With the sun breaking out into a chorus yesterday, it invited us all to get outside and explore a local trail. My friend Eric Shen joined me for the hike. We chose to hike the Padilla Bay Shore Trail because it is wide, and the views are wide too. On a midweek day in March, it won't be crowded, I thought. I thought wrong. The parking lot at the south end was more than full, so we went to the parking at the north end, where the parking lot is far larger and less known. Take a right on 2nd street in Bay View and it's just a hundred feet up the hill. On the trail, we found a wide variety of hikers, joggers, bicyclists, strollers, dog walkers, and elderly lovers just happy to be outside and together or alone, connecting with the beauty of the hike and the freedom of the outdoors. The tide was low, revealing the expansive mudflats of this critical estuary for keeping our planet healthier. Cinnamon teal, herons, and even a teenage eagle were in their own version of a grocery store. As we walked, I observed most of the trail users being very conscious of the need to keep a respectful distance from us and from each other, while still sharing a friendly greeting as we passed. One large group that may have been an extended family congregated quite closely as they walked. But mostly it seemed everyone was taking these health concerns seriously, while still being able to get outdoors and enjoy the trail. A brisk breeze pushed us southward and brought a steady tear to my eye as we turned northward again. I had to smile to see a young father running the entire distance of the trail, four miles round trip, following alongside his two children riding bikes who were not easing up at all for him. Two Skagit County Parks employees were on the trail graveling in low places that had become a little muddy with the recent rain. Give our trail maintainers a hearty thank you for the care they give our special places! Eric and I carried on a steady conversation as we walked the route at a comfortable pace, me interrupting the walk frequently to take photos of this most amazing day and enjoyable trail. Hike the trails and enjoy their good tidings. Fill your days with life, love, and beauty. Just be smart; stay safe and stay sane in these memorable times. But do get out! jack Directions:
Located between Anacortes and Mt. Vernon, take Highway 20 to the Bay View - Edison Road intersection, at the Farmhouse. Turn north and drive about 1 mile to the southern trailhead on your left. Or go a couple miles farther to 2nd Street in Bay View, go up the hill a hundred feet, and park in the large gravel lot. It's a short walk down to the trailhead from here.
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Maribeth Crandell has been a hiking guide in the Pacific NW for over 20 years. She's lived on Whidbey and Fidalgo Island for decades. As a frequent bus rider she easily makes connections between trails and transit. Archives by date
April 2024
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