Evening Drive Home From Hood Canal

Hello, Dear Friends, when I left you in my last post

we had spent the day at the 'My Girl Drive-In' - 50's style diner,

 to celebrate Bill and Judy's 50th anniversary and Bill's retirement. 

Ramblin' Man and Bill worked closely together 

for many years and we were happy to share 

this special occasion with our dear friends. 

After the party we took a quick drive over to see their 

new home. 

Judging by the street signs,
we were sure we were lost.........

but we soon found our bearings! 

The road followed the beautiful Hood Canal. 

In between there was peaceful farm-land. 

We arrived at a small inlet and pulled in

to the marina. This lovely community is where Bill and Judy 

will be spending their golden years. 

They live next door to their daughter and husband

and two little grand-sons :) 

How perfect is that?

Here's another view of the marina and inlet. 

Some of the beach cottages along the bay.

I love the little red one :)

There was no traffic or noise except for the put-put-put

of a boat's motor starting up, the slapping of waves, and a few children playing. 

We passed bicycle riders and people walking dogs. 

We stayed for a short visit at their lovely home, 

then all too soon we had to say goodbye, 

with promises of many more visits to come. 

The sun was getting low and the geese 

were looking for a sleeping place

as we started the 3 hour drive back to our foothills home. 

The view from the cottages:)

Western sunsets are long and slow

with slanted, golden rays this time of year. 

It truly looks like a place frozen in time. 

Although, we did see signs of new life. 

This is a beautiful working farm 

with a very lovely farm-yard. 

I can't tell, but I think these might be berries. 

We do see produce at the markets 

marked 'Hood Canal' sometimes. 

This is an interesting, weathered old barn

on the side of a hill. 

All of a sudden, the road turned and started downhill. 

At the bottom, there was a little beach, 

called Norwegian Point. This was once
a bustling fishing port. 

You can see my shadow as I take the photo! 

I love these charming little buildings. 

Beyond the warehouse, you can see Admiralty Inlet
on Hood Canal.

But it was this that caught my eye.....

a cruise ship, and moving at a fast clip, too!

This gives you perspective on how large and deep Hood Canal is. 

I wish I were on it, waving from my balcony!
 Coming from Seatlle and perhaps going to 

Victoria or Vancouver, British Columbia.

Or maybe to Alaska........

Ketchikan, Juneau, Anchorage.....

Some day..........

But for now I am quite content to be right here :)

There was a charming sandy beach with 

picnic tables and just when I thought it couldn't

get any better at that moment, 

a little pod of porpoises started jumping around!

You can see their dorsal fins to the bottom-right. 

Every time I tried to get a photo of 

their antics, they would be underwater

in an instant - so this is the best I could do! 

I was zooming as far as my camera would let me. 

We sat on the picnic table and watched the ship go by

while the porpoises jumped and the sun went down.

We tried to guess the name of the mountain beyond,
but we couldn't get our bearings.

I believe it might be Mt. Baker near Bellingham.

With the long journey ahead of us,
we reluctantly said good-bye,

But we will be sure to return.

One last glimpse of Mt. Rainier from the Tacoma Narrows Bridge
as we leave this watery world and head back to our foothills home.

xoxo

Thank you for joining me and sharing your sweet thoughts,
fun stories, and lovely memories, dear friends.

I love getting to know you one smile at a time.

xoxo

In friendship we find nothing false or insincere;
everything is straightforward,
and springs from the heart.

-Cicero-