Hello, hikers,

Hello, hikers, Rain drops dotted the windshield as we waited in Edmonds for the 7:10 AM ferry to arrive......an early start was necessary as the goal of the Dungeness Spit hike is to make it to the light house and back before high tide...mission accomplished! The skies clear as we leave Kingston..Sequim, here we come. Welcome Rose B. to the group. She, Vanessa, and I suited up for the trip along the spit. Two deer greeted us at the trailhead parking lot, a welcome sight. Ready and eager for this day, we head down to the incredible wonder of this area. Now on the spit, the footing is great: wet, packed sand, as the tide is at it's lowest point for the day. Looking behind us, we catch a glimpse of the Olympics, snow capped and void of a cloud cover...impressive! With no view of the light house, we enjoy the sights and sounds of the beach, boats in the distance, and the ever present water and waves, lulling us along our way. We soon reach the area where the spit turns NE a bit, affording us our first view of the Dungeness Light at spit's end..our goal is in within reach! Lots of rocks and shells to check out along the way, as well as plenty of drift logs and roots. Photo opportunities abound as we stop briefly for a pose or two. Onward we go, passing the only other two on the beach at this hour...ah, solitude! Five miles is soon behind us as we approach the trails end and our rest spot near the light house. The groundskeepers for the week ask us if we want a tour of the place, and we politely decline, instead choosing to relax and enjoy our lunches out of doors. A cool breeze again surrounds us as there is nothing here to block it's path. A number of birds and water foul nest in the area, and we were privileged to see a few species..wow, they are big when they're close up! Rested and well fed, we decide to head back, needing to beat the tide as it rises along the beach. Now, others are heading up in our direction as it is now nearing NOON. It pays to get an early start! Moseying along with the wind in our faces, we now take the opportunity to beach comb....a golf and tennis ball among other things litter the area. Rose and Vanessa find their souvenirs for the day, as the waves are now lapping at our boots as the tide creeps in. Time for a rest stop (or two or three) as Rose's feet need propping up for a bit. A grove of trees that marks the start of the hike is now in plain view. Whew, a welcome sight as we've covered ten miles on today's outing! Once back in the parking lot, we decide to head for Three Crab's Restaurant and replenish some of the calories we've worked off...thanks for the suggestion, Doreen, and so sorry you couldn't make the hike. On the road again as we make our way back to Kingston to catch the ferry home..a wonderful day and wonderful weather was enjoyed by all. Thanks, Vanessa for chauffeuring us over and back.

I hope to see some of you on next month's hikes,
Kathy.