When the sun comes out in November you have to stop everything and dive into it! In the afternoon my house is in the shade so I called a friend to ask if she’d like to go for a hike. She said yes and wanted to bring her dog. There was a cold wind blowing from the north so we considered our options. Where is there a south facing beach with plenty of sun and a high bluff to block the wind from the north? Of course! Double Bluff! We weren’t the only ones with this idea. There were cars parked along the roadside. People were coming and going. The place was bustling with activity. When we stepped down to the beach and began walking westward there were so many families and dogs and kids and so much sunshine and blue sky and dogs and calm water and red kayaks and plenty of beach and dogs and driftwood for building huts and dogs. Did I mention the dogs? Double Bluff has an off leash dog park at the start of the beach. We were thinking we’d walk beyond it, but we had so much fun watching the dogs and meeting them and their owners that we never made it past the dog park. We met a young woman with a stick-crazy German Shepherd. A little girl jumped with excitement into the waves that washed ashore at her feet. A golden retriever and a yellow lab dove into the surf after a bright green ball, then came splashing out again, and again, and again. We met a couple of seniors who had just met each other walking their senior dogs. Then I met an old friend walking with 3 miniature Australian Shepherds, little balls of fluffy fur frolicking and tumbling and scrambling around. We say there’s a flock of geese, a herd of deer and a murder of crows. I thought this must be a pile of puppies. They were delightful, playing with each other, meeting other dogs, making friends with new people. They say a pet can bring your blood pressure down and offer some emotional support in stressful times. These puppies were good medicine for me. The week after the most contentious Presidential election in modern history, with a global pandemic spiking again, and trying to figure out how to celebrate the holidays in a smaller, safer, smarter way left me a bit fried. A walk in the sun by the water, with a friend, surrounded by lively puppies and canine companions did me a lot of good. After my walk I came home and Googled the health benefits of being a dog owner. Turns out there are many scientific studies that have been conducted world-wide that show far more benefits than I suspected. Being a pet owner reduces loneliness and depression. Having a dog is good for your heart, lowers your blood pressure and decreases stress. Dogs walk their owners on average 300 minutes a week. Dog owners are 4 times more likely to meet their physical activity guidelines. Those suffering from PTSD are better at coping if they have a canine companion. Dogs improve your social life, bringing people together. You appear more relaxed and happy in photographs with a pet. Puppies have facial features like infants that trigger our caregiver instincts. They’re natural mood boosters and entertain us. Pet therapy improves cognitive function in seniors in long term care. They significantly decrease agitated behavior in seniors with dementia. Pets open our hearts to human relationships. Months ago I saw a bumper sticker with a silhouette of a dog on it that said, “Who rescued who?” Maribeth Directions: Double Bluff County Park is 3 miles south of Freeland. Take Highway 525 about a half mile south of Freeland and turn south on Double Bluff Road. Drive to the end to find a small parking area. There are frequently cars parked along the roadside leading to the park. Lookout for car doors opening and pedestrians walking in this area. The off leash dog park is about a half mile long. Please put your dog on a leash if you wish to walk farther, and always pick up after your pet. Thank you.
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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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