Oyster Dome and on the half shell
Dancing through the world on foot, wheels, and in boats is superfood for my soul, but does requires fuel and maintenance for my body. After a day of fever and nausea and another spent struggling to eat or drink, I was finally able to refuel last night with a full pot of rice and a quart of lemonade (the only two things that didn't turn my stomach - go figure). That short bout of sickness magnified my gratitude for my exuberant mind and body and increased my awe and sympathy for those who live with any chronic disease.
Last Saturday, Sue and I heard the gun go off at 10:49 am from the trail to Oyster Dome, 3.2 miles and almost 2000' from the car. The blast marked the low tide for the summer and the start of Saturday's BiValve Bash, arguably the toughest 250 yard run in the nation.
The hike past the Bat Caves to the top of Oyster Dome is a challenging climb through primordial ferns and Doug Firs with sweeping views of the Salish Sea and the Olympic Mountains from the top. It is also extremely popular on a sunny Saturday, attracting hikers from all over Puget Sound. A Boy Scout troop from Burlington was there training for a 50 miler from Hannegan to Whatcom Pass and then out the Little Beaver Valley to Ross Lake. As the group rested, one of their leaders pointed out the stops on an upcoming kayak trip in the San Juans. Wow! These kids are going to sup and sample some serious wild splendor this summer!
The current parking plan for this trail needs addressed for safety and sustainability. One option would be a cooperative bus service between Skagit and Whatcom Counties to serve the various Chuckanut Trailheads to alleviate parking problems and create one way hiking options on the existing trail systems.
For public transportation options to local Bellingham trails, download WTA to Trailheads from the Whatcom Sustainable Recreation, a project I've been working on for a couple of years. To help protect and enhance the trails and splendors of Blanchard and the rest of the Chuckanuts, visit the Chuckanut Conservancy website.
After returning from the Oyster Dome, we returned to the car, unloaded our bikes and rode to the Bash for some oysters on the half shell. Food, fun, and dancing to the Altantics on a perfect summer afternoon - what could be better?
Sunday morning (the first day of the mystery disease) was a bit of a struggle after a night of fever dreams, but we made it to Padden in time to be safety kayakers for the Bellingham Master Swim Club Open Water Swim. 65 folks completed one or two laps around the lake in two hours or so. That's a long time swimming! (it was hard enough just sitting in the boat that long). Afterward I got to jump on a stand up paddleboard for a quick spin - if you haven't tried it yet, do so at Bellingham SUP
Yesterday (day two of the mystery disease) was a fun but somewhat limited (the not being able to eat or drink much thing) exploration of the 50 miles of Anacortes Community Forest Lands (ACFL). Holy revelation Batman! The trails go on and on, up and down, and left and right through both smooth and and rocky turns. Better yet, there's three lakes to jump in along the way. And the trees!
Until yesterday, Anacortes was just a scenic beach town on the way to the San Juan Island Ferry. Now it is a worthy mountain bike destination with fun and very bikeable hiking trails through a lowland forest full of old giants and granite hilltops. Comparing the trails of the ACFL, Galbraith Mountain, and Squamish, ACFL trails are as much friendlier and more manicured as Squamish trails are steep, rocky, and intense when comparing both to Galbraith.
Dance on!
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| Samish Flats with Taylor Oyster Beds in lower right corner at low tide on 7/2 |
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| Cars jammed on the shoulder below the trail |
The current parking plan for this trail needs addressed for safety and sustainability. One option would be a cooperative bus service between Skagit and Whatcom Counties to serve the various Chuckanut Trailheads to alleviate parking problems and create one way hiking options on the existing trail systems.
For public transportation options to local Bellingham trails, download WTA to Trailheads from the Whatcom Sustainable Recreation, a project I've been working on for a couple of years. To help protect and enhance the trails and splendors of Blanchard and the rest of the Chuckanuts, visit the Chuckanut Conservancy website.
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| Three Classics at Taylor Shellfish |
Sunday morning (the first day of the mystery disease) was a bit of a struggle after a night of fever dreams, but we made it to Padden in time to be safety kayakers for the Bellingham Master Swim Club Open Water Swim. 65 folks completed one or two laps around the lake in two hours or so. That's a long time swimming! (it was hard enough just sitting in the boat that long). Afterward I got to jump on a stand up paddleboard for a quick spin - if you haven't tried it yet, do so at Bellingham SUP
Yesterday (day two of the mystery disease) was a fun but somewhat limited (the not being able to eat or drink much thing) exploration of the 50 miles of Anacortes Community Forest Lands (ACFL). Holy revelation Batman! The trails go on and on, up and down, and left and right through both smooth and and rocky turns. Better yet, there's three lakes to jump in along the way. And the trees!
Until yesterday, Anacortes was just a scenic beach town on the way to the San Juan Island Ferry. Now it is a worthy mountain bike destination with fun and very bikeable hiking trails through a lowland forest full of old giants and granite hilltops. Comparing the trails of the ACFL, Galbraith Mountain, and Squamish, ACFL trails are as much friendlier and more manicured as Squamish trails are steep, rocky, and intense when comparing both to Galbraith.Dance on!
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