Cats and Trails and Garden Tales
Musings on cats, travel, gardens and life
Taking the Scenic Route – Turquoise and Gold in the North Cascades
“Is the Park open?”
(“You’re in it now,” I thought to myself, “just open your eyes.”)
But I understand. There’s a government shutdown, after all.
And North Cascades National Park is different from the others. No fanfare. Just mountains. And a river. And creeks. And falls. Take a hike if you like or stop at the overlooks and gawk.
The young man in the Visitor’s Center answered the couple in the affirmative, and they went on their way.
We were in the town of Newhalem, owned and operated by the City of Seattle and its municipal utility, Seattle City Light.
A true company town, established to house the workers who built the dams on the Skagit River over a hundred years ago, to harness hydro power for the growing city south.
I hope he told them to keep going and be sure and stop at the Diablo Lake Overlook.
It’s a must-see any time of year, a spectacular lake of indescribable color, formed when the Skagit River was dammed. The color is due to glacial flour reflecting in the water.
We stopped to admire the views then continued eastward on Highway 20 for another panorama, at the Washington Pass Overlook where the Larch are turning gold and the rock is gold, too.
And for a good look at 7,720 ft. Liberty Bell, a favorite of rock climbers.
We spent the night in Winthrop, a small Western-themed town, which was strangely quiet.
This was the view from our room, next to the Methow River.
The next morning we had a light breakfast – this was mine –
then hit the road again. The terrain changed dramatically as we followed the Columbia River.
We stopped for a walk at Beebe Springs Natural Area, on alert for rattlesnakes. We didn’t see any,
but we did see a beautiful sculpture.
We spent the night in Leavenworth, a small Bavarian-themed town, also strangely quiet; it will liven up this weekend, when Octoberfest kicks in.
The deep blue skies from the day before disappeared, due to smoke from the nearby Labor Mountain Fire, which started on September 1st, and is still burning. Some containment has been achieved but it will likely burn until a strong weather event puts it out.
The next day, we headed back home via Highway 2 and stopped by Tumwater Canyon and the Wenatchee River.
The views from the highway were gorgeous
as we headed up Stevens Pass and back over to the West side of the Cascade Mountains.
We stopped for a hike here and there throughout our few days away, but honestly this time, the best views were from the road. No wonder this scenic drive is called the Cascade Loop, Washington’s Ultimate Road Trip.
~ Susanne
Share this:
Celebrating Animals in the Air, on Land, and Sea
Hooray for animals!
Terri at #Sunday Stills reminded me that October 4th was World Animal Day.
“World Animal Day is an International Day of Action for animal rights and welfare celebrated annually on October 4th, the feast day of Francis of Assisi, the patron saint of animals.” Wikipedia
Okay, honestly, I’d never heard of it before, though it was established in 1925!
Even so, I thought I’d share a sampling of some of my favorite animals, starting with the tiniest birds in my backyard, the Anna’s Hummingbird. I never get tired of watching these flying jewels, with their changing colors. I took these photos over the weekend.
Yes, I love birds of all kinds including those migrating snow geese and eagles along the Pacific Flyway in Washington’s Skagit Valley! Almost time to go look for them!
For the sea, I’ll show you a group of whales we spotted in Alaska’s Inside Passage. They were fishing in a cooperative effort known as, “bubble-net feeding.”
“To bubble-net feed, whales dive deep below schools of fish and use bubbles blown from their blowholes to stun and trap fish closer to the surface. One whale generally leads the effort followed by the rest of the group. The leader will usually be responsible for blowing the bubbles and the other members will surround the fish, following them to the surface by swimming in spiral patterns to keep the fish trapped.
Humpback whales are known as “gulpers”, which means they feed by leaving their mouths open, swallowing everything in their paths before closing their mouths, pushing water out through their baleen plates and swallowing the critters (usually fish and small crustaceans) they caught. During bubble net feeding, the whales swimming toward the surface will have their mouths open and gulp fish from the school they have corralled.” https://marinesanctuary.org/blog/bubble-net-feeding-what-is-it/
Back on land, I love seeing herds of Roosevelt Elk on the Olympic Peninsula; these were at Dosewallips State Park on Hood Canal.
