Another Great Weekend Playing In Bellingham

Summer made an appearance in our area, and was out in full glorious force over the weekend.  

Our family took full advantage of this, all weekend long.   

**The above great painting is on Rail Road Avenue by Man Pies**

I am sitting on our front deck--trying to ignore the neighbors and fully enjoying another sunny day, this Wednesday.   As the sun starts to go down, and the temperatures get nicer.  I am recalling the weekend, and digesting.  Because our family just ate at the Home Town Buffet.   

They are featuring steak every night and have an Icee machine now.  And the cliff notes are:  I ate way to much.     

First off----any guesses what my next exploring blog post will be about?  

And now it is time for my picture of the day!  

OK this concept needs a new title.

But it is what it is.   

I show a picture I took--try to keep them newer pictures, and than explain a little bit about the picture.

This is right down town Bellingham.

I have shot many great pictures in this area, just down from the old city hall building. 

This was just a few weeks ago, and is another reminder of how fast all of the area water is flowing. 

Stay out of the faster moving water!

That said---- I start my weekend with our family at the Aquatic Center.  

  Our oldest turned 12 on the 3rd of July, and he wanted to have his party, swimming.  My wife and I had never been to the building, and we took the family there during free swim.  They have family prices and single prices that are very reasonable and offer the whole area for two full hours.  We had a great time in the huge pool, hot tub, and slide that wraps in and out of the building.  A great way to beat the heat for sure!    

     Saturday it was time to give mommy a break, and I took off with all of the kiddos.  Including an extra.   We explored the Saturday market.   Always enjoyable.   The above statue is also praising the sun!   For more on the market  please check out    http://exploreb-ham.blogspot.com/2012/05/great-saturday.html

This market trip was fueled by Woods Coffee!

   Than we all went to Wally World.   The birthday boy had birthday cash to spend.  And so did all of the kiddos, just in lesser amounts.   I worked with the company for eight long years, so dislike the box store.  But some how like it less every time we visit.   I am still not sure how that is possible.  

    And than we ventured to Boulevard Park.   Always a great place to soak in the rays and the sights.    I have posted about this park several times already.  So I will not say much here.  But simply post some new pictures I got while there. 

Happy day!   

The view just past the coffee shop.

Me fully enjoying the sun as the kiddos played.  

Just above the park.  

I call this one

"coffee with friends!"

    On Sunday we ventured to Lake Padden for the day.   And enjoyed the water and some BBQ steaks!   The only good thing we have gotten at Wally World for awhile.   Yes, they came from Wal  Mart.    I was surprised how good they were.  

Can you smell the steak??

Another trail to explore!

Again I have talked about the lake before --so will just post some new pictures.   

Did I mention I love pictures?

Our dog Max  drying off. 

Next I will tell about Ski to Sea---yes finally!

Here I am waiting for the parade to start, while in the middle of the street. 

I also have many other posts in the works!

Including the 4th of July, our trip out of the area to Lake Sylvia, free & cheap local entertainment,  

More Chuckanut exploring, walking and viewing all of the statues on WWU campus, Pioneer Park, The bay, And many many more!

And as always

**Happy Trails!!**

Great Saturday

                          April Adams is the hottie country girl that shakes it for me!!

      And now with no guesses submitted--the long awaited telling of were I was Saturday morning!  *Drum roll please!*     After running some errands our oldest and I decided to check out the Saturday Market downtown.  Established in 1994 this has had a lot of time to grow and expand.  Including the partially covered structures for those days that the sunshine runs away.  In fact it is one of the best such markets I have stumbled across in all my travels.   A very close 2nd place goes to the market in downtown Eugene, Oregon.  

