Stimpson Nature Reserve

Our lovely trail

Today, I asked Melanie if we could do something easy and relatively short, and she thought that would be a good idea. I suggested the Stimpson Family Nature Reserve, and she readily agreed. We've done it many times before, and when we were hiking with the Senior Trailblazers, this was one place to come when the weather was iffy. But today it was just simply perfect for us: moderate temperature and mostly cloudy skies. 

Magnificent old growth tree

There are many beautiful old growth trees in this reserve. It's 370 acres of forested land and wetland habitats protected by the Whatcom Land Trust and the Bellingham Parks and Recreation Department. And it has lots of old trees that are truly lovely to wander amongst.

More of the trail

There are two parts to the trails in this reserve, the first and longest loop goes up the side of the "mountain" (nothing compared to last week's mountain), which is 2.8 miles around, and then a loop that goes to Geneva Pond, 1.2 miles. We went around the short loop twice, in order to get a total of 5.5 miles and 1,100 feet of elevation gain and loss. I felt great today and was happy to be out and am not at all tired.

Geneva Pond

Today the pond looked a little scummy along the top of its usually clear water. I think it must be detritus from the trees. I know I've been sneezing a bit lately, and consider it might be some of the pollen set loose during the changing fall season.

Sunlight filtered through the trees

As we began our final push back to the car, the sun came out and shined brightly through the trees. The day's delightful excursion turned out to be just about right for both of us. 

We each had a half martini

Since it was just a little after noon, I suggested that we go somewhere for lunch. Melanie had taken me to Scotty Brown's before, but this is one of the few times I've eaten out since the pandemic hit, and I felt pretty safe since we have both received the latest booster shot and we sat in a covered outdoor patio. She suggested we share a basil grapefruit martini, and they brought it in two different glasses. A nearby patron took this picture of the two of us.

It was a sublime way to finish the afternoon after a lovely easy hike, and then we headed home, having had a filling lunch that cut the effects of the martini. I am not much of a drinker, but I sure did enjoy it, along with the great Thursday outing!

:-)