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

Teddy Bear Cove

                                                      **Fair Warning!**


        I have read most of the local hike/activity/guide books and have never seen this warning before.  And I feel into this fact by accident the first time.  It usually holds true.  
    On this trip--my  warning proved true again! Old guys like to swim and sun bath here nude. Like 80+ year old guys.  I believe I shielded our youngest from seeing the sagging wrinkly sights--only because I have not heard him tell his friends or mom about the older man that jumped out of the water just as we were passing, who was completely nude.    Again---Fair warning.   And now some pictures of the other sights!




       A short drive up the Chuckanut Mountain road way towards Larrabee State Park leads to a few parking lots that are still free.  One is easy to pass, but look for the one way entrance just after the large flashing lights on the wide turn.   This meets you with a long twisty trail right down to the cove.  Recall it is a long trail back uphill to your car also, so do not over due yourself while swimming nude.  

                                                         The view from the parking lot. 

The views are well worth the trip down the trail.  

You do have to cross the rail road tracks to get to the bay.  So keep pets and kiddos close at hand.

This is also one of the only local bay areas were you can play in actual sand. 

  And of course there is plenty of rocks and such to explore.   This whole cove also offers some of the clearest water!

                                              X marks the spot!     Underwater message.


   Above this first cove also offers some great views and more exploring.  We originally roamed to this spot to capture some pictures of a massive sail boat I had before spotted---docked in the cove.   But alas I had waited to long, the ship was roaming the outer limits of the bay--in full beautiful sail.   Sadly I took the wrong camera that day, and you can just make out the magnificent ship in the below pictures back ground. 

       On this day we ventured to the right of the cove.   You can stay far away from the rail road tracks and walk along the bay.  In fact there is soon water on both sides of you.

         As always I warn everyone from walking on the tracks, no mater how fun it may be.  

The only trains that are safe to climb on or around are in museums. 

This is in Ogden, Utah

                              More great bay line, large rocks, and views await for the adventurous. 

       In the hills and around this 2nd cove are huge houses.  Also a ton of that deep sticky dark black mud that one sinks into slowly.  

                                                                    Huge house with a view. 

At this point, I distracted our youngest and our dog down by the water.  Skipping rocks in always hours of entertainment.  

And I ventured slightly up the trail.  This train bridge was one of the most un-nerving events I have tried in awhile.  Most of the boards were beyond lose.  And looking to the sides at the flowing water, gave the illusion that the bridge was moving.  I will not dwell on this, because one is not supposed to be on this bridge unless you are a train.  I am not.  

                                                        On the bridge looking down. 

                                                    This is defiantly were to turn around!


                      But if one were to venture over or through this mountain some how---it is not that long of a walk, back into Fairhaven.   Just sayin'        

                                                           My hike buddy "The Ninja!"

                                             Extreme close up of me   down by the bay. 




     It was nearing super time, so at this point we started back to the car.   If you have more time, stay to enjoy the sunset.

    To the left of our starting point at the bottom of the trail, another sand filled cove awaited.  

    A short adventure, but well worth the hike.   Although the trip back up to our car reminded me that I have asthma for sure!   


                     Any guesses were my next exploring hike will be about??    

       As always ---please send your guesses to me.   Or any comments~!   
Also check out my more established, long running blog at
http://www.wyomingjack.blogspot.com/