panorama setting on my phone to get the full tree's height.

Up at the top of the hill we could hear a few wind gusts but we never felt the breeze.

Another giant

Fresh cut for us to walk through. What a wonderful smell.

Looking down at a Coral mushroom

Back at the view of the Deception Pass bridge at Cornet bay rd.

Today's route:

4.45 miles

total ascent: 588 feet

Picture of the week ~ The purpose of life

Is this a message to my older self from my younger dreamer mind?

or

Is this a message to my younger self through my older woman dreamer mind?

The past pointing to the future or the future pointing to the past?

Whichever direction my brain is looking it's still a good message.

 

Picture of the week ~ Mt. Baker view from Wells Creek rd.

Tennant Lake/Slater road walkabout

Trying to get some walks in here and there for my foot (plantar fasciitis argh), so I don't go totally crazy. I am doing some indoor biking but it's not the same as hiking etc.

We decided to start at Tennant Lake and then go to Slater road and back, so just over 2 miles.

It's always nice to start at the gardens. 

If you click on the photos to enlarge them the flowers are gorgeous💓

Then we started making our way to Slater road via part of the Hovander farm perimeter trail.

Scoutina taking note of how to be on the trail. Good thing Dad had her poop bags for our walk. 

Looking across the field towards the Nooksack river side of Hovander park.

The map below of our route shows the big field (looking towards Hovander park) that I shared in the photo above. The map shows where the trails are at Hovander park, around the field and along the river going north to the boat launch (across from Star park) and south to the Slater road parking lot.

The sign posts in the photo below are at the corner bend on the map, about half way on our route on the map photo above. At this point the trail/road follows the river.

Heart rock found!

A small view of the river along the way.

After turning around near the Slater road, we followed the peaceful trail/road back. Peaceful except for the crazy hyper dog lunging at every bunny smell on the edges. Ha Ha!

Back at the field view and looking towards Hovander farm. If you look closely at the photo below you'll see the big red barn.

A glimpse of the Tennant Lake tower,

and just like that we're back at the parking lot.

On the way home we were treated to a wonderful sunset.

A perfect way to end the day.

Picture of the week ~ Scoutina BARK Ranger

Ebey's Landing National Historic Reserve BARK Ranger tag.

 

Pratt Loop walk

 Monday we decided to go for a walk at Pratt loop. Pratt loop starts at the Prairie Overlook parking lot at the end of Sunnyside Cemetary road. Even though it was Labor day and technically still summer there was a fall feel to the area. The first photo is looking over Ebey prairie and towards Ebey's Landing State park. Pratt Loop and Ebey's Landing are all part of Ebey's Reserve.

If we had continued to walk straight, the trail intersects with the Bluff trail. For more on this trail click on this WTA link: Ebey's Landing

We turned right before the Bluff trail intersection for our Pratt Loop wander.

Interesting caterpillar with white whiskers on it's front and back ends.

Entering the forest side of the Pratt Loop trail.

Looking back over the field near the Prairie Overlook parking lot. There is a bench in this area, it's nice to sit and just soak up the view.

Rosehips looking very much like fall is upon us.

We like to take the spur trail that leads to the paved Kettles trail for a quick out and back addition.

Giving our dog Scout aka Scoutina some love.

Usually this trail is very green, the dry summer has left an impact. It was looking very brown and dry.

Nature's tunnels💓

The sign post below is at the junction of the Kettles trail and the Pratt trail. I took this photo looking back at the Pratt trail.

More nature's tunnels

A photo of our dog. We got Scout (her original name) at the Whatcom Humane Society in May. She was just over 1 year old then. She's very sweet so her name just naturally became Scoutina. We're working on manners around other dogs. She gets overly happy to greet them. As far as people on the trail goes, she generally ignores them. When we got her she loved jumping up on people, but she's getting better about that. She has interupted our routine, but I'd say she seems pretty happy to be in our family now.

Heading back to the parking lot.

Lots of Dandelion wishes waiting for a breeze to begin their magic journeys.

A while back I found a bark ranger tag on the trail, I wish I'd kept it, at that time we didn't have a dog. I checked in with the volunteers at the historic site and I may be able to get one for Scoutina. I assured them she would raise her paw and promise to stay on her leash and remind her people (us) to pick up her poop. The Bark ranger rules are posted at the trailhead. 

*we did pick up her poop, carried it with us as we walked and deposited the bag in the appropriate waste deposit box at the trailhead. 

Yay us!!

My tea cup lid from Starbucks in Oak Harbor after our walk. I'm calling this an Oak Harbor sticker NOT a fall sticker. I'm not a fan of the season change. I don't look forward to all things pumpkin flavored and I don't look forward to sweater season. The seasons are apparently changing whether I like it or not. As I say every year I'm going out of Summer kicking and screaming.

 

Distance: 2.25 miles

I've been dealing with plantar fasciitis again, this time the other foot. I've been doing lots of indoor biking to compensate. The biking doesn't bother my foot, but the walk today did. Oh well, I'm going to try to get some walks in every once in awhile anyway while I'm rehabing it.