Finally, I’ll close with a more formidable animal – a Grizzly Bear, captured from a safe distance in Glacier National Park, the only one I’ve seen in the wild.
I’m thankful that all these beautiful creatures still have a place on this earth to call home.
“Uh, um, excuse me, Sue, aren’t you forgetting something?”
“Oh, Benji! Sorry! I sometimes forget that you’re an animal!”
“How about me, Sue?”
“Of course, Tiger! Make no mistake about it, you two are my favorite animals!”
And that will do for World Animal Day.
~ Susanne
Share this:
Hey, Benji
“Yes, Sue?”
“Happy Caturday!”
~ Susanne and Benji
Share this:
Welcome October!
We were walking in a park near our home today
when a dozen *eagles came from nowhere and soared overhead, on a mission to somewhere.
The most I’ve seen in the sky at once – though I couldn’t capture them all on my phone – only ten minutes from my house.
But why?
And then we remembered: the salmon are running!
Oh Joy!
Welcome, October!
~ Susanne
*P.S. One of the comments pointed out these are likely migrating turkey vultures not bald eagles. Even after studying the silhouettes, it’s hard for me to tell the difference as we do have a large bald eagle population in the Seattle area, because of Puget Sound, and Lake Washington, which is nearby. And the salmon are also starting to run in the local rivers, which will draw more eagles to feed. (I hope to go down to the Cedar River in the next week and see them.)
After more consideration I agree these are likely migrating turkey vultures, based on smaller head size. Still pretty cool, as I don’t remember seeing them before! One thing about blogging is I learn something new every day!
Share this:
Volcanoes through the #Window – From Seattle to Hawaii
A few weeks ago, we left Seattle for the Big Island of Hawaii and as usual I had the window seat. (Thanks, dear.)
It’s always wonderful to see Mt. Rainier looming above the surrounding landscape.
Did you know Mt. Rainier is an active volcano? Though the last major eruption was over a thousand years ago, geologists closely monitor the mountain.
Six hours later we approached the Big Island, the youngest of the Hawaiian Islands, made up of five volcanoes.
Mauna Loa, the world’s largest active volcano takes up most of the island so you almost don’t realize you’re looking at it. The giant shield volcano has mostly gentle slopes and last erupted in 2022.
Mauna Kea can be seen in the distance, identified by the telescopes on top.
For a look at the world’s most active volcano, Kilauea, we headed to Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. It’s been spewing lava regularly this year, but unfortunately, we visited in between ‘events.’
But there’s lava of all ages everywhere on the Big Island, from eons of eruptions.
We drove through some old lava fields on the Chain of Craters Road
to the end where it meets the Pacific Ocean.
Flowing lava means the island continues to grow and new black sand beaches are formed.
Punalu’u Black Sand Beach was one of the reasons I choose the Big Island for our first trip to Hawaii many years ago. I still love it.
The black sand made of basalt was created by lava flowing into the ocean which explodes as it reaches the ocean and cools. Punaluʻu Black Sand Beach is frequented by endangered, hawksbill and green turtles which can often be seen basking on the black sand.
I wonder if the turtles choose this beach to rest because they blend in so well.
After a week on the Big Island we flew out from Hilo and once again I scored the window seat
and had close ups of Mauna Kea. The dormant shield volcano is the tallest mountain on earth when measured from its ocean base to peak, approximately 33,500 feet.
We touched down on Oahu an hour later for the next leg of our vacation
and though there are no active volcanoes on Oahu there are remnants, the most notable, Diamond Head.
After 11 days in Hawaii, we were ready for home and touched down in Seattle, where I managed to capture Mt. Rainier through the window again. (Even though I gave Bob the window seat in case you wondered.)
Sharing my #Window views with #Sunday Stills.
I’ll have more to share from our Hawaiian adventures later.
~ Susanne
Share this:
Fall in the Great Northwest – at Lincoln Park with a Blast from the Past
As much as I LOVE Hawaii – and in many ways wish I was still there – I’m happy to be back in the Pacific Northwest for the changing of the seasons and the beauty of fall.
