Barkley to Big Rock Garden

Terry and sculpture named "Hope"

Today fourteen Senior Trailblazers gathered to walk around five or six miles from Barkley Village to the Big Rock Garden and return. We are so fortunate to have this wonderful sculpture garden, with so many wonderful trees and bushes from all over the world to enjoy as well. We were last here in the spring, and today we saw beautiful maple leaves turning every possible color.

Brilliant maple

We all expected rain to keep us from completing the entire walk, but we were graced instead with dry weather and mild temperatures. We walked up and down around a thousand feet in our six miles, but it wasn't difficult and seemed quite perfect, actually, as we chatted and enjoyed the scenery as well as the company.

The group, plus me behind the camera

Here we all are, having a wonderful time in the beautiful lush environment of our trail, and at this time we are all nice and dry and happy to be out and about. By the time we started back towards our starting point, we felt a few sprinkles, but nothing much. However, just like last week, by the time we got to the cars, there was more rain coming down, making me wonder if we are just lucky or if somebody Up There is looking out for us. Whatever the reason for our dry walk, I'll take it! We enjoyed being out and about for yet another beautiful day in Bellingham.

:-)

Lovely day on Hertz/Connector trail

Today's Happy Wanderers

Only seven Happy Wanderers showed up today, when our original hike was changed because of construction, and instead we headed over to the Hertz trail and took a rather challenging trip up the Connector trail to the new overlook and back. The entire trip was somewhere over six and under seven miles, but there is quite a bit of elevation gain in a short distance.

Mushrooms along the trail

One of our hikers was happy to see these mushrooms, which she decided to harvest on the way back down. And she did indeed do that. Most of us are afraid of wild mushrooms, but not Leann. She loves these parasol mushrooms and never misses a chance to take them home.

The new connector trail beginning

We hiked for two miles along the Hertz trail, until we came to this connector trail, which most of us have been on before. It goes up to the Chanterelle trail, making an 11-mile loop now available to those of us who enjoy these trails. 

On the stairs

One of the interesting features of this new trail is a series of 347 steps taking us up, ever up, towards the overlook. A passerby took this of the group on the way up to the overlook. We did count the steps, and once before I got this total, so I think it might be accurate. I know my legs felt a little bit stressed by the time we got to the overlook.

At the top of the steps, our leader Persis

We walked the .1 mile to the overlook, and enjoyed a quick early lunch while we rested before beginning our descent. I got this wonderful photo of Whatcom Lake below us.

A glorious view

One of the reasons we didn't have more takers for today's hike was, I believe, that the day was supposed to bring a fair amount of rain. However, we didn't have so much as a raindrop as we went on our out-and-back excursion.

We even saw a bit of filtered sun

However, once we reached the cars and piled in for our return trip home, the rain began, first as a sprinkle, and then before we got to the Senior Center, a deluge. Once again, we lucked completely out with the rain. I am sorry we didn't have a larger group, but for my part it was simply perfect. I was very glad I went out with the Trailblazers today.

;-)

Hovander Park in Ferndale

Some of today's large group

On a day when it was projected to rain in the afternoon but be mostly dry in the morning, 25 Happy Wanderers met at the Hovander Homestead Park main entrance to walk around the flat area of almost 350 acres.

I had been here before, with my friend Melanie, but today we were treated to an in-depth explanation of the history of the area. Terry (in yellow jacket) lived on the farm for seven years with her now-deceased husband. She was able to tell us what it was like to be there year-round, and some amusing anecdotes as we passed by different stations on the farm. From that link above:

Hovander Homestead Park preserves the rich history of pioneer farming and offers recreational opportunities for all ages in every season. The park encompasses nearly 350 acres, including over a mile of river frontage. Accessible sidewalks provide access to the historic Hovander House, playground, restrooms, Group Picnic Shelter, and the Hovander River Trail.

We walked from the red barn house, out into places that once were populated with farm animals. But today we saw some geese and chickens but not much else. We walked along the trails from the big barn to Hovander House, where we had access to a tower, fragrance gardens, and a look inside what was once a schoolhouse.

From the top of the tower

Most of us climbed the fifty-foot tower to get a view of the surrounding area, including Tennant Lake and the wetlands, and in the distance we could see Mt Baker as well.

Outside the fragrance garden

We walked along the boardwalk that snakes its way through the wetlands, and Terry told us of many times she walked on those narrow planks when they were wet and treacherous. We were very lucky that the rain stayed away.

