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

North Shore trail Trailblazer hike

Ah......life is good, I got to hike again today. After a break (vacation & bad cold) finally back with the Senior Trailblazers today. Today's hike was just the right one to get back at it, it was nothing strenuous just a nice long walk. 17 of us met together at the Senior Center for the hike. It's an out and back trail located at the north end of Lk. Whatcom, with a mile marker placed at each 1/2 mile. The turn around is just beyond the 3 mile mark. Since I haven't been hiking with them for a spell, I'm going to over share with lots of pictures ;-)

Getting ready at the trailhead -

just a little overcast today, with a few sprinkles -

nice view across the lake -

our group spread out along the way -

foggy view of the waterfall -

the first bridge -

an interesting sight, a police boat -

a new bridge on the trail since I'd been here last, I envisioned a bride walking along this, 

with flowers hanging from the center roof openings. 

My romantic heart showing ;-), we ate lunch here on our way back -

Creek view from the bridge -

cascading ferns -

I liked the way the tree branches framed this just right -

end of the trail, time to turn around -

Penny noticed the tree fossil in this rock, there had been a slide above this area and quite a few of the rocks scattered around had bits of fossils in them -

someone went to a lot of work here, building a swimming pool perhaps?! -

Wonderful day, scenic views and good company. What else could you ask for!?

Endomondo stats:
6.8 total miles hiked
180 Min. altitude
437 Max. altitude
1160 Total ascent
1227 Total descent

3 weeks and counting

How long will it be?..........

It started slow and picked up steam
I'm hoping it's really just a long bad dream
Me trying to be a poet about my ongoing cold.
My activities have been put on hold, while I attempt
to escape this cold.

It's been 3 weeks now, and yes it started innocently enough, just a sneeze here and a runny nose and slight cough there. Then it decided to kick in with a really sore throat, cough, headache, congested head and lungs.

This is how I go through my days and nights:

humidifier - check
water bottle - check
cold medicine - check
vicks - check
sore throat lozenges - check
blanket - check
pillow - check

Some say that the only way to get rid of a cold is to give it to someone else. My husband and I have been sharing our colds with each other in vain. I say here have it, I really don't want it after all, he counters with that's O.K. so nice of you to share but I have one of my own let's trade. and so it goes on.......

maybe if I share it online it will go away, who knows ;-)

p.s. I really hope none of you are suffering with this cold, be forewarned & do everything you can to keep it away.

Now where are those garlic cloves? I wanted to weave them into a necklace.

Best laid plans of mice and men......

We had a wonderful "staycation" this fall.

We spent most of our time driving to watch our granddaughter's events that my husband usually misses while he's working, Elementary recreation league soccer and Middle school cross country meets. Such fun!

We got caught up on some things we needed to like: an eye exam for new contacts & glasses, flu shots and a shingles vaccine, quite a few projects around our yard were completed and but mostly we just goofed off.
My pretty new glasses, stylin' since I'm almost 60 ;-)

The last week of our staycation I managed to get a cold. So most of the outdoor activities we'd hoped to do were cancelled, and then after my husband went back to work he came down with a cold. I was feeling badly because I thought I'd given him mine but no it was a different strain, more of a chest cold than mine was. I know because I got it from him. 

I was anxiously looking forward to getting back to my routine and my hiking, but my plans to get back to hiking with the Senior Trailblazers have been delayed till I can get over these silly colds.

Happy Halloween!

Watch out for those ghosts and goblins today!

Bagley lakes for a fall picnic

The fall colors are here and we decided to head to the hills for a fall color drive and picnic. The colors were beautiful on the drive up to Mt. Baker, but it looks like they won't be there for long.
We took a nice walk around Bagley lakes and a bit up toward Herman saddle. A truly gorgeous day, I couldn't help but take a second look back as we were leaving, knowing it would be awhile till we would be hiking here again.
I'll let the pictures speak for themselves. Enjoy -

panorama click to enlarge

Wettest September day on record

Or as I call it the day I killed my iPhone 4.

I was out running on this record setting rainy day. Click here to read the Komo news story of the record setting day.

It was pretty cloudy when I was getting ready for my days run & I casually thought before I headed out the door hmmm....should I put my iPhone in a ziplock bag? (I use the exercise tracking app endomondo on all my workouts.) Then I ignored the little voice in my head & headed out the door. It really poured while I was running. I had my phone in my pocket & when I got home water actually poured out of my phone. I quickly put it in uncooked rice to dry it out but alas, it was dead.

Luckily my phone contract had run out so I was eligible for an upgrade & I had recently backed it up on iTunes, so nothing was lost. 

 I now own an iPhone 5S which I love, but I'm not happy with how quickly the battery drains down with the ios7 update. I did some quick researching and found all the battery wasters to shut off in the settings & bought a Mophie case. I got one that adds 120% battery charge to my phone. Now I should have battery to last on my long runs, hikes, bike rides etc. & I bought a dry sleeve to carry my iPhone in when the weather is WET!

