Pre-walk walk
As is typical for us, Bill woke up first and after a short teardrop yoga scramble into his pants he started coffee while I dozed. The morning was soft and nice and our granola an coffee breakfast, just fine.
We walked back to the beach in the lovely morning light and met a four-year-old searching for gold. which he apparently does EVERYWHERE. He and his dad were waiting for their parent-kid hiking group to assemble.
Walking north on the beach we spotted a pair of oystercatchers (they rarely catch oysters) and more cormorants and grebes. We scrambled up the rock to round the point and met a couple making breakfast in the most beautiful breakfast spot. The smell of their bacon added to our morning.
The quartz lines running through the rocks that make up the shore are a bit surreal. It looks like wax has dripped down straightish seams. Maybe that little guy will find his gold.
We found more oystercatchers and a seal.
484 foot high summit
We decided to walk to the top of Goose Rock, the high point of Whidbey Island with 360 degree views. Back at camp, Bill made sandwiches while I washed up from last night and breakfast. We followed directions to the trail past the amphitheater.
The trail was easy to spot. Evergreen Trail Run folks were all set up to cheer on the Fidalgo Trail Run participants. They hollered and rang a cowbell for each passing trailrunner and, after I asked, they hollered and rang the bell for me too!
It was a nice walk and we enjoyed the many different ages, colors, body shapes and paces of the runners. They had several different lengths to choose from, 5k to marathon. Bunch of happy people sharing the trail.
The path offers lots of meanders and we took most of them. We ate lunch on the beach watching people fish and a family enjoy the beach. Their toddler was so absorbed in filling and dumping their toy trucks. It was sweet.
We saw lots of really nice long casts but the only successful catch we saw was a seal’s. It was interesting to watch the seal keep his fish away from the two hopeful gulls that stuck close. They waited patiently when the seal was under but I don’t think they got even a bite.
The path went right under the bridge. What a cool perspective. Then up pretty steeply, but not for long and we were out on top. The parent-kid hikers were there too. Playing tag, and talking, and having lunch on the top of this piece of the world.
We headed back down a different route and were passed by more trail runners. I think some of the marathon length runners passed us three or four times.
It was a good walk and helped us enjoy our campfire roasted bratwurst, baked bean and potato chip supper.
The weren’t a many Screech owls last night (or immature owls, or whatever that whistley screetchy noice was).