A road trip to Sequim - Part 2

 

Time to explore a tiny section of the The Olympic Discovery Trail

 

The route of the Olympic Discovery Trail (ODT) traverses almost 130 miles of lowlands, bordered on the south by the Olympic Mountain Range and on the north by the Strait of Juan de Fuca. The trail is a wide, paved pathway designed for bicyclists and walkers.

 

 

 

 

 

We head across the Johnson Creek Trestle.  This trestle is 410 feet long and 86 feet high.  It's the largest railroad trestle on the Olympic Peninsula. 

 

 

 

 

A cool cluster of metal leaves.

 

 

 

 

There are two platforms on the trestle which originally held barrels of water for use in the event of a fire.

 

 

 

 

Lots to see!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Stay tuned to see what else we find!

 

 

 

A road trip to Sequim - Part 1

We headed over to Sequim and found lots to see and do!

 

As we waited for the ferry to leave out of Seattle we saw a number of birds enjoying the day. 

 

Double Crested Cormorant



Great Blue Heron



We've seen a lot of cormorants standing with their wings open.  I checked out why they do this and here's what I found: 

Cormorants often stand in the sun with their wings spread out to dry. They have less preen oil than other birds, so their feathers can get soaked rather than shedding water like a duck’s. Though this seems like a problem for a bird that spends its life in water, wet feathers probably make it easier for cormorants to hunt underwater with agility and speed. 



Great Blue Heron, Cormorants and a gull



 

Lots of cranes to unload the shipping containers

 

Mt Rainier among the cranes

 

Catty curious about this strange thing we're on.

 



 

 

The Olympic Mountain Range

 

 

 

"I can't see anything down here!"

 

 

View of downtown Seattle

 

 

 

A pretty ferry ride

 

 

 

In the lower right corner you can see a ferry heading from Vashon Island to West Seattle.

 

 

Seattle in the distance and here comes the blue skies

 

 

 

More Cormorants to greet us at the Bainbridge  Ferry terminal.

 

 

Stay tuned to see our adventure!

 

 

Spring is coming!

On February 6th we had about 5 inches of snow.  One week later, we had a spring day with temps in the mid 50's.  Catty and I headed out to see if anything sprung up.

 

"Look at what we found!"

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I wanted to see what was sprouting at Brander Gardens.  It's one of my favorite parks/P-patches!

 

 

 

We find signs of winter growing on this bench

 

 

 

Pretty Catty girl

 

 

 

 

A beautiful sunny day

 

 

Catty enjoying the tractor - such a silly girl.

 

 

 

The lady scarecrow still has on her winter wear.

 

 

 

We had the garden to ourselves!

 

 

 

I believe this is Wintersweet

More signs of spring

 

 

 

Grapes still on the vine from last summer

 

 

 

"Lots of Hellebore in bloom!"

 

 

 

 

 

 

The P-Patch was still resting from the winter.  Catty was fascinated by the colored glass on the wall

 

 

 

"It's just glass!"

 

 

 

One more photo before we head home.

 

 

 

We found lots of patches of crocus.

 

 

 

 

The Robins are back which means spring is around the corner.

 

 

 

A great walk!

 

 

 

Sweet D'light at the top of the stairs to greet us when we arrive home!