It was a VERY expensive lesson I learned on that day my iPhone died.

If you remember the tune & you want to sing along with me, insert the words "the day Kim's iPhone died" where the lyrics to the song American pie says "the day the music died" 
If you aren't familiar with it or just want to hear it one more time here it is on YouTube -

. All together now - 

American pie by Don McLean

Verse 1A long long time ago
I can still remember how that music used to make me smile
And I knew if I had my chance
That I could make those people dance
And maybe they'd be happy for a while
But February made me shiver
With every paper I'd deliver
Bad news on the doorstep
I couldn't take one more step
I can't remember if I cried
When I read about his widowed bride
But something touched me deep inside
The day the music died
{Refrain}
So, bye-bye, Miss American Pie
Drove my chevy to the levee
But the levee was dry
And them good old boys were drinkin' whiskey and rye
Singin' this'll be the day that I die
This'll be the day that I die
Verse 2
Did you write the Book of Love
And do you have faith in God above
If the Bible tells you so
Do you believe in rock n' roll
Can music save your mortal soul
And can you teach me how to dance real slow
Well, I know that you're in love with him
'Cause I saw you dancin' in the gym
You both kicked off your shoes
Man, I dig those rhythm & blues
I was a lonely, teenage broncin' buck
With a pink carnation and a pickup truck
But I knew I was out of luck
The day the music died
I started singin'
{Refrain}
Verse 3 
Now for ten years we've been on our own
And moss grows fat on a rollin' stone
But that's not how it used to be
When the Jester sang for the King and Queen
In a coat he borrowed from James Dean
In a voice that came from you and me
Oh, and while the King was looking down
The Jester stole his thorny crown
The courtroom was adjourned
No verdict was returned
And while Lenin read a book on Marx
The quartet practiced in the park
And we sang dirges in the dark
The day the music died
We were singin'

{Refrain}

Verse 4 
Helter Skelter in a summer swelter
The birds flew off with a fallout shelter
Eight miles high and falling fast
It landed foul on the grass
The players tried for a forward pass
With the Jester on the sidelines in a cast
Now the half-time air was sweet perfume
While the Sergeants played a marching tune
We all got up to dance
Oh but we never got the chance
'Cause the players tried to take the field
The marching band refused to yield
Do you recall what was revealed
The day the music died
We started singing
{Refrain}
Verse 5 
Oh, and there we were, all in one place
A generation lost in space
With no time left to start again
So come on, Jack, be nimble, Jack be quick
Jack Flash sat on a candlestick
'Cause fire is the devils only friend
Oh, and as I watched him on the stage
My hands were clenched in fists of rage
No angel born in Hell
Could break that Satan's spell
And as flames climbed high into the night
To light the sacrificial rite
I saw Satan laughing with delight
The day the music died
He was singing
{Refrain}

Verse 6
I met a girl who sang the blues
And I asked her for some happy news
But she just smiled and turned away
I went down to the sacred store
Where I'd heard the music years before
But the man there said the music wouldn't play
And in the streets the children screamed
The lovers cried, and the poets dreamed
But not a word was spoken
The church bells all were broken
And the three men I admire most
The Father, Son and the Holy Ghost
They caught the last train for the coast
The day the music died
And they were singin'
{Refrain}

Bye-bye, Miss American Pie
Drove my chevy to the levy
But the levy was dry
And them good old boys were drinking whiskey and rye
Singing this'll be the day that I die
They were singin'
Bye-bye, Miss American Pie
Drove my chevy to the levy
But the levy was dry
And them good old boys were drinking whiskey and rye
Singing this'll be the day that I die

AMEN, 
oh well life goes on, it was only a phone after all. :-)

Hannegan Pass Trailblazer hike

Hoping for a sunny Thursday and hurray it was another beautiful day
in the Pacific Northwest! 

12 of us headed from Bellingham to hike Hannegan Pass. I was especially excited because I had invited my dad to join us as my guest.

The trailhead

The info. board with the typical bear warning and identification postings.

The views were spectacular!

We had lunch at the campground just before the pass. When we sat down to eat our fearless leader "Pat" had said we probably wouldn't go to the pass since we had stopped a little later for lunch, 

Lunch spot - my dad :-)

Lunch spot - my dad (again) :-)

but after we'd eaten it was agreed we would hike on to the pass. 

It would have just been a shame to get so close and not go on up.

Almost......... everyone

ooh aah

The view from the pass.

So glad we continued to the pass, it was another wonderful hike with the Senior Trailblazers 

& my dad :-)

Thanks for the picture, Nobuko!

Endomondo stats:
9.35 total miles hiked
3107 Min. altitude
5106 Max. altitude
7980 Total ascent
7331 Total descent