Vietnam Memorial

Terry showed us the Vietnam Memorial in the park, with the names of all the Whatcom County heroes who died in that war. It's almost along the Nooksack River, so we did walk down to the water's edge and saw a few people fishing, and one person who caught a large fish, maybe a salmon.

Wandering through the dahlias

Many of us wandered over to the extensive dahlia gardens, where dahlias of every size and shape are in magnificent display, since this is the time when they are blooming. I was mesmerized by the beautiful flowers, those pretty fall flowers, and I confess I took way too many photos of them.

A favorite variety

Before we left, Terry pointed out a place where the high-water marks are displayed from two earlier floods, one in 2021 and one in 2009. She was living on the premises during the earlier flood, and you can certainly get an idea of what the area must have been like during that time.

Those high-water marks are scary!

It was a truly wonderful way to spend our Tuesday morning, and we managed to keep from getting wet, but it was iffy. You could feel a change in the air temperature, and a few drops fell before we made our way back to our various cars. Some people stayed a little longer, but I was still feeling the effects of my bout with covid and was glad to head back home. We walked around four miles, maybe a little more, but I was ready to get home without using my raincoat. Another lovely walk with the Happy Wanderers.

:-)

Changing things up

This morning's news

Welcome to my final Thursday post here. I did double check to make sure I'm writing this on the correct blog, since last Tuesday I wrote my regular Tuesday blog on my usual Sunday blog. I might blame it on covid brain fog, but it was the fourth time I actually did it within the past month or so. Usually, I correct it by deleting it from the wrong one and posting it again.

Why I am I bothering, you ask? Well, it was enough to get me to ask that question myself, and take some action and make some hard decisions. This is the last Thursday post I will be writing for some time to come, and I'll just stay with the Tuesday blog for this web page. And whatever else I decide to come up with. And, of course, there is nobody keeping score or paying as much attention as me, so I might change my mind again.

It's even harder to deal with the covid illness now that I'm actually feeling like a normal person (well, almost) for the first time since I contracted it last week. As I said on Tuesday, I think I got it while doing my volunteer work last Thursday in the lunchroom. On Sunday, my "T" line was REALLY dark, and today it's lighter but obviously I am still contagious. Most of the truly awful symptoms are gone, but there is still a little congestion and I've had no interest in exercising. That's not usual for me, but today I was thinking that maybe tomorrow I'll go out for a short-ish walk and see how I fare.

On Monday, earlier this week, I could barely stand up without holding onto something and I felt like it might be preferable to just lie in bed and wait until the Grim Reaper came.  And this was a mild case! For the first time, I felt such strong empathy for anybody who went through the worst of this illness, without any vaccinations, without anybody to help them. Today I feel almost normal, although I still haven't put my hearing aids back in. My whole body, head to toe, was sore to the touch. Now that I have neglected to wear them for several days, I'm going to wait until I can venture out into the world again to put them back in. I did check to make sure they would be fine just hanging out on the charger.

Where I wish I was today

This is pretty much what the Chanterelle lookout would be like today, and I've been there many times over the years. I don't think at this moment I have the strength to climb a thousand feet in less than three miles. I'm not even sure I could walk around the block, but tomorrow I'll know more. I miss being with my walking friends, but hopefully I will be coming back to normal within a short while. And trust me, in October I will gladly get my flu shot to possibly stay healthy. This being sick is for the birds!

:-)

My new Thursday routine

Ptarmigan Ridge 2018

Instead of hiking with the Senior Trailblazers, like I did in this picture a few years ago, I worked again as a volunteer in the lunch session at the Senior Center, a strenuous two-and-a-half-hour scenario. I will be doing the same thing again next Thursday, since I won't be going on that hike either. Both today's and next week's are too hard for me these days. But I sure did have a good time on that hike in the fall six years ago. 

I've done all these hikes many times, and I've sure noticed a dropoff in my ability to keep up and make it fun like I did before. Now it's mostly an ordeal, and where's the fun in that? I did get almost 10,000 steps today as I scurried around the lunchroom, pouring coffee here, or helping a disabled person with her tray and finding a place to sit. It's very satisfying, but it's a little tiring, too. Which is fine with me; I wouldn't be happy just sitting and watching other people work.

I came home and ate my own lunch, which we volunteers get without having to pay anything for it. It was lovely, and I am beginning to think that the Tuesday hike will begin to be my weekly long workout. For those interested, my phone, which got a good washing in my laundry, is working just fine. I am truly amazed at how much the phones have improved over the years. I won't be needing to buy another one for awhile.

