Barkley Village

    Like most of Bellingham, this whole area is highly under construction.  Un-like much of the town, I feel this small area deserves it's own page.  To tell of the many wanders, mostly including coffee shops of course, but also some great exploring, and shopping for those that want to shop.  Fair warning, the people seem to be a little more "uppy" and I would class many of them as Yuppies.  I have complained before about how bad the trails are in this area for people with dogs -bagging up there poo, and than leaving it all over the trails.  I feel it is just like camping, and you should pack out what you bring in to the area, and that if one is to good to pick up there own dogs poo, they should just walk there dog on there own property.  But that's just my two cents--- take it or leave it.     The above huge clock can be seen from quite a distance, and informs you, you are in Barkley Village. 

  

 

 

    The new, very bright signs, across the street also tell you of your location.   This posting is for the new Woods Coffee shop-  A very grand place to enjoy coffee.  But there are many choices for brew, very close.

 

 

     My wife and I stopped at the than newest coffee shop- a few months ago.  Now there newest location on Lakeway has also opened.   I have not ventured to that store yet.  You can just make out the logo on the black painted building, with the new movie house towering in the back ground.  This is a very nice coffee shop.   Right across the street you can enjoy two Starbucks.   One is in the Haggins Grogery store, so very compact.  The other is a full sized shop, with a fireplace.  Than just down the road, on Sunset Drive, is yet another Starbucks.  The small mom & pop coffee house sadly does not exsist in this end of town.  

 

 



   A huge set of parking lots sets behind the movie house and coffee shop.  Making me very sure that more buildings are coming to the area.   I was surprised at the massive amounts of security cameras -for just a parking lot though.    Past all of the pavement, a pond complete with several fountains can be enjoyed. 

 

 

    Just down the road is a bike/walker crossing or you can cross at the four way stop light. 

 

 

  This gazebo sits right beside the Haggins grocery store.  Beside this is a much smaller fountain, great for cooling off in during the summer.  On this day it was not yet turned on.   Behind the structure are many trails to be explored!   Down the slight hill to the left you soon pass these old remains of the railroad system.

 

 

 

 



                       Similar sights can be spotted all around this great town.

   From the gazebo, if you venture to the right  many trails lead one all around town.   Much of this area is wet lands and run off areas, so venturing off the trails can quickly lead to muddy/soaked feet.  

     Later that day the sun decided to make an appearance and we ventured once again down to the bay in Boulevard Park.  I have many blog posts filled with pictures from here.  Please check them all out.    I end up by the water a lot!    Here are some new pictures.

 

 

    We parked off of State Street and crossed this bridge that goes over the train tracks than down to enjoy the park and sunshine. 

 

 

Max on the look out!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

    Since we are moving cross country very soon, I have been out snapping some more great shots.  I hope to find the time to categorize them all soon.   With the move will come much more exploring and pictures.    I will also start a brand new page---all about exploring Arizona.    Using many things I have learned and done wrong with this page.   It will center from our new home town, and than venture out as I have time.   Also I will be incorporating advertising and my own line of greeting cards.    Please view my past blog posts, for my best exploring pictures.   And visit my first blog sight at      www.wyomingjack.blogspot.com

 

I have many exploring posts on that sight too!    And please pass on the links if you enjoy what you see! 

 

 

                                                         **HAPPY TRAILS!!**

 

Big Rock Garden Park

   Welcome to all of my readers!   This new page is just about Bellingham and Whatcom county and  fun and exciting things to do here.   I have a ton of ideas and new posts in the works.  I just work full time and have a full family at home, so do not always get the ideas down on paper as quickly as I would like to.  I hope you enjoy the posts so far and will pass on this pages link to your friends and family that live in the area!   Coming up are posts about:  All of the statues on WWU campus, Our trip to the new family fun center on Meridian Street, A post just of my favorite pictures around the area while exploring, sunset pictures, our family trip on an 100 year old train --a few weeks back, and an entire post with useful links to those living here or thinking about moving here.  Plus many many more posts and ideas!   Thank you for checking us out and sharing the link!       While you are waiting for new material, please check out my longer running blog series at     http://www.wyomingjack.blogspot.com/   with 300+ posts to roam through.   

    A few weeks back our two boys and I were out and about exploring and stopped at The Big Rock Garden Park.  The only other time I have been there, was about two years ago.  When I started on some trails behind the Starbucks in Barkley Village-and a long time later ended up in the great park.  I am not sure I could do that again.   There are many great trails between the area.  I can tell you the park is above Lake Whatcom.

   A place I have posted about several times now.  I will not ruin the fun, by explaining how to get to this particular park--that is part of the fun of exploring!  Soon I hope to do an entire post just about the wonderful parks in this great town.  Ranking the better parks in my mind.  One of my favorites is very close to the above area --and Great Falls Park.  I have also posted about it several times, with some awesome pictures, if I do say so myself.  

    Several things have stalled me.  I started work almost two months ago, and it is some what strange to stand in the middle of a park, and snap pictures.  Past posts have talked about many of the parks in the area.  I just hope to ramble about them all in one great post.  I also hope to break out my thesaurus soon, and stop using the word "great" so much.  But I really do like most of the things about this town!

   We soon discovered this was not the best place to explore with kids.  They needed room to run and run and be kids.  And people in the park actually wanted to view the many sculptures and enjoy the peace the park usually has to offer. ;)  Just after this picture was takin' the kiddos were blasting through the park.  I took off in the other direction, not sure if I really wanted to take them back home with me.  The kids ran past a larger group of art critics.  I was way down the trail, but heard the adults raise there voices, and was heading to the area to stop any problems.  The adults tried to yell at our kids, saying something about how they were trying to enjoy the art and beauty of the park.  Our youngest, stopped long enough to pant out "that he was just trying to run!"  And than ran off.   I have to say that it was a great response, and the adults really had nothing to say about this.  

   Out of the parking lot, you are first greeted by the above sign.  It shows were all of the sculptures are and a little about each one.  I believe at one time there were just short of 40 sculptures.  Now many of these are just empty spaces.  The many trees and such make this a great place to find yourself and maybe find some peace while you are enjoying the art.  Many benches can also be found through the park.  

     The main gateway into the park.  The entire area is enclosed with a tall wooden fence. 

The land scaping is amazing.

And even the trees offer great pictures.

   The below very bumpy tree is extra neat to look at, and feel.

                                                The park even has fake trees to view.  

  Just past this half building, is a large deck like area, overlooking the lake and beyond.  With many benches to enjoy.   Each sculpture also has a name tag, and some history into what the art is about. 

                                                             "Freedom is not free!!"

   The sculptures are very varied.    And much time can be spent here just looking and learning.

                                                       This trio is read to play you a song!

This full sized horse is just waiting to be petted.

When you visit the park ---read the story on the next two sculptures.  I find them the most interesting of the entire lot.

                                 This would also be a great place to just sit and read.  Do people still do that? 

This turtle just wants to say "Howdy!"

At first I thought the above was also a sculpture.

I defiantly did not get pictures of every thing. 

So that you can still explore and enjoy the area.  

My next exploring blog post will be about our family's great trip on a old train.