Chuckanut Ridge

          Hello All!!   Thank you once again for being a reader of this page!   I have many ideas and new concepts for this page.  And really am working on making it a fun and informative sight for all who live in Whatcom or wish to visit the area.  Between work and three kids, my free time is almost non existent, so new posts have been forming in my head much faster than actually making it online.   Also my family and I have been having a very tough time with a little thing that usually vanishes closer to Christmas time, called customer service.  So I have been writing letters to companies and such.  More on that fun very soon, but all the bad service makes me want to bring back my concept of show casing a local business or a few of them.  I have mentioned many such business in past blog posts, and I thank each of them for going beyond what seems to be the new norm of crappy service. 
    Anyways, boring story-short, I am skipping over my post about our soggy Halloween night and exploring Chuckanut Ridge today.  Because I really want to share some of these pictures, and because I can not locate some of my Halloween pictures at the moment. ;)

      Just off of State Street.  I love this sculpture--and the views of the bay, and trails are amazing!

    I have posted about this area in past blogs.   And I always enjoy the views and hikes.  On this day I had some free time, before it got dark.  And was very surprised at how early darkness fell on me.  I am usually at work when the sun sets.  Soon I hope to re-visit the entire Chuckanut road --and have lots of pictures.  But at the moment that is on a very long to do list.  If you have any great exploring pictures you would like to share.  Or would like to view all of my pictures, thoughts, coffee love, rambling, and gain access to both of my blogs---please visit my new Facebook sight at                             Wyoming Jack/Bobble Head's Blogs Exploring Bellingham & Whatcom county

   As you zig zag up this great road, just past the flashing yellow lights for a wide curve, is a one way road that turns into a parking area.  I first stopped here to explore a little.
  You soon can hit some trails leading to Teddy Bear Cove--- a place I have before posted about.  I walked down the roadway towards Woodstock Park.  Please note: The roadway is very narrow here with limited sight distance for drivers, so keep an eye out if you choose to walk on the roadway.   Many people choose to bike this same road, so most drivers are already watching ahead. 

      Above the tree line:

As you wander--see how many islands you can spot.

I have always thought having a family picnic/camp out on one of the islands would be a great day.  And way to get away from it all for awhile.

Also see how many ships you can spot.

I think I spotted eight ships in the distance during the short time I was out.

One of the many very neat tress along the way.  

And a great place to sit and think.

Or just enjoy the view.

Just to the left---is a panoramic view of the bay.

With every step --that day--- a new picture opportunity arose.

Tracks leading into Bellingham.

Just to the left is Teddy Bear Cove

To the right--some huge houses with amazing views, and deep, sticky, smelly, black mud.

This whole area offers some great exploring and wildlife viewing.

*Again see my past posts for more information*

One more shot as I head back to the car.

I than venture up to the boat launch -just before Larabee State Park.

The park service has life vests here that you can borrow, just in case you picked up an extra boater.

Again -I was very pleased to see a full rack of life vests.   

Meaning --all borrowed, were returned for the next user!

View to the left--- towards the park. 

View to the right.

Not only was darkness rolling into the area, but also a storm was brewing.

I love how the sun rays are coming down in this picture.....

And one last shot for the day

Welcome To Fairhaven, Washington



Now a house 16th street

**"It takes honey to catch fly's but you gotta be extra fly to catch more honey's."**

Have you ever had to many things started? I at the moment have a ton of great ideas started, but need to focus like crazy to keep them going. And minimize a little until things get going. That said, as soon as I am working again I am going to start a second blog. About how great Whatcom county is! And the many free-cheap things to do and explore. The following will be a taste of what will be added. Tomorrow I should have another hike one posted. We have a ton of items up for bid on Ebay and such sights. And will be starting an online store very soon. **Please contact me if you would like to view some awesome items at low low prices---always!

Fairhaven so far is a great place to explore. I am now surrounded by great trails and will be reporting about many of them very soon. Please check out my hike 101 posting, for my own take on trail ratings. I keep trying to compare the town to the Fairhaven in Popeye the movie. Besides being a bay town, their are not many other comparisons. I used to think that Fairhaven was a richer district full of a little bit snottyier class of residents. Now I really like the town. It's smallness and great shopping, coffee shops, trails, and bay access.
Downtown is small so you can cross it very quickly. But I find it more fun to take in all the sights. Everyone is very friendly and helpful. I have meet some great people just while sipping coffee. A minute about coffee shops--because coffee is my best friend!! Am/Pm is not really down town-but has awesome coffee! They have a whole wall of different blend choices. Almost to many to choose from early in the morning. Plus most importantly, you get a punch card were it only takes three drinks, to receive a free one! The Haggins, closer to downtown, is great for people watching and such but the coffee really isn't that good. Although the re fills are full and the seating area is nice. The toy store downtown is one of the best I have seen. Just down from the fish and chips bus *Awesome food* is a Gelleto store, highly recommended. Two huge book stores occupy downtown. The courtyard pictured below is behind one of them. In the summer time they play free movies on there. Great place to wander on a rare sunny winter day.

Best Fish & chips around!

Liabry

Smoke shop amazing lobby



Fairhaven Park

Fairhaven park is one of my favorite local parks. Just starting to raise up into the Chuck a Nut mountains, the surrounding views are great! A small river wanders by the park. Followed by trails on all sides. And in the summer time you can enjoy the water park section. Follow the trails into the woods, up into the mountains, to downtown, or to the always beautiful bay. Up from the park the many trails are amazing. The best are in the Chuck a Nut area. I have not had a chance since I been back in the area to enjoy them much. But do know the views are amazing. Although the trail signs are confusing. I will have some great pictures and thoughts on those trails up soon. 



Even the signs have umbrella's in WA!!

Towards the bay is a nice dog park. Complete with a great sledding hill. For those few times it does snow around here. These trails wrap there way down to the bay. Always a great view, but my favorite time to go that direction is around sunset. Just wrap up, the winds off the water are extra cold. Fairhaven terminal is one of the nicest Grayhound stations I have seen in my travels. The stop also has a great little coffee shop. Just down from there in the terminals is another decent coffee shop. The coffee is not the best, but you cant beat the views! Huge windows face the bay.



Right to Broadwalk



Left to Teddy Bear Cove

Down from these buildings, is a little park. To the left if you follow the RR tracks *don't tell* and keep on your toes, the walk along the bay can continue. Teddy Bear Cove is close. NONE of the local travel guides warn you to watch going here in the summer. It is a very popular spot for men to skinny dip for some reason. By pass the terminals and follow a thin trail behind the bookstore and you hit the boardwalk to Blvd Park. My current favorite coffee shop in in the park overlooking the bay. You can branch all over town, but my favorite walk or run follows behind the Hub and puts you in the middle of Bellingham near the Saturday Market.

Snow meets ocean

Down by the bay.

Growing up in land locked Wyoming, I love being by the water!   And I find myself near the water on many many of my adventures. 

I am happy to call Fairhaven my home right now.   And will be adding many more posts about this great town!!