Its days like this that I absolutely love where we live. The day dawned with the promise of warmth and sun. Packing up, we put the top down and head out to Anacortes.  However with a day like this we decided that the fastest route wasn't the best and wound our way along the coast taking Chuckanut Drive to Highway 20.  We stopped at Gere a Deli for sandwiches. this is a must stop in Anacortes.  Also, be prepared for a lot of food.  Before going to Washington Park we stopped for a view of Padilla Bay, Guemes Island and Hat Island.  We watched a boat pull up to a tanker and some guys board the tanker by a cage that was lowered and then return the same way before headed back to Anacortes.it was rather fascinating to watch.After eating and taking a nap we then drove to Washington Park. I thought we may hike a bit but we decided to drive through the park and just enjoy the day lazy style.  We met a nice couple who had the same thing in mind and were actually from Bellingham.  Small world.  We returned the same way we came along the back roads just enjoying the day.  Note, bring sunscreen.  With the top down, legs, arms and necks tend to get burnt.

It had been a while and we were itching to get out onto the trail.  It's amazing how many places we haven't yet explored in the twenty years of living here.  Early in the season lowland hikes are the best bet since the higher trails usually have snow until July. We've hiked many of the trails in the Chuckanut foothills but wanted to get out of town. This is a nice little known gem that basically follows the river through the Skagit Valley.  We pulled into Rockport which is tiny. Very tiny and started off at the entrance to the Howard Miller Steelhead Park.  It is free for day use.  The very beginning of the trail is almost like a stroll through a well manicured park and then crossing a bridge is gets to look like a Pacific Northwest Trail complete with drop offs into the river.  The salmon berries weren't quite ripe yet but it is only a matter of a week or so. We stopped along a sandbar, took a little nap and headed back.  Perfect outing and great to explore a lowland trail.

I've been trying to process the events that are unfolding around us, through out the world. At first it was in a far off place, interesting but relevant to my daily life? As news. We watched as it jumped by leaps and bounds to other countries, to our country, to our state, to our county. We watched as people started buying products in bulk, for 6 months. Toilet paper was scarce and that was in March. Bottled water couldn't stay on the shelf. Disinfectant wipes unattainable. Flour and yeast were just signs on empty shelves. You could feel the fear and anxiety in the stores. Then came words that we hadn't ever had in our vocabulary - social distancing. What in the world. People bought N95 masks. They became unattainable to health care workers. Hand sanitizers were unavailable as well until distilleries started making them and some donated them to anyone who wanted or needed it.  Schools closed and universities sent students home. Restaurants all closed and laid off their staff.  They became takeout only.  Door Dash, Ubber Eats, Viking Foods, and curbside deliveries became norms. All nonessential workers sent home, to work from home if possible, if not then unemployment. On top of all this Russia and Opec started a disagreement which sent oil prices plummeting which affected gas prices but also affected all refineries. They cancelled all projects, more layoffs. Airlines cancelled flights and some even closed their doors until June. More layoffs. People were encouraged not to use public transportation if at all possible.  If they had to then they needed to maintain a 6 ft distance from other riders and wear a face mask.  Memes started popping up about wearing a face mask while taking care of their banking needs.  Who would have thought we would approach tellers with a mask on? The nightly news, via reporters at home. Conference calls with kids in the background on crawling on their parents lap. This has become the new normal. Prom, Graduation Night, Graduation ceremonies all cancelled along with all professional athletic games, and concerts.  Church is now at home in front of the computer. Stocks plummet and rise and plummet and rise as fear and hope rise and plummet.  I go to work and wear a mask over my mouth and nose. I try to smile with my eyes, and I ask people how they are doing? How are they holding up? Some are sad, some anxious, some tired and some thankful that they can get their coffee and have a bit of normal in a not normal world. Most just want to talk a bit and have someone else besides their animal listen to them. An hour, two even four hours of handing out food and drinks to people needing some kind of normal and I'm tired. I come home exhausted. Some are tired of being at home, and yet this last month Anne Frank was on the cover of New York Magazine.  She spent two years hiding in an attic without going outside before she was discovered and sent to a concentration camp. I keep that in the forefront of my mind when I think about this "stay at home" order. I can leave and order take out.  I can Skype or Facetime my son who is in Maine. I can have zoom dinner parties with friends and text them to keep in contact.  John has had less interaction than I have and I think he needs something other than Lona and I.  He needs that interaction even as an engineer. He spends his days in front of the computer or on the headset on conference calls, pacing the family room. His interaction is a wave to a neighbor and petting the dog. It's been 4 weeks. And yet again, we are free to have take out, to walk around the neighborhood, to go for a run. We can sit in the sun and read a book or go to the hardware store and get supplies for neglected projects. I can look at the negative, I can play a blame game, I can feel cooped up or I can see what I do have. It's not easy and I don't do it well. I forget and need reminded but for the most part I see people pulling together and working through this "stay at home", "social distancing" " 6 ft rule" for others and themselves. This is an event that will change our society, have an impact on history. We are living through it.

