Falls Park & Beyond

     Out of all the parks and places to explore in the area, Whatcom Falls Park is one of my favorites for sure!   I have talked about the great place before.  Please check out 
http://wyomingjack.blogspot.com/2011/03/falls-park-go-and-take-fall-and-enjoy.html

     This park has everything from multiple trails to water falls obviously something to do with the areas name sake.   Multiple water falls.  Above is the main fall.   And right now the water levels are way up with the warm temperatures and lots of current rain.  Two large playgrounds are in the park.  Several buses go right by the park or very near.  You can also get off near Bay View Cemetery and wander you way up.  I always find cemetery's an interesting place to roam around.  They are very peaceful if nothing else.   Turn at the above sign to be very near the main parking lot and the falls trails.  Up a little farther is another large parking lot, by the 2nd playground and some basketball courts.
      Besides the amazing views, pools of water to cool off in, and great trails---  the first time I spent any time in this park was about six years ago.  My girl friend at the time, now she happens to be my wife, was packing up everything she owned into her Buick.   We had meet months before that and now her and her three kids were moving across the country.  So the park has some special meaning to me also.   

                                My exploring partner for the day----Our oldest

    Saturday was a very nice and sun filled day.  I believe it was near 70 outside that day.  So we set out off the bus, down the narrow roadway to the main parking lot.  

     A decent sized fish hatchery is just above the parking lot.   Right now most of the ponds are full of larger fish.   The tank of Rainbow Trout was a sight. 

  

Leading over the old bridge from up above.

This bridge makes for some great pictures.  Most of these are from the trails just above the bridge before crossing it. 

    This is right above the falls and makes it almost look like the water is dropping off to no-wheres-ville.

       I love this picture.  It is much more of a challenge to get down to the river once you cross the bride.  But well worth it.  

Just to the left of the bridge looks like what might be the greatest water

slide there is?

   Once you cross the bridge you can take trails to pretty much any part of town.  We followed the water up past the next two smaller falls.  

     Just past the third waterfall is a bridge that crosses a large pond.  This is usually full of ducks and is supposed to be a great fishing sight.   

    Trails lead on both sides of the pond.  If you stay to the left you soon end up in swamp land.   Relics of the old train tracks can be found all around this area.  We crossed the large bridge and than the road.  Bringing us to Donavan Park.

My hike partner was worn out.

     The full on sun led for some very bright blue water at Lake Whatcom.  

                                                                     My new buddy!

      If you really have some skill, try and cross the floating logs.   This divides the swimming area from were people can boat.    A nice sized playground and pit of sand for playing volley ball is near the lake.  Much of the area is full of sunbathers and swimmers once summer really kicks in.  This is much better an area to wade, than Falls Park which is full of overly sharp and slippery rocks.  But when the temperatures rise, expect to walk before you can cool off.   Some great trails lead around the lake.   Big Rock Park sits on the hillside near Lake Whatcom and will be the focus of a blog in the near future.   This was a very enjoyable day.  And I came away with some great pictures.   These pictures are getting me threw days like today, were it is all out rain outside.  






            Please check out my other blog at  http://wyomingjack.blogspot.com

                        Now it's your turn to guess were I was out exploring last!  

Roaming Cornwall Park

                              **"Put some fun between your legs and grab a bike today!"**

                                                      Peaceful spot in Cornwall Park

    With the sun finally starting to appear before lunch time each day, I have been getting in some great exploring time around town.  I hope to expand on this through the summer.  And put many of the posts in my new blog, just about the joys of Bellingham.  These trips will get better when we get a vehicle, and feel we can afford gas.  It also allows me to snap some great pictures.  Here are what I feel are the best of the best from my exploring for the last about five years.  From Wyoming, to Washington, to Arizona.   Please let me know what you think of these pictures.   Or anything else that I post on here. 

http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.496674965350.299705.615920350&type=3&l=650f207fc7

   Last week a buddy and I wandered around in Cornwall Park.  This is a larger park, and offers many types of entertainment.   Starting with the river that wanders through much of the park.   If you enter the park off of the Guide the water is one of your first sights.  Maybe the large playground first.  Complete with shooting water fountains in the summer time.  A large covered seating area is just beyond the first playground complete with restrooms, many tables, and even a sink.  Sit on one of the many benches while you gain energy to explore more.  Water is very calming, but watching it makes you need to use the restroom a lot.  At least that is the effect on me.   This also answers my were am I picture post from April 19th for those of you that were waiting with baited breath for the answer!  I apologize for the delay in the reveling the answer.   Or do I?

  Just across the wooden bridge there are many trails to explore that roam through the surrounding woods.  If you have not noticed yet, I love pictures of water, and find Washington the perfect place for such shots.  

   Check out some more trails, or enjoy a game of Frisbee golf.  Another playground can be found on the other side of the bridge.  Also another set of restrooms and a full sized horse shoe area. 

My friend after he found he couldn't fit in the swing.

Him again either showing off, or looking for grubs.

    Yet another make shift shelter.  This one was by the horse shoe pit.  One of the simpler ones I have stumbled across.  But still interesting.   These can be found all around town.  Especially on the bay line and in the woods around WWU.

  This fire hydrant in the middle of the park, will be very helpful if the forest ever starts on fire.  And Smokey The Bear is busy.  I find it amusing, but I am from Wyoming, and very easily entertained.  

  Part of the large horse shoe area is visible behind this all natural planter.   Trails will take you all the way to the hospital if you desire.  Or maybe took a little to long of a hike that day.  But those trails I find very boring.   And go through a lot of basically swamp land.  

And now a rare shot of me ---I am usually to busy taking the shots to be in any of them.  

   I am happy in this picture, because I have a chip!    I believe I started hugging the tree right after this picture was shot.  

   A very poofy cloud.   I also am fascinated with cloud and tree pictures at the moment.  This is over the park.  But the very close bay, allows for some amazing cloud pictures.  You can usually get the clouds and the water in the same shot.   Which makes for great shots almost every time.  

    I really enjoy time in this park.  And it is in my top 5 parks to visit in the area.  I will very soon list and talk about my favorite parks.   I rank the trails around the park about a 3.  Mostly because it is very accessible, but offers some great scenery and picture opportunity's.  But find most of the trails overly boring for my enjoyment.   Please glance at this past blog---for my personalized hike rank scale and thoughts on hikes in general.  

http://wyomingjack.blogspot.com/2010/12/hike-ranking-101.html


     And now to guess were I was exploring with our oldest, Joseph on Saturday.  

   No surprise this area greatly involves water.   I did not doctor this shot in any way.  The light was just extra working with me this day.   Any guesses where we were??   
I will revel the answer in my next blog.

This blog now taking advertising.    Hurry blog officially launches May 31st!

 Get in on a sure bet, while I am establishing things---for extra low rates, starting at only $10.00 a month!

      I have kept all advertising out of my current blog in an attempt to continually grow my readership. I now have a decent readership with fans from all over. This increases daily, and I hope the new Facebook page will bring many new readers. And will link all the sights, to again grow the readers. But because this is a very new sight---advertising couldn't be more reasonable for you! Your logo will appear on every new blog. Plus my Facebook pages. I also will be picking a favorite business of mine each week, that gets at least two paragraphs, as well as pictures.

                                                                                                                                                                   

Also please check out my almost daily blog at

www.wyomingjack.blogspot.com