More Exploring A

     I particularly enjoy these pictures and hope you will too.   So much so, I am going to turn tonight's post just about these shots from last week's exploring.  We had some rare free time last Wednesday afternoon, and saw some sun shine!  Although after getting my final pictures of the sun set, the walk back to our car was very chilly.   Please do not forget to share this exploring blog sight-if you enjoy what you see.   And check up on my longer running sight with 350+ posts of random rambling and coffee love.   I have been focusing on promiting posts from this page there also, but will return to my wonderful rants and rambling this week.  Take a look ---  www.wyomingjack.blogspot.com

    On this day -- our youngest two had early release from school, and we found it was time to explore and give mommy some free time before our oldest got out of classes.  We started out downtown Bellingham.   I have written about this area many times.  And new sights and beauty always greet me--on every trip here.    I think the above building is one of the neatest buildings in Whatcom county.  I also believe it is haunted.   I have many-many pictures of this great old building.  

This picture has an almost Eire glow from the intense sun!

I stood across Holly Street facing one of the mini light house towers for this shot.

We soon ended up down by the water.

A common destination in our travels around the area.

You can just make out the bay beyond the bridge in this shot.

Beyond all of the ducks and geese, ever present in the area

and the salmon ponds 

throwing/skipping rocks is always hours of fun!

          
                            Max- our dog always is the first to get wet on our trips--
but will fight to the bitter end, when it is his bath time. 

    It always seems hard to imagine seeing such sights in the heart of our wonderful downtown. 

   

                       Further up Holly Street ---I had to stop to take a picture of this tree!

Same tree  not nearly as neat of an angle.  

      We ventured further up the road---near Bellingham Technical Collage.  
Across from this stack is a parking area, surrounded by trails.  To the left you are soon exploring the college.   To the right you can soon reach the bay. 

                     Another great tree, just off the trail on the way to the beach.  

Soon you pass under the rail road tracks.

       It just happened that a train was coming --right as we neared the bridge.  

Even this lonely piece of drift wood turned into a great picture. 

The kiddos soon got tired of my picture taking and built there own teeter tauter 

with an ocean view!

I have posted about this area before--but 

I really enjoyed these pictures.

Water ever flowing into the bay.

The abandoned pier, ripples, and sun allow for some great images.

                               I am forever in seek of the perfect sun set picture.  
It might appear that the jet in this and another picture, ruined the shot---but I feel it made it.  
Many flights, both big and small went over us during our short journey.  But the airport is just up the road.  

A few last shots, before heading back up the trail to our awaiting, warm car. 

                                  Who needs Hawaii when you can get views like this ?

Downtown Bellingham Full Of Art

A lot can be said about the natural beauty of the Bellingham area.  I try to show this daily in my pictures.  But it is something one must witness for themselves.  

The Big Rock Garden Park is full of art.  Both natural and artist renderings. 

Western College campus has great old buildings to enjoy and 27 sculptures spread around campus. 

I just found a book and map of all the sculptures--  so will be posting about both locations very soon.

Water trickles through this entire sculpture on WWU campus.

And of course the nearby mountains and ocean lead to some natural beauty!

                                                                 From sun up to sunset.

                                                                Art is on local cars

                                                            This car is winking at you.


                                                 Art can even be found on the city bus 

Art is even on walls.

"Reading is sexy!"

I recently wrote a blog on my other sight about tagging and it's fine line between art and 

vandalism.  Please check it out 

http://wyomingjack.blogspot.com/2012/05/mini-rant-15-first-hint-of-tagging-sell.html

                                      Above Boulevard Park--just off State Street.

         "Are you not entertained?"   This was found on WWU campus.  And can also apply to my readers at the moment!


     Speaking of tagging, I have been spotting the below tag, all around Fairhaven--does anyone know what it stands for??   I tried looking up "angry gerbil" and spray painted hamster on Google, but got nothing helpful.  I did learn that it is a bad idea to spray paint your hamster if you wish to keep it alive. 

                                                       Art can be found in a classic old car.

                                           Or the many classic buildings all around town. 

                                                          Beauty can be found every were!

    All of that said, today's post is all about exploring downtown Bellingham.   This is 90% of the murals in the down town area.   I just found two more great ones, past The Mission, while driving our family home yesterday.   Finding as many of these as you can is a great way to spend a lazy Saturday afternoon after going to the Saturday Market.  It also works well for wearing out your kiddos.  Right now, local kids art is displayed all around downtown ---an extra bonus!   I do not know street names ---so to some extent you will have to roam to find some of these pictures.  Find them all and win a great workout~!

Always on the look out for more pictures!

         Today's exploring started out with coffee of course!   The first statue awaited my buddy and I just across the street from the Flat Iron Building.

                                              And than across the street behind us this great mural.

                        Down the hill ---the city park offers great views and more art. 

                                       Enjoy some more murals on the walk to the park.

                                Follow the many stairs back up by the old city hall.   And look for the mural pictured at the top of this blog.   Half a block down you can see a full mural featuring salmon. 

 And near the post office....

            This giraffe guards the public library.    And the nearby museum has some great art both inside and out.  

   Marvel over "the last supper" near Interfaith Medical.

              This boulder blocking most of an alley-way connects to someones deck.  

       Find both of the above murals in the heart of Bellingham's downtown.  

                      Even the parking garage houses some great paintings.  

   One of my personal favorites on Commercial Street.   Although it does not lead to a coffee shop anymore.  :(

       At the Saturday Market....

    Down Railroad Avenue just before the large pet shop.    Well worth a stop inside to see the many animals.  And almost never ending fish tanks!

    Also watch the alleys near here for more abandoned rail road tracks.  

                                  In front of the bus station, watch this sculpture spin. 

                                             And lastly for today-----up State Street.  

                                                                    My kind of coffee mug!!

   Yet another coffee shop that is no longer in business.  Support your local coffee house!   I have noticed for a town that is so into mom & pop stores, and supporting local shopping, the big coffee places are quickly taking over.  

   In support of bike to work day--I am sure this is why this was painted way above the city.  


  I apologize for the next picture----it is on top of the Up & Up building.  

     And of course the newishly painted greeting along the bay heading back to our home in Fairhaven.