There was a chill in the air yesterday and the sun was high in the sky, as we did our first fall hike at Lincoln Park in West Seattle.
We walked the path on Puget Sound, sometimes on the walkway, sometimes on the beach.
I love to see what colorful life forms I may find among the pretty rocks. (Not your typical Hawaiian beach.)
I look for life in the water too, hoping to see a whale (it happened once) but I only saw a harbor seal.
We said hello to the Troll, one of many commissioned in the area
then took the trail up through the woods to the bluff above
enjoying the freshness of the forest and the musty fragrance of fallen leaves!
We continued on through the trees on the bluff overlooking the water,
then walked through a grove of Redwoods,
passed by a giant Maple,
and back to the car in a perfect loop.
Afterwards, we stopped by Spud’s Fish and Chips where the food is great and my great grandfather’s pictures adorn the walls (O.T. Frasch was a notable early Seattle photographer.)
Many of the pictures were of Luna Park, the Coney Island of the west.
But there were others too,
including a picture of the famous Fauntleroy Maple, which I knew was the one we passed. (Fauntleroy Park was the earlier name for Lincoln Park.)
Were those under the tree relatives of mine? I’ll never know for sure.
And life goes on.
~ Susanne
Share this:
Don’t Miss Oahu’s Windward Coast!
A first trip to Hawaii should include Oahu, the Gathering Place, if only to see iconic Diamond Head and Waikiki; perhaps that’s why it’s the most visited of the Hawaiian Islands.
But there’s so much more! Rent a car or take one of many tours around the island, to get a closeup of Oahu’s rugged coastline.
We’ve visited Oahu many times and never get tired of it. On our last trip, we took the loop around the southeastern (windward) side of the island, from Waikiki, past Diamond Head, up to Makapu’u Head and to Waimanalo.
The views were spectacular.
We stopped at Halona Overlook and Blowhole, where you can look down upon Halona Cove, a private little beauty of a beach that featured prominently in a movie deep in the last century, From Here to Eternity.
We didn’t swim, but we did enjoy the crashing waves and Blowhole nearby, which can shoot water high into the sky. It wasn’t very active when we were there but here it is anyway.
That’s Sandy Beach in the distance, where only experienced swimmers should try bodysurfing.
Next was Makapu’u Overlook, with offshore islands in the distance and information about the Sanctuary for Humpback Whales. Humpbacks are in Hawaii from November to April, same time as I’d like to be there.
In the distance is Makapu’u Beach, another one enjoyed mostly by locals, who can handle the pounding waves.
Soon we arrived at the small town of Waimanalo, ready for lunch.
According to the guidebook, Oahu Revealed, ” After Makapu’u you’re driving through Hawaiian Homelands and the town of Waimanalo. In 1920 the government set aside over 200,000 acres of land to be used only by people of Hawaiian descent. Waimanalo is such a place.”
The town was chill and authentic. We ate at Hawaiian Island Cafe and it was simple, and delicious. My two eggs were cooked perfectly and served over rice, with sausage, a side of fresh spinach with sweet dressing, and bread. The iced tea I ordered was ready to go by the time I left; they made it from scratch, on Island time. (I’d love to go back again for dinner, maybe next time. Check out the menu above.)
The town was all beach on one side with the dramatic Ko’olau Mountain Range on the other. Here’s a picture of those mountains from our visit to Kualoa Ranch, which I’ll save for a later post.
~ Susanne
Share this:
Yellow and Orange at Soos Creek and Hawaiian Sunset
I’m back from Hawaii but had this post prepared before I left. I thought I’d have more pictures to add, and I do but not many.
I’d visited Soos Creek Botanical Garden recently, not Sue’s Creek, looking for yellow and orange, since my own garden is sorely lacking in it, for the Sunday Stills Color Challenge.
I found plenty.
In the Sunflowers,
In yellow flowers I should know the name of but don’t.
In orange Dahlias,
some, heavy with heads bowed to the ground.
And in Anemones, what cute button centers!
I didn’t find much yellow or orange in Hawaii except of course, at sunset.
And that will have to do.
Be back later, with more from the islands!
~ Susanne
Cats and Trails and Garden Tales 