Tip Toe thru the Tulips with We

Roozengaarde, a Tulip Haven 

Been in the Pacific North West for more than 5 years, meaning it is about time I took a trip to view the lovely tulips of Skagit Valley. My buddy Barb's 3 cousins visited the valley last year and came back with photos and tales of the splendid scenery. So we took the ferry from Port Townsend to Coupeville on Whidbey Island. Stayed 2 nights in the town of Mount Vernon while toodling around the Skagit. 

Less than an acre, but so pretty!

April is tulip season, and having squeezed in a visit on the last week of April, made us worry we would be disappointed, as in far fewer tulips. Instead, although we did miss views of dozens of acres of bountiful color, in no way were we deprived of tulip displays.

Triumph Tulips - var. 'Rem's Favorite'

Double Peony Tulips

Triumph var 'Suncatcher'

Flaming tulips sprouting 8 ft up on tree branches

Barb enjoying tulip art

Fringed tulips renamed 'Porcupine tulips' by Barb and myself

lily flowered tulips

This is what the tulip beds & fields look like just after deadheading. The tulip fields are picked clean, then plowed under.

Triumph - var. Flamingo 

The tulip touring was so fun, might just have to do it again next year.

Sol Duc Hot Springs

Welcome to Sol Duc 

Sol Duc Hot Spring pool

Only a fortnight ago I stumbled on the existence of a natural hot springs, which is a part of Olympic National Park. I mentioned the site to my fitness trainer Karina. Only days later she told me her hubby and she had driven out there to scope it out and she suggested we have one  of our fitness sessions at the 'Sol Duc' hot springs. Yay!  

Széchenyi Thermal Bathes in Budapest, Hungary

I told Karina I have never been to a natural hot spring. Then it finally hit me yes I had! In 2016 I visited mineral bathes during a central European vacation. Turns out that when Karina was a teen, she too had visited the same mineral bathes. That gave us the happy squeals!

Sol Duc Spring water pools

Shortly after 3:00, I got out the pool - I was one boiled potato! I took some photos, then headed back to the Women's locker room for a shower and to get out of my soggy clothing. I met up with Karina and Hutch outside by the main door, and after a short photo session we were off on a short hike. 

Now walking, is one of the better exercises for me. Requires no special equipment other than my chubby legs and it can be done pretty much anywhere. Karina was the one who suggested a post soak hike, and just before we headed out, Hutch asked if I'd like to walk out and back to the car (our hike's starting point) or if I would like him to meet us at the hike's end. I opted for a one-way walk, and thank heavens I did. For whatever reason, my left hip was aching. Why? Who the heck knows. 

Skunk Cabbage

On the moist forest floor, there were giant Skunk Cabbages - a wild plant that has large lily-like flowers. Not uncommon at all, but always fun to see, when in bloom.

Our hours long hike ended (OK, it was more like 20 minutes) we headed back to Port Angeles. By the time I made it home I was quite worn out. I'm not sure why I was so tired - perhaps being boiled? Perhaps hiking a whole 20 minutes? Maybe all that fresh mountain air did me in. I was happy and thoroughly done for the day. 

Sixty-fifth New Yard Bird!

Short-eared Owl

Late this afternoon I was listless. Chatting with friend Barb on the phone, and gazing out the living room window. 

As I watched, something BIG flew around the large meadow across the road. At first my brain though 'Northern Harrier' but there were now 2 birds flying low over the field and they were quite large, no white rump like Harriers have and their wings were just too broad... and it was daytime, around 6:30 PM and... could those possibly be...?

"THERE'S AN OWL IN THE FIELD ACROSS THE WAY!" I shrieked into the phone. "BYE!" I was out on the front porch in seconds but already the birds had disappeared - if there was more than one... had I actually seen 2 owls? 

Since moving to Washington I have seen Barn  Owls, Barred Owls and have heard Great-horned Owls, but for the life of me, I couldn't even remember if I ever saw local reports of Short-eared Owls  here in Clallam County. Could I possibly be so frickin' lucky? 

I didn't waste time. Jumping into my car, then slowly driving east on Anderson Rd, checking every field I passed. I KNEW the owls wouldn't go too far, as I am sure they enjoy hunting the same grasslands and fields where most days you can find Northern Harriers floating around.

Finally I spotted one of the owls. There is a HUMONGOUS field where I often see interesting birds. In winter sometimes mixed flocks of geese and ducks wallow around there. Numerous times I've watched Bald Eagles sitting on the ground there. Sometimes they regally sip water from puddles, and other times the eagles just sit - like me - and enjoy the view. But today was special. The birds present were Short-eared Owls.  

One owl floated around the field, much like the Harriers do - occasionally diving down into the grass, but sadly not catching anything. After about a half hour, the 2nd Owl was up flying around at the same time as the 1st owl. It only flew for a few minutes but at least I knew I hadn't 'wished' up a 2nd owl, there really were 2 owls. There was also a Bald Eagle that flew into a nearby tree along the bay, but today I only had eyes for owls. 

Most of my photos were fuzzy but happily there were some keepers