From its northern end, the Tommy Thompson trail in Anacortes is an urban delight, passing the working waterfront, stores, restaurants, condos and apartments, then cutting between boatyards and shipyards, crossing quiet streets, to eventually join up with the sea. It hugs the shore like a beloved, side by side until it finally climbs over it, a quarter-mile long trestle across Fidalgo Bay with the waters below teeming with seals, loons, buffleheads, mergansers and more. Gulls drop shellfish onto the hardened planks to open up pre-packaged meals. Arching over the trestle is a sculpture with the single word “WE” written in several languages, reminding us of who creates these trails, who restores them when they are damaged, and who benefits from them day after day from this day forward. We do. And we are grateful. The trail used to be a railway, built in 1890, when Anacortes boomed as a promised hub of a transcontinental railway. The railroad brought in lumber from the North Cascades (after Fidalgo Island ran out of enough trees) for the many, many mills along the bay. Anacortes used to be called the “city of smokestacks” because of all its mills. They eventually shut down and the railroad stopped running. The route is named for Tommy Thompson, a passionate local railroad hobbyist. In the late 1990s, Tommy proposed to run his train from the Depot to March Point using the unused railway trestle over Fidalgo Bay. It was a wonderful vision, but Tommy passed before it could happen. Town planners then had the grand foresight to open the route as a recreational trail, creating a special experience to travel by human power between the March’s Point Park and Ride and downtown. Today was sunny and very cool; I layered up. I headed out my door to explore the Tommy once again, a frequent habit of mine in all hours of the day and in all manner of weather. Hundreds of people shared the trail this afternoon. Some rode pedal bikes, some electric bikes, some were on scooters, some on roller blades, some jogged, some strolled, some strode stridently, some relaxed hand in hand, some sat on benches, some entertained youngsters, but nearly all were smiling, content to be out on this late November day, a day without rainfall, finally, the last weekend day before Thanksgiving. And one person – the former director of this park system -- was out cleaning shell debris off the pathway, as a volunteer. I am grateful for today, being out with others enjoying the fresh air and having adequate health to explore the natural world of the northwest. I appreciate those who had the foresight to create this trail out of a railroad, and those who now maintain it for our enjoyment. And with thanksgiving in our hearts this week, our gratefulness expands to think beyond this trail. We give thanks for those who had the insight and foresight to set aside these many lands where our trails traverse. Some gave land, some gave money, some found grants, many wrote letters, some stood and still stand in the breach to protect the places we now take for granted. Some gave sweet time and energy in building the trails we walk, or still give by maintaining the ones we have. We give thanks for you, our precious readers and friends, for walking with us along the many trails and journeys we share every week. And we give thanks for those like you who pick up after their pets, pick up pieces of litter, kick sticks off the trail, don’t shortcut switchbacks, and greet other hikers with a sweet smile and a friendly word. The day of giving thanks approaches. It’s wonderful to have a day set aside for that. And we know that gratitude and thanksgiving can be daily practices, helping us remember the many gifts we receive daily as we live on this most precious breathing planet. jack What's Your Favorite Trail? Send a photo and a few lines describing which of our trails you like best and why, and we may include it in our top 10 list on New Year's eve! Deadline is Dec. 26th. Email: [email protected] Directions: In Anacortes, you can find the trail throughout the eastern edge of town. The northern terminus is at 11th and Q, next to Safeway. It follows Q Avenue south to 22nd, then cuts between streets all the way to 34th, the last point of access in town. You can also get on the trail at the Fidalgo Bay RV Resort, which has limited parking, and at its eastern terminus at March's Point Road, where the only parking available is three quarters of a mile south at the March's Point Park and Ride.
Bus and Bike: Skagit Transit has service to 10th and Q in Anacortes, just a block from the northern end of the trail. Anacortes has a bike-friendly downtown area, giving access to all of the areas suggested in the Directions above. Mobility: The entire trail is paved, level, and wide, with no significant barriers other than a few cross streets in the downtown area.
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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
March 2024
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