Des and Mike wanted to go hiking and we had a long weekend so it sounded like a good idea. They picked 2 hikes - one that may have snow and one that may not. I opted for the one without snow, not knowing what we were getting into at the time I didn't want a repeat of the last 2 years of eventful hikes. Well, that just didn't happen. We went to Bridal Veil Falls and Lake Serene, near Sultan, WA. Pretty much from the get-go this was an uphill hike. It started out as a meandering uphill hike. Then it turned into stair climbing. It was okay because it was relatively short and at the top was a waterfall with lots of spray to cool me off. Then we did the mondo part of the hike. Stair climbing, rock climbing, switch backs galore! I looked up and all I saw was people above me slowly making it up the switchbacks. It looked endless when my legs were shaking from exertion (and lack of a proper meal to energize me, of course, since I didn't realize what I was getting into). I kept going because I saw older people slowly, but surely making their way up and fathers with babies in baby carriers. If they could do it, so could I.
We all did make it to the top. Sure, it was worth it. It was a great looking lake but not so secluded on a holiday weekend. There was an enormous rock where dozens of people were sitting to have lunch, hence the name "Lunch Rock." There was a little bridge to play on that was wide enough for only one person. The sun was shining and there was still snow all around. The lake was from glacial run off. It was massive and amazing and the pictures just couldn't do it justice....but we took them anyway.
The next day we had to get up at 3am so we could drive to Anacortes and catch the 7:30 ferry to Orcas Island so we could try the whale watching trip with Stephanie and Mike again. I loved our first trip because we saw all sorts of sea life, we had a private boat for the family and we were on the water on one of the very few sunny days that happened in April. Poor Steph had wanted to see Orcas so badly but didn't get to, so when I saw a groupon for another tour for cheap I snatched them up so she could try again.
It was another beautiful day and it was early (a special tour at 9am for the holiday weekend). I was nervous we weren't going to see anything because it was early and because Stephanie wanted it so badly I thought we were going to be jinxed. We set off on a really nice boat with loads of indoor seating (assigned seating, though) and we set off in search of Orcas in Canadian waters. We stood outside because it was nice but if it had been rainy, that was the boat to have. We found the Orcas! 2 or 3 different pods so there was a dozen or so Orcas. We got to see them sleeping, swimming and wrangling in sea creatures against a cliff so they could eat them. They didn't really do any of the tricks they're so famous for (jumping out of the water, tail splashing, etc.) because they were so busy eating, but it was still a cool experience. Unfortunately, I think they chased the other sea creatures away because we didn't see porpoise this trip, seals were minimal, there were no sea lions, etc. We did see baby eagles in a tree. The driver of the boat got us really close to the "eaglets."
Our mission accomplished we were ready to get back. If we were lucky we were going to walk off one boat and onto the ferry just as it was pulling away. Instead, we got to pull up to the dock and watch the ferry load up and pull away because weren't pushy enough to run over the other boat passengers to make it. What were we to do for 2 hours while we waited for the next ferry? We had lunch, but that didn't last long. We went to a little shop and I asked what else there was to do on Orcas Island. I thought, surely the 4 stores we saw wasn't it! It was. There was nothing to do but visit a market, ice cream shop and the 2 gift stores. BORING! So we headed to the "park" (a patch of grass overlooking the ferry terminal) and lazed around in the sun for an hour or so until the ferry came. It was a long day, but it was a great day.
After that it was the 4th of July! I love hanging out at Long Lake on the 4th. I get to see fireworks without being blasted by debris. It was a perfect day. It wasn't too windy so I got to play tons more badminton than I'm used to playing, we ate lots of food, I got to hang out with the people I love, what more could I have wanted?
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