BELLINGHAM & ENVIRONS SNOWY DAY

NOW WHO IN THE DICKENS IS THIS ??

EAGLE RIDGE COMMUNITY - "HOME"

EAGLE RIDGE COMMUNITY - "HOME"

EAGLE RIDGE COMMUNITY - "HOME"

BELLINGHAM BAY HISTORICAL MARKET

BELLINGHAM'S LAKE WHATCOM - Silver Lake Residential District

BELLINGHAM'S LAKE WHATCOM

ALABANA HILL VIEW OF DOWNTOWN BELLINGHAM - LUMMI ISLAND Behind

BELLINGHAM'S ALABANA STREET HILL

STAIRWAY TO BELLINGHAM BAY WATERFRONT FROM BELLINGHAM/FAIRHAVEN ROAD.

UNITED STATES COAST GUARD, BELLINGHAM (Canadian Geese Standing Guard)

RESIDENT CANADIAN HONKERS

BELLINGHAM'S SQUALICUM MARINA - Gate 9

BELLINGHAM'S SQUALICUM MARINA

YACHTS ANCHORED OFF SHORE FROM BELLINGHAM / FAIRHAVEN DRIVE

CHUCKANUT DRIVE - A Scenic Drive From Bellingham South to Skagit Valley

CHUCKANUT DRIVE - Some Folks Walk Up Chuckanut Mountain

ENTERING CHUCKANUT DRIVE FROM BELLINGHAN / FAIRHAVEN

CHUCKANUT DRIVE - Whatta-View Home Nestled Into Chuckanut Mountain Slopes

CHUCKANUT DRIVE - CHUCKANUT BAY - LUMMI ISLAND & ORCAS ISLAND Beyond

CHUCKANUT DRIVE - CHUCKANUT BAY

CHUCKANUT DRIVE - CHUCKANUT BAY COMMUNITY - Breathtaking Views

CHUCKANUT DRIVE - CHUCKANUT BAY

CHUCKANUT DRIVE - CHUCKANUT BAY (About 3 Miles South of Bellingham)

CHUCKANUT DRIVE - CHUCKANUT BAY - LOOKING NORTH TO CANADA

CHUCKANUT DRIVE - CHUCKANUT BAY (LUMMI ISLAND in background)

CHUCKANUT DRIVE - CHUCKANUT BAY

CHUCKANUT DRIVE - CHUCKANUT BAY - LOOKING SOUTHWEST to San Juan Islands

CHUCKANUT DRIVE

CHUCKANUT DRIVE - SAN JUAN ISLANDS

CHUCKANUT DRIVE - SAN JUAN ISLANDS

CHUCKANUT DRIVE - SAN JUAN ISLANDS

CHUCKANUT DRIVE - SAN JUAN ISLANDS

CHUCKANUT DRIVE - SAN JUAN ISLANDS

CHUCKANUT DRIVE - SAN JUAN ISLANDS

CHUCKANUT DRIVE - LOOKING NORTH TOWARDS CANADA

CHUCKANUT DRIVE - SAN JUAN ISLANDS (Canada in Background)

CHUCKANUT DRIVE - SAN JUAN ISLANDS

CHUCKANUT DRIVE - SAN JUAN ISLANDS

ONE-WAY ROAD (over planked bridges) TO OYSTER FARM

STREAM UNDER CHUCKANUT DRIVE - OYSTER BAY BRIDGE

CHUCKANUT DRIVE - OYSTER BAY BRIDGE

OYSTER FARM BREAKWATER AND LIGHTHOUSE - San Juan Islands in Background

OYSTER FARM SEAGULLS...WAITING FOR A HANDOUT

OYSTERS GROWING ON A TUBE IN A TANK

OYSTER BAY FARM

ME UNDER THE HAT

ME WITH NO HAT...See JON, REALLY DOESN'T HELP

CHUCKANUT DRIVE / SKAGIT VALLEY DRIVE WATERWAY

AND SO, WE LEAVE CHUCKNUT DRIVE, ENTERING SKAGIT VALLEY

SKAGIT VALLEY - CHUCKANUT DRIVE WATERWAY

JON ( JAN) FEDUCK and ME

MEGAN LITERALLY MATERIALIZED FROM BEHIND A TREE..."My Oh My" (to steal a quote)

ME was so pleased with the early morning Bellingham snow pics, decided to take a drive around B'Ham and Chuckanut Bay Drive...for the sole purpose of capturing stunning pics.

