Ebey's Landing 11-23-2019

Although it might have been nice to get a little more sleep, when the dogs got me up at 5:30am I decided to get a head start on the day.  We drove through the dark toward the Mukilteo Ferry to catch a ride to Whidbey Island.  When I parked in the Cemetery Overlook parking lot, it was only about 7:30 and the sky was tinged with orange where the sunrise could peek through the clouds.

We could see and hear Canada geese flying over the farmland.

The wind was blowing, harder as we neared the bluff, and quite cold so I put on a hat and got a coat on Luna.  The sky was gorgeous, the salty wind was exhilarating and the sea was singing its percussion song on the shore below us.  A ferry was even crossing through the cloudy sunrise.

I didn't think anything could be better.  Then I noticed a redtail hawk soaring BELOW me!  What a unique view!  It floated on the strong wind as if it wasn't blowing at all and then would catch the air currents and swoop low over the water.  I couldn't wipe the grin off my face - this was amazing!

Then - I was looking down on a great bald eagle!!!  Despite its huge size it road the air currents below me nimbly and gracefully!  WOW!!!  I had a lot of trouble with getting my camera to focus on it, but a couple turned out, and then it flew off into the sunrise sky.  I can't even say how happy and overwhelmed with natural beauty I was.  It's not often I get such a bird's eye view of the birds - especially the great hunters of the sky.

We walked along the bluff, listening to that strong wind howling through the tough gnarled firs, and noticing with surprise that there were even some flowers still blooming along the bluff.  No matter which way I looked, everything was beautiful.

I checked on the dogs now and then to make sure they were warm enough - Luna seemed fine with her fleece shirt, and Cedar runs pretty warm anyway and hates clothes, so his fleece stayed in my pack.

I could see there was no one behind me on the bluff trail, and no one below me on the beach, so when I got down to a safe elevation, I let the mutts off their strings.  They raced up and down the trail.  The cold wind seemed to turn Cedar into a puppy again and he frisked and ran off and on for the rest of our beach walk.

But first they got leftover steak bits.  : )  I even got Cedar to pose nicely for one. No treat, no nice pose.

We were having so much fun that I couldn't help but play also - picking up rocks, running after the dogs, and trying to whip with a bull kelp.  Not super surprisingly I managed to whack myself in the head and the kelp promptly broke in half.  I didn't try that again, haha.  I'll just say the kelp was rotten, not my kelp whipping skills.

I could see merganser and bufflehead in the waves, but couldn't get a good photo.  I found a couple old floats that had washed up, covered with sea creatures - anemones all over the rope.

What a great adventure!  Get out there and have one!

Ebey's Landing 2-23-2019

AppleWatch Stats:  5.27 miles RT, 480 ft of elevation gain.

Most of February we were buried in snow, so it was with relief that the last weekend I got to hit the trail with the dogs.  We went to Whidbey Island to avoid any lingering snow.  It was a gorgeous day - cloudy and breezy, but the sun peeked through and we didn't get rained on.

The promise of rain kept the people away though!  That and an early start.  I didn't see another soul until I got to the top of the bluff where it switchbacks down to the beach, and those people were leaving, so when we got to the bottom it was all ours.  Then at the end of the beach by the lower parking lot there were people, but what a gorgeous peaceful hike it was!

I parked at the Prairie Overlook trailhead up by the cemetary so I could lengthen the hike and get a look at the historic Ebey cabin.

The prairie/farmland itself was lovely too, with birds singing and hawks gliding over watching for voles.

When we reached the bluff, the sun was shining through holes in the clouds to light up the sea in great silver patches.

The bluff isn't scary, but it is steep.  Even if you don't see other people, it's a good idea to keep dogs on a leash.  Not just because of rules, but you don't want your dog falling down or tripping another hiker you didn't notice.  It's really a just a nice little "goat path" along the bluff.  I never see much sign of erosion on this part of the bluff - only at the end where you go down, so it doesn't raise my anxiety level and you can see so much of the water and sky and islands that it really brings an incredible sense of peace and joy.

Once down on the beach you're close enough to observe sea birds, cruising around in the waves.  We saw loons (I think), buffleheads, and mergansers among other things (that I couldn't get a clear photo of to ID later).

The beach itself is also fascinating and it's easy to get mesmerized looking down at all the varied colors of the smoothed rocks as you walk.  This beach also has little dried up kelps sticking out of the sand here and there.  They make me think of that song in the Disney move The Little Mermaid, Poor Unfortunate Souls haha.