DAY 3 - JANUARY 15, 2011

BELLINGHAM HISTORY

B'HAM-FAIRHAVEN WATERFRONT TRAIL

STRETCHING ON B'HAM-FAIRHAVEN WATERFRONT TRAIL

BICYCLES ON B'HAM-FAIRHAVEN WATERFRONT TRAIL

FAIRHAVEN MAIN STREET

JIM'S "DOS PADRES" FAIRHAVEN, WASHINGTON

INFORMATION, PLEASE

CHUCKANUT DRIVE BEGINS

CHUCKANUT BAY COMMUNITY

CHUCKANUT BAY COMMUNITY

SAD...BUT NECESSARY SOMETIMES

CHUCKANUT HIKING TRAIL

SPIA AT LARRABEE STATE PARK

SPIA'S FIRST GUESTS...SUZANNE & STEPHEN

DAY 3 – BELLINGHAM; FAIRHAVEN; CHUCKANUT

Must say sleeping in my own familiar bed last night was a pleasure…not that SPIA is not also comfy. Just sad My Significant Other no longer speaks to me…10 lost years…and I have not the slightest idea why…would gladly give up our entire walk for a few kind words and a warm hug.

It is as it is

SPIA, SAM & ME left with low spirit…not knowing when we would return.

Drove SPIA to Bellingham-Fairhaven Boulevard Park. Left SAM at rest on board SPIA. Walked North through Bellingham to yesterday’s stopping point and returned to SPIA.

Then, SAM still absent, walked to Fairhaven and return to SPIA along the Waterfront Pathway.

Made lunch aboard SPIA…sure beats trying to eat out of a tent or the Van…then drove to Larrabee State Park midway along Chuckanut Drive. Parked SPIA in Campground Space # 40. Checked in, only to discover Seniors stay FREE during Winter months.

Again leaving SAM on board SPIA, walked back to Fairhaven and returned to Larrabee State Park…was not tired, so continued walking South on Chuckanut Drive for 3 miles or so.

Stopped to take a pic of the San Juan Islands and the Olympic Mountains beyond, only to see a massive cold front moving quickly directly towards me. Turned back North, arriving at SPIA as the first drops fell.

Warm cozy SPIA…such a palace compared to previous camping out or surviving in cramped Van last Summer. Cooked up some pasta; made a ham & turkey Sub, and opened a cool bottle of Chardonnay.

Half an hour later – about 4:30 pm, welcomed Suzanne and Hubby Stephen as SPIA’s very first guests. Over glasses of Chardonnay and Burgundy Wine, we passed the next 2 hours or so.

Since returning to SPIA, it has rained pitchforks.

Lucky that early this morning, stopped at Hardware Sales, picking up a tube of “underwater” sealant. During SPIA’s first two days of intense rain – walking & rolling to the Peace Arch and back to Bellingham, a leak developed in one of SPIA’s skylights.

This morning was very pleasant…no rain… Climbed SPIA’s ladder and repaired a cracked skylight seal. Seems to have been a successful repair job as no sign of drips this evening.

Having SPIA has been another benefit…brought along a full-size keyboard for the Mini-Computer…WOW, what a pleasure not to have to hunt and peck those tiny HP keys.

PROGRESS REPORT: Walked 26 miles today, counting only 12 miles

SEE YOUR IMPACT: 12 miles @ $0.02 = $0.24 for the day.

Tomorrow, will drive SPIA to the Oyster Bay Restaurant and park. Will walk back to today’s turn-around point and back to SPIA. Plan to walk to the Oyster Bay Fishery to pick up a couple pounds of oysters which will go into SPIA'S refrigerator. When the rain lets up for a couple hours, will take out the BBQ (propane fired) and cook them up.

A feast for a King…downed with our second bottle of Chardonnay….YUM !

Tomorrow afternoon will walk South out of Chuckanut Drive into Skagit Valley. Plan to overnight in BOW, WASHINGTON, which has a bakery producing the finest Breads this side of Heaven….Which will be loaded in SPIA’s freezer for later pleasure.

This walking thing could become a real pleasure..