I have no idea why we have never hiked this trail before.  We've biked, ran and walked the trail that follows the shore of Lake Whatcom but until this hike I didn't even know there was another trail that led towards a beautiful view. The trail led us through a variety of alder trees, and old growth forest. Being a bit more on the steep side we didn't meet many hikers. The trail is shared with mountain bikers and there was a section that was just for downhill riding.  Hikers walked around.  The first part of the trail had a lot of young fallen trees with sticks piled upon sticks, like a windstorm went through and shook loose the dead branches.  The trail crossed an old logging road in several places and also a couple of creeks with wooden bridges.  Once at the viewpoint, we could see the whole of Lake Whatcom, a part of the sound and the islands beyond, looking west.  Looking east we could see Lookout Mountain on the other side of the lake, and the valley towards Acme.  It definitely begs to be a sunrise hike, a thermos of coffee, a couple of pastries, and a blanket.  On the way up, we found a fairy house and a blooming trillium on the way down.  Worth the hike for the view.

A weekend together, tulips blooming at our house, a beautiful day, warm weather, and a convertible added up to a drive past the tulip fields.  They aren't open this year and signs along the road said closed. Usually I would wander through the gardens and into the fields but not this year. This is the year to view them from afar. All non essential stores are closed.  All restaurants are take out or if they are fast food, then drive through only. All sporting events cancelled. Most people working from home. Schools are all online K-university. It's an odd time in our world. But a country drive does a soul good when paired with beautiful scenery, a walk along the shore, a take out burger, and some herbs for the summer garden purchased.  So until next year dear tulips I will view you from a distance.

We have hiked to Oyster Dome via the Samish Overlook many times.  It's a place we take friends when they want to see a bit of the outdoors and can hike a ways. It's also a great place to view Mount Baker, the Cascades, the San Juan Islands and the Puget Sound right from the parking area. If the day and wind is right you can watch hang gliders and para sailors launch from this spot.  This day the wind wasn't right and having done this hike many times we decided to explore a different way.  The Oyster Dome Loop trail via the PNW Trail and Max's Shortcut returning via the Samish Bay Connector.  This was a new way for us and I really enjoyed it.  There is a clear cut section that these trails go completely around.  Being a bit out of shape, it made my legs burn in some areas and I took off my jacket but other than that it was a great hike.  I could see doing this again and if done early enough during the day, going to Lizard and Lilly Lake, taking the spur up to the Dome and back would make a great day hike, complete with a beer at the end. This day there was plenty to enjoy as the trees and shrubs were just starting to leaf out and uncurl their flower buds. There was still ice on the ponds and the moss heavily grew on the trees providing that deep earthy green that glows in the late afternoon sun. The trail is well maintained with a great bridge over a small creek.  When we arrived back at the trail head, people were starting to set up chairs to watch the sun set over the water.  Truly we live in a beautiful area.

Sunday morning and we had one more place to explore a bit more.  Downtown. There were a couple of shops that I wanted to step into: Churchmouse Yarns, the Lavendar shop, and a coffee shop.  After eating, drinking coffee and a bit of spending it was time to take the ferry back to Seattle and head home.  Of course it was off season and the weather wasn't warm but it was enjoyable.  The prices were reasonable for accommodations.  The prices of food was typical for a touristy town, and there were a variety of activities.  Of course it always pleasurable to take a ferry to your destination, it feels more like a vacation then just driving.