Exploring Aberdeen/Greys Harbor II

     This page is all about Bellingham and Whatcom county.  What to do see and be here.  And I have many ideas for this page.  I really do, I just been busy with a little day called Christmas and all. ;)  This page is also all about exploring.   And the trail took us out of Bellingham --across the state actually to Aberdeen.   This trip gained us a new travel trailer, that is in our family's yard for storage, but will save us a lot in motel rooms this summer.  Of course all of our roaming this summer will make it in picture filled blogs.  As long as my work gives me time off.  So today I wish to share a few pictures and thoughts.  

      I usually warn people to make a U-Turn when they see the above sign.  But we do have some great friends and or family members that always make the trip worth while.  All of the water and such make for some great picture opportunities.   Since my wife grew up in this area, I will refrain from bad mouthing the area --for now.  The town does have one of the best motto's around though. 

  I can though bad mouth this motel!  In our travels we have stayed in some very bad places.  This is possibly the worse place we have ever stayed.  Nothing worked right, but we still payed full rent.  Including the bath tub that took six hours to drain.  They were closed down for awhile, to meet safety standards, and you can see some improvements going on now. 

     Just after the "welcome" sign, you pass this rock wall of sorts.   I have been exploring at the top, and can say it is worth the difficulty to climb.  You are greeted by water views just across the road.

   Just into town, take some time to explore this great park.  The bridge in the background is a draw bridge, the entire area has such bridges.  So don't be surprised if you have to wait for awhile.  

    

                                          Some fall color still hanging on for dear life.

Right past the park is a Starbucks.  

I took time to write one of my posts for my other blog at this coffee shop. 

If you call the random rambling writing.  

Let me know what you think--  www.wyomingjack.blogspot.com

The above sign is not over the Starbucks, and is actually a false sign.  

The shop is now closed.  

                               Behind the Wal Mart store is another good area to explore.  

                                              Abandoned pumpkin I found along the way. 

                                                                          O shaped trees.
   

Just before the sun came out for a little bit. 

They do not call it Grays Harbor for nothing. 

                                       Across some more bridges to Hoquium.   

   Both towns obviously benefit from the water.  But they also take logging seriously too.  A huge loggers rodeo greets visitors each year.  We have been to the parade and rodeo I am happy to report. 

                                                  Same blue boat, different types of draw bridges.  

   Behind the industrial area is a look out you can climb up and stare at the water.  

   Beyond is Ocean Shores and plenty of other great port towns.  I do not really like Ocean Shores.    It is one of those towns that could be a great tourist trap, but is far from being one yet.   You can also easily jump onto highway 101 from this area.  

  Lots of updates and new features in the works.   My next post will be all about weekend Christmas activities in wonderful Fairhaven.   

Super Urban Exploring & Such

     I realize it is almost Turkey Day, and I have still not posted about our great Halloween yet.  This post really is coming!  Please also check out my other --more established blog sight ---full of random rambling, coffee love, pictures, jokes, and such.  At  http://www.wyomingjack.blogspot.com/  

                                                             Sheridan, Wyoming

    The sight includes some great exploring posts ---Great but not about Bellingham- so not on this sight.  

     Also in the works for this exploring sight----    Much about our youngest son and my running goals and exploring.  Complete with a blog co-written by him and his best buddy.   A listing of many  helpful local sights --for those that have just moved to Bellingham or are dreaming of living here soon.  I also found some older pictures, from exploring the area in the past, so I will be using many of these. Etc Etc Etc!  Please share this link, if you enjoy what you see!

This is a very old picture----But with Thanksgiving coming up, I have been counting my blessings. 

And at the top of the list ---is my great, loving family!

   Today's post starts about super urban exploring.   This is were one disappears in the gaps of woods and trees around busy areas of the city.    I do not have any pictures to go with this.  You will have to explore yourself-if you are so inclined.  I can tell you that --make shift forts and homeless tent cities are frequent in wooded areas.  I have not had a confrontation with any of the tent owners, but please tread lightly.   Much of this land is private property,  potentially adding to the fun of the trip.  Please note--I grew up in Wyoming, and am very easily entertained, so none of the following may be your idea of a great time!
       My examples today are-- 1.)  Just down from Home Depot  were the trailer park used to be.  This is a very open area, but has lots to explore.  And the area is surrounded by trees and running water.  Bring a bag or two---for recycling, because beer cans are very plentiful!  The parking lot just above this, were GI Joe's used to be, also offers some great insight.  If you are a people person.  Several people live out of there vehicles here.  Couches used to line the front of the old store.  And several recliners can be spotted in the trees surrounding the sight.  On a sunny day, it can be a very busy area, for being a closed store.  
    2.)  If you follow the mowed/blackberry bush border of Michale's  arts and craft store off of the guide, around the unloading dock, you enter some great exploring land.  
   3.)   Behind Wal-Mart there is some good exploring.   With lots of trees, and wrappers of items stolen from the store.   You might have to jump a fence to find better adventure.
   4.)  Behind the Fred Myers off Lakeway, is more wooded areas with plenty of trails.
    And lastly for today---- 
 If you park at Jack in The Box, and follow around the run off pond, there are trails all through the woods.   

    Another great way to explore around here-is to just jump a city bus and see were you end up.  Or jump off early and head up a trail.   Around Lake Whatcom is a terrific area.   If you have time to kill, head out to Blaine for some exploring around there bay and the boarder.  The bus to Lummi   also offers some great picture taking areas.   The bus system here is one of the best I have seen.  And the booklet---   lets you easily pick the right bus for your day.   The bus is also a great way to entertain your kiddos!   They will love taking the bus, even if it is just to downtown to check out the local shops and grab some coffee.   This is a quick, gas saving, cheap way to beat all the parking meters down town.   Please note---Fairhaven has NO parking meters and some great local business for sure!    
     A great game to play on the bus----  Before we got our car, my wife and I used to ride the bus a ton.   We started this "game" were we would take pictures of the most interesting, maybe strange people we saw on the bus.   To make it more interesting, we took the pictures with our cell phones, and really attempted to not let the subjects know we were taking there picture.   This allowed for more candid pictures, and kept us from getting our butts kicked, by people whose last picture was a mug shot.   At the end of the day, we would compare all the pictures we snuck, and pick the best one.  My wife almost always won this game with her pictures.   

Another great local game --my wife and I both enjoy--- involves the above huge rock.

When you are near the great city of Bellingham coming from the south,  nestled in the woods, is this huge boulder.  

It gets painted all of the time.

Above happens to promote a blog sight I visit several times a week.  

With many awesome pictures.  In fact some of my shots were fashioned after ones from this sight.  

This picture was stolen from this very sight.  But I hope that if I keep telling how much I enjoy there blog --and push viewers to it, I will be forgiven?

Anyways,  any time we head south, on the return trip, my wife tries to take a picture of this rock.

We were very positive we knew were the rock was, but it seems hidden every trip. 

Long story -short, we still have no picture of this rock.  And have drove the trip at least a dozen times now.   ;)

Another good traveling game---is to call out the licence plates you see while on the road.  

This is not a good game here---because you mostly just here 

Washington and Canada yelled out over and over!

    Lastly for today---hooray!    A local game we play with the kiddos.   At least in the Fairhaven Haggin --- they have a full sized cow and several baby pig models.   The piglets seem to roam the store  and be displayed all through the grocery store.  I don't know if they get in the way, or the workers are overly bored.   Either way, each time we visit, we see who can spot both of the lil pigs first.   

    

     

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