This last week the sun was finally out again. Mt. Rainier, as seen from Fort Ebey State Park, was hazy. I miss the low humidity of the clear, cold winter days. Also shown is the new ferry, Chetzemoka, running between Coupeville (Keystone) and Port Townsend.
The Olympic Mountains were crystal clear as seen from Fort Ebey, Whidbey Island. The Scotch broom is is full bloom.
Another of my favorite Whidbey spots is Libbey Beach, a county park. On the horizon is McCurdy Point and the entrance to Discovery Bay, Olympic Peninsula.
The hike out to Ebey's Bluff was beautiful this morning. This sparrow was watching over two students from the University of Washington doing studies on prairie restoration.
My favorite mountain, Mt. Baker, was in view, even though it was slightly hazy. This view from the bluff shows the Ebey House and Blockhouse.
This hike is very popular. The part I took is nearly level. This group of senior citizens had come up from Ebey's Landing, which is a bit of a climb.
The sun was out today so I headed to Fort Ebey State Park, on the west side of Whidbey Island. Seen in the distance is Perego's Lake.
There was not quite enough of a breeze for these fellows to get off the ground today. This is a favorite spot for para gliding.
There are miles of trails that are well defined and follow the bluff. There is one gun placement but, unlike Fort Casey, it has not been renovated.
There are also miles of wooded trails.
The park has camping spots with hook-ups, tent camp sites, and even a group camp site. There are plenty of picnic tables, a lake, and lots of beach walking.
Oak Harbor celebrates the Dutch settlers of the community on the last weekend of April. One of the activities is a "hometown" parade.
This year's parade had the added attraction of bicycles, as well as community groups, churches, baseball teams, and businesses.
And, of course, bands.
The local schools did a fine job.
There is lots of construction going on as the main street through the old part of town is being torn up. Even though the old section of town is only paved with dirt and rock right now, many vendors and people turned out.
Some of the craft booths are reflected in this store window that was covered in art work from local schools.
The clouds toward the north east this afternoon showed signs of forming into the classic anvil shape of thunder heads. One could actually see the vertical motion of the air.
It did not take long for the top of the cloud to begin expanding into the anvil shape.
The tulips are finally out after a cool spring. I have to get my favorite mountain, Mt. Baker, in the scene. It hasn't been visible with all the clouds lately so it was a welcome sight.
There are a couple of commercial gardens one can photograph. The entrance fee is reasonable. Finding a point of view that does not have a hundred people in it can be a challenge. (Especially on a sunny day.)
One can wander around the fields to find interesting scenes.
The show gardens at these commercial places are beautiful. All of the tulips are identified and the bulbs can be ordered.
There are several places in Skagit Valley where one can park for a small fee and wander more fields.
Photographers are supposed to "turn around" to see if they are missing anything. From the same spot one can catch Mt. Baker to the north east and the Olympic Mountains to the south west. Ah, finally, a sunny day in the Pacific Northwest. Doesn't a day like this remind us why we live here?
The last time I drove up to Bellingham I decided to take the more scenic route. Chuckanut Drive hugs the coast with beautiful views of the San Juan Islands. It is known for its curves.
One will also see some small waterfalls along the way.
This highway is old and has not been widened. A small car and a strong constitution are required to obtain the full pleasure of the drive. There are several scenic pullouts provided.
There is limited access to the beach. This is at the Larrabee State Park boat launch.
Even the railroad tracks along the shore were picturesque.
Next time you are driving north to Bellingham, try this scenic route.
