Oyster Dome, our Thanksgiving day hike

We had our family Thanksgiving last weekend, so we went hiking today! We decided to hike to Oyster Dome, then to Lily lake and back to the Samish overlook via the Larry Reed trail.

What a beautiful day here -

I took this picture on the road, just before we got to the overlook.

click to expand this panorama photo

Panorama photo of the overlook parking area

Me, at the Oyster Dome viewpoint

Since it was Thanksgiving we brought our stove and had a proper cup of tea with our lunch!

Can't get a better view for lunch -

I love this sea of ferns in the forest -

our road crossing -

When we arrived back at the overlook the sun was beginning to set. If you click on the picture below to make larger, you'll see Mt. Rainer in the distance.

I got a sneaky picture of my husband enjoying the setting sun -

and finally a panorama of the gorgeousness - 

On this day of Thankfulness ~ I'm thankful I spent the day at a beautiful place with someone I love.

6.8 total miles

Campbell Valley Regional Park Trailblazer hike

We went international today and crossed over into Canada for the day's hike. I'd never been to this park before so I was excited to learn about a new place to do some walkabouts!

9 of us met at the Senior center in Bellingham for the carpool into another country. 2 more met us at the park in Canada, So a total of 11 of us enjoyed the crisp, cool, clear day in B.C. It was 28 degree's when I left my house this morning, and it stayed cool for our hike, I doubt if it broke 40 degrees.

Quite a bit of the trail was boardwalk with a roofing type material over it so it wasn't slick.

I thought this entwined tree was wonderful!

part of the forested trail

still some mushroom type plants around, but I suspect that this cold spell may put an end to them

one of the full sun areas of the trail and a little warmth

I thought this was so cute, all of these little plants were covered in frost. Looking very fairy like to me!

I'm not sure what plant these berries are from, but I liked all the color.

Then as we were walking towards the area where we would be eating I saw several of these clumps of ice erupting out of the ground. We had a discussion as to what it was called. I thought maybe Hoarfrost, but Penny said no she thought that the little plants in the water were covered in Hoarfrost. So I googled it when I got home and found that it was Needle Ice. Wonderful ~ I've never heard of this before so my brain was expanded today!

We even got to have a civilized sit down at a table for lunch with a real restroom nearby, such luxury,

With sunshine!

then back through the frosty world & to the cars.

It's a good thing we get along with each other and enjoy one another's company, because we got to have a nice nearly 1 hour long chat while waiting at the Border crossing to get back into our own U.S of A!

Great day for a hike in another country!

Endomondo stats:
5.85 total miles hiked