 Full on sunshine greeted us again on this day.  People that do not live in the Great North West might not understand why I bring up sunshine so much.   But sun is a rarity in the winter time.  It might not rain every day, but the sky's are dark and gloomy.  By the end of winter, it starts to mess with your head.   And "sun boxes" are available for sale.  Boxes you can put in your kitchen or living room, that simulate the light of the sun, getting brighter and than darker as the day progresses.  The sun is celebrated here, and there are festivals all summer long.  But that first week the sun reappears, everyone has forgotten what that bright light in the sky is, and walks around deeply squinting and running into stationary objects. 

  
  As is most of Bellingham, the market is very biker friendly.  In fact parking is MUCH easier if you are on a bike.  Bikes can park across the street from the market. 

 In fact this section of Rail Road Street is blocked off during the event.   Taking the bus is also a very easy option.  

           Many all local grown or made products are showcased.   From crafts such a jewelery and tie dye shirts to plants.   A large section is also devoted to local food joints including of course coffee stops!  

   Today's roaming was fueled by Woods Coffee!   Our first stop when arriving at the market.  Conveniently located just across the street.  Making it a great stop to grab some coffee to go like myself this day, or stay and people watch.  This shop has seating inside and out and is less than a block away from the market.  

     More to explore inside the all covered sections.  Restrooms are also in this area.  For those of you that enjoyed to much coffee.  Several food selections are always at the market if you are enjoying the area on a day other than Saturday.  

    Performers, of all ages and levels can be found in and around the Market.  Many earn a good deal of there income just from such shows so don't forget to help fill there hat if you stopped to enjoy there show or music.  Other activities are also very easy to stumble across.  

    On this day we stopped to watch One Fine Fools great show!  He travels all around Washington performing, and came all the way from Bellingham, Washington this day.   This is a very entertaining and funny show.   That gets better with customer participation.  Above he is getting ready to blow up his blue ball----"That's imposable!!"

                                                   Sorry I find the blue balls amusing.

                                                                  Juggling time!

             Best sign I saw all day----and later while enjoying some BBQ, it did inspire beer-30 at our house!   


         We had other family plans after the market.  But another very enjoyable destination on Saturdays or any day of the week is 

O'Donnell's Bellingham Flea Market    

        Located in the old car dealership across from Grocery Outlet.  They are open every day of the week and house two levels of flea market goodies.  The items for sale change all of the time and are in a huge range of selection.  Well worth a weekly visit in my eyes.   Also every Saturday they hold an auction that starts at high noon!    Check it out!!

  In the afternoon we enjoyed a few hours at beautiful Lake Padden.  Still enjoying the great weather and allowing for some time to kool off in the water. 

Max our dog is like me---he loves the water until he has to start swimming.  I swim like a rock!

    We managed to find a small spot away from most people.  It is a large lake, but with the full on sunshine, we were greeted by a full parking lot.   This lake is a little bit of a drive-  but well worth the trip.  

                                                     Down further at one of the boat docks.  

   Awesomely maintained trails wrap the entire length of the lake.  Although I have not ventured the full route yet.   

                                                                       Max drying off.

       Please also check out my more established blog---

                       www.wyomingjack.blogspot.com

                                                          And as always 

                              **HAPPY TRAILS!!**

Downtown Bellingham--A Great Place To Start Exploring!

Welcome One and all to my newest blog!

Tomorrow another maybe warmer welcome.

With plenty of background of me and were this blog is going.  

Today a picture filled exploring post.  

Please comment if you like what you see.
And feel free to bounce over to my other blog.  

It has been around since December of 2010 and I am more than a little proud of 

it's size, content, and reader base.  

www.wyomingjack.blogspot.com



Sheridan Wyoming

       The downtown area in most cities is usually great to explore.  It can quickly tell you a lot about a city.  In my travels I have seen a lot of deserted downtown's.  I will not blame big box stores, for quickly turning Mom & Pop stores into tumble weed filled stores, but let you judge for yourself.  Sheridan, Wyoming has an awesome downtown.  Filled with interesting tourist traps and unique statues on most street corners.  Tired of walking?  In the summer time you can cheaply catch a renovated trolley with wheels and book it all around town.  

