Back in B'Ham - and Beyond

 After a really tough year, my body, mind, and soul needs refreshing, recharging, and renewal. As I sit in the Woods cafe watching the Bellingham Pride preparations get under way, I'm absolutely delighted witnessing this small community coming together for their values and passions.  Truly a sense of joy today, something I've been lacking as of late.  Recently my spirit has been weak, and this trip is meant to renew my joie de vivre. So far so good.  

Self care is a tired phrase that holds little meaning for me as it is so over used. In saying that, I am a firm believer in free will and that my attitude, my actions, and my determination are the only things that can change my outlook on life.  Accepting things are fated has never been a character flaw of mine, why should it be any different when looking toward revitalizing my mind, body, and spirit.  

"I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately..." (Thoreau of course) The forests and mountains are my charging stations, nature has tremendous healing power over me. So, off to B'ham. Let us not over romanticize this place...it is far from idyllic.  But the pace of life is forcing introspection and the year's exhaustion is slowly wearing away. 

Once out of the bay area, the drive up to B'ham was easy and relaxed. A quick stop in Corvallis, OR for a few rooftop beers.  

Drinking a few pints in Corvallis, OR on a rooftop bar.  

The warm wind stirred a longing for warm summer nights watching fireflies before every storm in Fuquay Varina, NC.  I've spent so long chasing complicated pleasures and my memories always automatically fall to the simplest events and the quietest acts each time I reminisce. It isn't the big celebrations, the large gestures, rather the small hugs and words of encouragement when someone that knows me well, knows that is exactly what I need and want but don't always have the words to ask. 

Bellingham is filled with beautiful views and small pleasures. I arrived just in time to pick Rusty and Yosiell up from the B'ham airport...this airport is small but they have direct flights from and to Oakland daily.  More importantly, they also have direct flights in the middle of winter to Palm Springs (smart move Southwest airlines). 

B'ham of course did not disappoint.  Our first stop was at the B'Ham Cider works for a flight of interesting ciders and an incomparable view.  

Yosiell and Rusty sampling the exotic flavors of cider.  

Our first full day in B'ham was spent on the sound with Jamie whale watching. The bulk of the day was overcast and cold, and we managed to only see one humpback whale and her calf but still thrilling in its own right.  

B'ham marina...an old tug...so perfectly stereotypical it could be a Disney prop. 

Seals...a variety of seal that doesn't actually bark...

Lazy, playful, young seals. 

Jamie enjoying the sun and fun, looking like a Siren of the seas.

Brrrrrrr...time for an Irish Coffee to warm us up (it wasn't a particularly good Irish Coffee but it was warm and the whiskey was strong). 

When will the sun come out to play. 

Beautiful day on the water. 

Our hair (what's left) being windswept. 

Jaimie and Rusty gossiping about everything...

The video doesn't do justice to seeing this momma and calf in the wild.  

 

The crew a few beers in and needing a few more to wet the whistle. 

We happen to be here for gay pride and B'ham lived up to its motto of a city of subdued excitement. The amazing thing to us was how many people were at pride but I believe that this is the first pride I've been to where the allies (straight allies) outnumbered the LGBTQ participants. The excitement was real and the people were friendly, what more do you need or want. 

The Seattle Gay LGBTQ Marching band.  

The marching band version of "I Will Survive" was surprisingly good but did not manage to bring a tear to my eye. 

I travel alot and this is absolutely the first McDonald's food truck I've ever seen. I'm still processing how I feel about that...

Well, we were unable to go to Canada this time around so we decided to hit up Port Townsend and see the sites. Port Townsend is a beautiful seaside town with a casual demeanor. 

It appears the entire PNW has adopted the Sasquatch as a mascot.  That cryptid is everywhere.  

What? Kung Fu Girl?  Could dinner get any better? 

A little reminder of NC here in Port Townsend.

Pastoral view out of the hotel window. 

"Love lifts us up where we belong..." An Officer and a Gentleman was filmed in this charming little hamlet. 

And...the lighthouse...

Well, this is the part of the story where I go it alone. Yosiell and Rusty flew back to Oakland, and I went on to Olympic National Park.  Port Angeles is the gateway to much of the park and after a good night's rest, I took the advice of the rangers and got up to the Hurricane Ridge parking lot by 7 AM (much later and the parking lot fills up and no one is allowed admission). 

This hike was a short one(1.8 miles to the top) but as far as scenic beauty is concerned, definitely in my top 5 hikes. 

This view melted a year's worth of stress and exhaustion from me. The smell of pine in the air, the sound of birdsong, and a clear blue sky worked miracles.  

Abundant wildflowers on the mountain. 

Another phenomenal view. 

Year round snow patch. 

Lots of marmots on the top of the mountain, along with deer and even a bear (seen by another hiker from afar).  

Definitely in a zen state of mind. 

After going to the top of Hurricane Hill, a quick trip to Sol Duc Falls. A short hike away from the road is a beautiful water fall. 

The goal was to achieve a greater sense of balance, and whereas this trip did help to melt away a layer or two of stress and exhaustion, that elusive sense of balance was thrown off kilter by a very traumatic  accident that I witnessed on the way home. I will leave this story for another blogpost soon. 

I went to the woods to not only live deliberately but to experience some healing and to be honest the woods once again delivered.  I feel in a much better frame of mind and am ready to start the new school year. Tomorrow is my first day back on the job and I'm ready for the challenges the new year will hold. My advice to you gentle reader, get to the woods...