Picture of the week ~ Macro dewdrops

Macro photography 

Happy Thanksgiving

From us!

Picture of the week ~ Fairy house

Red mountain, Arizona - hike

Blue skies everyday, hmmm a person could get used to that! 

We took our annual fall trip to Flagstaff the first 2 weeks of November. 

We found when we got back home, that the temps had really dropped here at home. While we had chilly nights in Flagstaff the days were pleasant with temps. mostly in the mid 60's during the days. We enjoyed walking to Red Mountain, we'd never been there before even though it's just a short drive north of Flagstaff.

Here's an excerpt from the Red Mountain link above: 

"Red Mountain, located in the Coconino National forest of northern Arizona, 25 miles northwest of Flagstaff, is a volcanic cinder cone that rises 1,000 feet above the surrounding landscape. It is unusual in having the shape of a "U," open to the west, and in lacking the symmetrical shape of most cinder cones. In addition, a large natural amphitheater cuts into the cone's northeast flank. Erosional pillars called "hoodoos" decorate the amphitheater, and many dark mineral crystals erode out of its walls. Studies by U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and Northern Arizona University scientists suggest that Red Mountain formed in eruptions about 740,000 years ago."

The area really did remind me of Bryce Canyon in Utah.

The trail is very easy, flat and short -

Our destination

nice ladder step over the wall

We enjoyed climbing around and through the rock formations

panorama (click to enlarge)

There was quite a bit of scenery besides the rock formations too -

;-) more scenery

We flew this year instead of driving so we could stay more days there. We flew from Bellingham to Vegas and then the same thing in reverse to return home. The return flight was interesting. A young woman across the aisle from us didn't seem to be drunk, but she was definitely using her airsick bag ALOT and went to the restroom and stayed for lengthy periods of time. We assumed it was the typical person coming home from Vegas that had partied a bit too much for their system, but after we'd been home just a few days my husband and I both developed all of the fun symptoms of the stomach flu. We quickly decided she probably wasn't suffering from her "What goes on in Vegas, stays in Vegas" activities, but that she just might have exposed our whole plane to this unpleasant bug. So, now after 5 days of being sick and losing 5 lbs. I'm finally well enough to share some of our trip fun. Whew.....and back to my daily routine that I love -

and that explains why I'm not posting about our weekly Trailblazer hike.

Picture of the week ~ Wupatki National Monument

Tiny window in the ruin

Wupatki National Monument

Kaleidoscope fun

I'm in it! (Click to enlarge)

Picture of the week ~ Fall in Snohomish

Picture of the week ~ A blue bench

My husband and I were walking along the Squalicum-Harbor trail yesterday and I spotted this lovely blue bench near the Hotel Bellwether. 

It was such a bright spot on an overcast day.

Little Cranberry lake from Avenue A, Trailblazer hike

As I packed my things last night for today's hike, I put in my rain gear. It was pouring outside and the forecast for today was looking pretty wet.

I was shocked to see 15 people at the Senior Center for the day's hike to Little Cranberry lake. After some discussion one of our members decided it was too wet and went back home. Frank and Marjan decided to hike Fragrance lake instead. So our group of 12 headed towards Anacortes, and yes it was very wet when we left.

Wet drive looking down I-5 south

We were cautiously optimistic about the weather, many times it is drier in the Whidbey Island/Anacortes area than here in Bellingham. The sky did lighten the farther south and west that we travelled.

We started our hike with a few showers that soon gave way to just a cloudy sky.

As with last weeks hike, the mushrooms are plentiful along the trail.

We were treated with the appearance of the cutest little Salamander.

We found a nice little knoll with a small view of the lake to eat our lunch.

Of course now that we were in the open and settled down to eat the rain decided to come down. 

You can see the water running in a small stream down the trail....

and then the sky opened up to......SUNSHINE!

Enjoying the view

We went a bit off our route and enjoyed going in to an old Copper mine.

Joe (thinking optimistically) came prepared for today's viewing of the partial eclipse of the sun that was supposed to happen today. He brought a piece of cardboard with a hole in it and a sheet of paper for us to see the eclipse.

Joe and Owen working together

I cropped the above picture, so you could see the image of the eclipse better. If you click to enlarge the below photo you will be able to see the partial eclipse crescent image.

What a day, I would never have dreamed we would have had such glorious weather for today's hike. Then as I turned into our driveway at home....behold, the frosting on the cake!

I know I have an abundance of photos in this posting, but can you blame me considering what we left in Bellingham this morning ;-)

Endomondo stats:

Total miles hiked - 6.95 miles

Minimum altitude - 226 feet

Maximum altitude - 528 feet

Total ascent - 829 feet

Total descent - 797 feet

Come and run 8 miles with me

I thought I'd take you on my run today :-)

We live in northern whatcom county, where the landscape is dairy farms, corn fields and raspberry fields. I have the pleasure of getting to take my runs, walks and bike rides in this beautiful place.

It was a nice day so I took some pictures so I could share my route with you.

Here we go!

at about 1/2 mile & a dairy farm

at about 1 1/2 miles, a corn field

long straight stretch at about 2 1/2 miles, and more corn fields

still long straight stretch, 3 miles and the same corn fields

luscious green fields of the dairy farms

4 miles & another dairy farm (on a less cloudy day Mt. Baker is visible just over that hill)

Almost 5 miles & more dairy farms (if you enlarge the photo you can see the Twin Sisters peaks in the distance)

7 miles and raspberry fields

Almost home! 

The below picture is the same field where we began. 

I took the beginning photo here over my shoulder.

and back where we began!

It was a great run, hope you enjoyed it as much as I!

Picture of the week ~ Jesse Owens

Jesse Owens with me & our kids at the Arco Jesse Owens games 

in Bellingham (summer 1977)