   

    Bellingham, Washington is again were I reside, and happen to have lots of pictures of, so I will ramble about it's great downtown area now.  This is the fourth time I have lived in the area.  The beauty, people, and amazing amount of activities --keep bringing me back.  Take some time to take it all in any time you are exploring.   The above old court house allows for a great picture from almost every angle in town.  Day or night.  Although I sat on a cell phone in front of this building at three in the morning, and am pretty convinced the great building is haunted.  Inside houses what I have heard is a great museum, but I never seem to be in the area when it is actually open.  Several overly interesting museums can be found within blocks of this building.   The large courtyard leads right to the bay if you keep roaming.  There are also some great shops to explore along the way.  Already thirsty?   The newish Chuckanut Brewery has some great selections to choose from.  

    Just up from the old city hall you run into woods and some nice trails.  Explore down by the water.   Hit the right time of year and you can see the massive Salmon in the fish ladders.  Or pause to watch someone land one right out of the river.  Find the statues or just sit on a bench for awhile and take it all in.  The public Library is also just steps away.

 

Behind the library

 

Some of the many trails  just down from the old court house. 

 

These salmon are easier to catch!

   
 

Part of the Chip A Hoy Tribe?

 

Angry large salmon can be viewed at the right time of year.  A small grouping of fish holding tanks and fish ladders houses fish before they are released into the nearby stream.  

 

Coffee!

     A few great coffee shops can be found near the area also. This is another Woods Coffee location.  Some of the best service and tasting coffee around.  Woods Coffee also has some of the best locations  in town.  For business and awesome views.   I think it is amazing how fast the water gets deep.   This ship is docked right off of downtown.  

Behind this rocket is a great full wall mural.  These can be found all around town.

And are fun to search for.   Each is a work of art in itself.  This rocket now marks a great donut shop.   But beware, you can smell the donuts from blocks away.  

Bar to stay away from

Under the large bridge you can view one of the areas largest homeless camps.   To the bay you can see the remains of buildings being torn down to make room for more condos.  If you hit it right, you can watch them demolish a building or two.  More free entertainment if nothing else.  

 

The Bagerly

    Railroad Avenue has some of the best places to eat, booze it up, or get caffinated in my eyes.  All of the bars downtown are clustered in a large square area.   Making it easy to hit them all if you get a night out on the town.   RR has a Starbucks and  another Woods coffee.   A great pizza joint- which I talk about further in another blog, The Bagerly---  I recommend the farmers bagel, Mallard ice cream---you  can't find a better summer stop, unless you get gellito in Fairhaven.   
 

Boundary Bay Brewery

 

Farmers Market

 

Wild Buffalo

    In the spring and summer you can enjoy the farmers market on Saturdays at the end of RR street.  Or sit in the Woods coffee across the street and enjoy.  Stroll a little farther and you can follow a walking path to the bay and beyond.  Offers some great views of the bay and than empties out into the park.   The Horseshoe Cafe is supposed to be the longest continually running restaurant in the state.  Just past that is the Wild Buffalo bar.  They have a homey feel and have many nights of entertainment.   Including open mike nights, which seem to get better the drunker you are.  Actually this area offers many very talented people.   The Boundary Bay is a great place to enjoy dinner and a brew.  They have live bands often.   Eat inside or enjoy the great outdoors when it is actually sunny.  Every Thursday evening they also have a BBQ.  The company also greatly sponsors the St Patty's day parade as well as is the stopping place for the parade.  

City of subdued excitement!

In the weeks and months to come---we will explore and learn all about Bellingham together.  Many of these articles have been published on my other web sight---so I will attempt to add these in a logical order.   Attempt is the key word.   

All the pictures are mine----unless I post otherwise.   

Tomorrow a special greeting and lots of valuable information.

As always

**HAPPY TRAILS!**