Am particularly pleased to meet up with Jon (Jan) Feduck, a Freelance Journalist from Canada, who has twice walked across Spain., and her friend (Daughter), Megan. (Jan also walked the Base Camp of Mount Everest). One meets the most interesting and exciting folks...and just by walking here and there.

Leaving Bellingham, SAM & ME will be walking CHUCKANUT DRIVE into the Skagit Valley...then on to Whidby Island and beyond.

A word about Bellingham, Washington. I have lived in many places on this Planet. I have also visited uncounted places (just for fun, one day I will list them)...and I can honestly attest that I find Bellingham, Washington to be at or near the top of my list of desirable places to live and visit.

POST UPDATE (Monday, November 22): Having received e-mail this morning, I must apologize for erroneously identifying Jon and Megan. Jon is spelled "Jan". Megan is Jan's Daughter (and possibly her very special friend, too).

FIRST SNOW

Was about to go on a long walk today with SAM & ME.

And look what Mother Nature brought us.

Our First Snow of 2010 in Bellingham, Washington...and a promise from the Weather Folks for a full week of minus 30 F temperatures.

SAM will get some foul-weather experience this week, for certain.

SPIA OR SAM & SPIA

The time for SAM & ME to once again walk from under the Peace Arch is close at hand.

WE are facing a serious dilemma...to walk just SAM & ME - or to take SPIA as support for SAM & ME.

Many folks have said that introducing "vehicles" into OUR walk took away from the romance of an old guy pushing a cart across America.

I fully agree. Many of my blogs have been self-critical of this same point.

It is also true, that because of "vehicles" I have walked many more miles just to move equipment around than if SAM & ME had gone on alone.

My current plans do NOT include SPIA...HOWEVER...

Looking out the window of my Bellingham home, there is a storm blowing through the Pacific Northwest with very high winds, incessant rain, with the promise of very cold temperatures and SNOW by Sunday, November 21.

This weather is "normal" for this Region from October through February nearly every year.

So, if SAM & ME go it alone, our walk will be a truly Extreme Physical Challenge - we will walk through the very large and wet Rain Forest surrounding the Olympic Mountains.

Just to set up our tent in high winds and pouring rain would be a major effort.

Then, there is meal preparation - a shelter of some sort must be created for cooking.

Then, there is dry clothing - SAM can carry limited changes.

Then, there is less daylight to get in reasonable miles and set-up / tear-down "camp".

Then, there is less SUN for SAM's Solar Panels to charge batteries for Her electric motor.

It all seems so daunting.

Having SPIA along would take the "extreme" out of OUR walk.

And yet, I often hear that SAM - not ME - is every one's primary interest. That part is just fine with ME because I too feel that without SAM, much of the romance / green element is gone.
I created SAM with the goal that WE would do our walk TOGETHER. Leaving SAM in her trailer last Summer (because of the extreme heat) was a difficult decision.

Last Summer, WE tried many options to complete our walk. None were acceptable, except the short period when Jodi joined us. In all truthfulness, WE cannot expect anyone to join us on a continuous basis to drive SPIA for weeks on end.

Therefore, it seems more and more certain that SAM & ME are going to go it alone.

WE have dismissed VERIZON from our support. VERIZON threw US a curve by sending an Invoice for $445.00 for "excess minutes", saying calls were not properly terminated, allowing minutes to continue to be charged. Arrogant and aloof in their handling of my complaint, I became quite angry and opted to send VERIZON on it's way. WE, therefore, have "lost" our wireless access which will not allow us to post updates until reaching a WiFi location...few and far apart when walking.

Undertaking this adventure, I wrongly assumed support would come our way by way of Sponsorship, etc. This has NOT happened. My limited funds simply do not allow much beyond basic support items.

I have discovered whatever one decides to do with their short time here on this Planet, comes with a cost. I have deliberately chosen a most difficult, exciting, and adventurous way in which to spend my Senior Years. The "cost" has been high in relationships and $$.

I miss the relationships - I have recently heard the word "intimidation" as a reason for friends backing away from SAM & ME. I am truly sad if that is so. I envisioned "togetherness" in OUR adventure. We have, however, welcomed many NEW friends along the way...thank you all, for that.

SAM & ME, will continue our walk and WE will reach Key West...and beyond.

Thank you for sticking with US.

SAM & ME