Craft Island 5-29-14

Although the sky was cloudy as if pondering rain Cedar and I needed an adventure, so we headed out for Fir Island.  I had read on the internet that dogs were allowed on leash, but when we arrived there were signs everywhere that said 'No Dogs' and 'Pets Must Remain in Car.'  Bummer!  But we were close to Craft Island and the clouds were making way for sunshine, so we headed a bit further to a place we are familiar with.
It was just gorgeous under the sun.  The marsh grasses were all greened up, wild irises and roses were blooming, and multitudes of birds were singing.

We walked everywhere we could find a path.  First we waded out through the tall grass along the road by the irrigation ditch.  There were a lot of caterpillar nests along the way.

 

We could have walked forever along that high path overlooking marshes, but we came to a No Trespassing Bird.

So we went back out along other paths, sometimes muddy ones.  We crossed the channels of water on convenient logs and admired wild iris.

A couple fighter jets were practicing overhead for a bit.  They were not too noisy and very fast.  I was surprised I caught them on my first try.

We meandered along and soon found ourselves actually at Craft Island.  My goal wasn't to get to it, but to wander and soak up the sun and sounds.  Since we had made it though, we went ahead and climbed it and looked out over the waves. We saw eagles and geese, but too far away for clear pictures.  Wildflowers were everywhere and Cedar and I had the whole place to ourselves.

On our walk back an eagle flew right overhead!  It was so huge and close.  This one was a bit further out, but just as impressive.

 

There was also a small hawk of some sort hunting over a patch of cattails and reeds.  Very sleek and aerodynamic.

What I don't have pictures of is how the tide continued to come in and fill the channels, so on the way back our little logs were bobbing instead of providing convenient bridges.  Adventure Dog fell in between two of them and struggled for a minute and I waded in to get him, slipped in the mud and went in almost to my waist.  Then when I pulled him out we were on the wrong side still so I had to jump and he had to swim.  We were drenched, but it was a lot of fun and all the electronics stayed dry!  What a great Thursday afternoon!