Even on a hazy day the view of Mt. Rainier from Oak Harbor is inspiring.
The Olympic Mountains from central Whidbey Island. It was a beautiful day for a hike out to Ebey Bluff.
I've been waiting for clear skies and this is the best it got this week. The humidity was relatively high so I was surprised when Mt. Rainier was visible from the trail to Ebey Bluff, near Coupeville. The buildings of Seattle were even visible (at the right end of the horizon). This was definitely not as clear as I've seen it before, but it was a welcome sight after a gray spring.
A recent view of the Olympic Mountains from Sunset Beach, a beach on the west side of Whidbey Island at the northern end. Due to the cool spring, the mountains have more of their winter snow than usual at this time of the year.
I was out to the beach early and saw several birds looking for their breakfast. This eagle did not stay put very long.
I saw one heron nearby.
And then I saw the rest of them down the beach. At the time I took this photo, I did not even see the eagle on the rocks (center bottom). He was the one flying by in the first photo.
Growlers from NAS Whidbey Island practice "touch and go" landings with Mt. Baker as a back drop. (Yes, that dot is a navy jet.) Mt. Baker is finally losing its winter coat.
The beach near Joseph Whidbey State Park offers a grand view of the Olympic Mountains, even when they are shrouded in clouds.
Walking the dog on Whidbey Island means a trip to the beach. On this day at Joseph Whidbey State Park, a couple of dogs and their owners enjoy the expanse of the San Juan Islands.
The sky was overcast but Mt. Rainier was visible to the south. The windmill is part of Windjammer Park and acknowledges the many of Dutch descent living in Oak Harbor.
This morning the Olympic Mountains appeared to be floating on a bed of clouds. This view is from just above the Oak Harbor Marina. Looking west, Oak Harbor Bay is in the foreground.
This west looking view is from a new housing development on the east side of Mt. Vernon. In the midground is the valley farming area. In the distance are Padilla Bay, March Point with its refineries, and Fidalgo Island.
The tide was very high as the sun was setting tonight.
The scene changed moment by moment as the sun and clouds danced together.
In a moment the sun dis- appeared behind Vancouver Island.
Light and color lingered long after the sun was gone.
What could have been a narrow alley between two businesses in Coupeville has become a welcome place for birds. Coupeville, WhidbeyIsland.
A pair of eagles in the bay at Oak Harbor. There was a third on an old log down the beach a ways.
I grew up on Whidbey Island and sixty years ago we rarely saw an eagle. Now several spend the entire year in the area.
This is the view of the Cascades from Grasser's Hill, above San de Fuca on Whidbey Island. The hill is only about a quarter of a mile from the farm on which I grew up. I used to walk along the fence rows until I came to this view. Many thoughtful hours were spent here. Now there is a housing development at this location and one can actually drive up to this view.
