Can't count on the weather

Ebey's Landing, 3/14/09, 5 miles, 250 elevation

Finally the day came when Michael and I were to lead our mentored hike for the Mountaineers. But as the weekend approached the weather forecast got worse. We were expecting high winds and rain for the morning of our hike. Our group began to dwindle until there were just two on the list the night before our adventure. I learned several years ago that you never cancel a trip because you don't know what will happen. And it's a good thing we didn't.

Rain may have been falling in Seattle when we left, but the grey skies held off their threat of a deluge until after our hike. The wind however was stiff and cold as we started up the bluff. We all bundled up as we set off for our little journey.

Ebey's Landing is a hike full of history and we detoured to view a piece of that history - an old blockhouse used in the Indian Wars of the 1850's. The settlers would take refuge in these smallish structures. They would fire rifles through holes in the thick walls at their attackers. When the attack was over, the settlers would return to their homes - one of which is replicated nearby.

We continued our hike along the bluff and once past the ridge the wind died down so we were able to enjoy our walk much better. Without the wind freezing our exposed skin, we could stop every now and then to admire the view - and notice a cactus or two just below us on the bluff. Yes, you read that right, cactus. There are several cacti making their home in the sandy soils of the Ebey's Landing trail. It's quite a sight.

Once we hit the beach the wind had again picked up - no longer blocked by the ridge. So our walk trek back to the cars was quick - just so we could get ourselves out of the cold. It wasn't until our drive back to Seattle that the rains started falling. Like I said, you don't always know how a day will turn out.

Scouting Trip

Ebey's Landing, 3/1/09, 4 miles, 250 elevation

On a blustery type of a day, Michael & I went to scout a trail we'd be leading a hike on later in the month - Ebey's Landing. I had often read about this little trail and the bounty of flowers in the spring. March is a little early for flowers, but we scheduled the trip anyway to accommodate our Mountaineers Hike Mentor. To become hike leaders for the Mountaineers, we had to lead a hike under the supervision of a certified hike leader.

We packed extra layers expecting a bone-chilling wind and made sure the dogs had their coats, but those were not needed. e were peeling off layers barely a mile into the hike. The sun even glowed brightly behind a thin veil of clouds. The wind never materialized - amazing as we hiked along a high bluff over-looking the Strait of Juan de Fuca and Admiralty Inlet.

The hike itself is a leisurely paced trail along the bluff and completes a loop along the beach. Even though flowers were not yet blooming, we saw quite a bit of wildlife including a sea lion swimming through the kelp just off the shore.

And now that we have scouted the trip, we feel comfortable enough to lead the hike later on.

MusselFest 2007

Coupeville, WA 3/3/07

Mussels, Mussels everywhere. Each March Coupeville which sits on beautiful Whidbey Island plays host to the Penn Cove Mussel Festival. Penn Cove lies on the eastern side of Whidbey Island which seems to be a perfect place to cultivate mussels, clams, and oysters. So each year Coupeville celebrates the wonderful shellfish that come from Penn Cove. And each year Michael & I with my sister and friends attend the festival. The biggest attraction of the festival is the taste test of the local restaurants' chowders. For just a few dollars, each visitor gets a ballot with a list of participating restaurants and travels from tasting to tasting throughout town.

We usually meet about mid-morning and taste our way to fullness through many little cups of mussel chowder by mid-afternoon. An average of 12 restaurants participate each year, so 12 small cups of chowder have an ability to fill you up. We get a taste of traditional chowders, specialty chowders, bisques and soups. All with (hopefully) several little mussels strewn about the bottom. At the end of the day, we part ways satisfied and happy from good food and good company.

But a visit to Whidbey isn't complete without a visit to one of the numerous parks. This year Michael & I stopped by Ft Ebey State Park to walk the dogs and show our friend Michelle the place special enough to hold our wedding. After playing with the puppies a while we head back to the ferry, still full from our extended lunch.