It's been a good summer around here, never getting terribly hot, and now the first day of fall is coming this Sunday. We won't be expecting any of the heat that many of my friends have had to endure, and now we have my favorite part of the year coming up, when it's not too hot and not too cold. As my eighty-second birthday looms, I am quite happy that I've been blessed with such good health and hope it will continue for a bit longer. 

:-)

A long town walk

On the Sehome Arboretum lookout

Today, the Happy Wanderers went a-wandering in a long town walk. Our leader, Barb, led us all to the bus station, where we took a bus to Lake Padden. I was so happy to learn about this bus route, a new one for me. Sixteen of us exited the bus at the West Entrance and headed down to the bathrooms first of all, and then onto the trail that would take us to the the Lake Padden Gorge. There is an area there that people use as a memorial of sorts, and we looked for the rocks we placed there, but alas they were gone. 

Pretty heart shaped spot

There was this pretty heart-shaped display, probably having taken some of our rocks to make it, and it was nice enough that I didn't mind. After seeing the Gorge, we headed off to some other trail that would take us to the Sehome Arboretum, and the first picture is taken from the top of the tower, the highest place we reached today.

Pencil-straight trees on the trail

After seeing the sights from here, we descended into town, for a walk on the streets that would take us back to town. I was surprised at some of the detours that I didn't know existed, but now I have some more fun places to explore. 

After we walked back to town, making it a bit more than six miles, I split off from the group so that I could catch a bus home. It was a really beautiful way to spend my Tuesday morning with such good friends. Then I got home and headed to our laundry room to get myself some clean clothes. Unfortunately, I accidentally washed my iPhone. I found it in the washer as I was putting everything into the dryer, but I went immediately to my sweet partner to find out how bad the damage to my phone might be.

It is an iPhone12, and it turns out that, other than needing to dry out before I try to plug it in to charge it, it seems to be working okay, but that was quite a scare! It seems to be working, but I cannot be sure until I am able to charge it successfully. Anyway, I am optimistic. Just not a good way to end a really good day, eh?

:-)

Cool Thursday

Warrior Three

 Five years ago, before the Pandemic that caused my favorite yoga studio (Yoga Northwest) to close, I won in a raffle a half-hour private session with Denise, my favorite teacher. She taught me how to do a version of Warrior Three, seen in the picture above, taken back in 2019 at the now defunct studio. It isn't exactly easy to do, or to get into it, but I was determined to learn the pose. As you can see here, I did manage to at least, if not perfectly, get into the correct position. The hanging straps, I thought, added an interesting backdrop. Denise took the picture.

The reason this picture came to mind is because I took a different yoga class today at the Senior Center where I have been attending a class every Monday for awhile. Now that  am no longer hiking regularly on Thursdays, I was also available for the class today. The teacher, however, was a substitute, as our regular teacher is sick with Covid.

It turns out that Dani, the sub, was also a student at Yoga Northwest for years. We chatted about our favorite teachers and how much we still miss the place. She teaches regularly at some place I have never heard of, but I was thrilled to have someone who knew the kind of yoga I practiced for years. And she will soon be teaching twice a week at the Senior Center, starting next month. She supplies poses that are more advanced than Mary, our other teacher, provides. So I figure I'll be changing classes soon. I still enjoy Mary's classes, but I feel much more worked out after today's class than I usually do. It will be nice to have a choice, and there will be many more classes to choose from. The two available classes are always full in no time at all, and you have to sign up weeks in advance. So, I am happy about this new wrinkle in my exercise routine.

 

Trail to Excelsior Peak

Today the Senior Trailblazers are hiking this trail, and I did briefly ponder whether I should go or not, since the temperature has cooled down drastically, and I do think they will have no problem with the seven or eight mile hike with a couple thousand feet of elevation. I probably would have done just fine, but for the first time since I decided to stop going on the Thursday High Country hikes, I didn't feel wistful that I should be there with them. Instead, I had a wonderful yoga class!

I had purchased that hat which makes me a lot like I belong in the French Foreign Legion, to help keep myself cool. It didn't work all that well, but then again, my age is beginning to make me look forward to some new activities. Being an octogenarian is challenging but also interesting. I am intrigued by those new neck fans that I see on Amazon. I will probably try one out next year. Life is good!

:-)

:-)