Just A Ride In The Country - - - -

We've had a lot of fog here in Bellingham lately - from early morning until early afternoon - a peek at the sun - and then fog from mid afternoon on.  So it was a pleasant surprise on Saturday to see some sun coming through the fog.  We thought a ride would be perfect - get out and see the autumn colors - get some photos - just a nice ride in the country.

Well the sunshine didn't last long - but we saw some amazing sun dogs - see the sun right at the top middle?

The sun - through the fog.  It looks like a full moon - but was really the sun

We saw a big rooster

 

He sits in front of an abandoned drive-in - too bad it closed, but the rooster still stands guard.

We saw a friend's house - painted blue after she sold it and moved away - I miss her.

We saw pretty leaves and ferns - changing into their autumn finery.

We saw hillsides of colored trees

And the sun came back - we are up in the hills now, above the fog.  Two alpacas graze in the pasture.

I think the trees look like an Impressionist painting

We saw red and yellow leaves

And just yellow leaves along a country road

 We saw reflections of mountains and trees in Silver Lake

 Leafless trees reflected in the still waters of the lake

Two tree dancing - the fog came and went, but the trees danced on

We could see the fog from the mountains - it is persistent this time of the year

We saw a fun sign for picking apples.  Washington apples are so very delicious!

 We saw bright red bushes

And then - there it was!!!!

Wait - stop!!! Turn around!!! I must get this view of Mt. Baker

We had been down this road dozens of times - and never saw Mt. Baker -  what a view.  And the strangest thing is - I took this photo from the driveway of a house that we once considered renting when we first moved to Washington 12 years ago.  We decided that it was too far from town - oh, but if the mountain had been out that day we might have changed our minds.

And then . . . .

Wait - stop!!!!  What are the people in those parked cars looking at?  Turn around please - I MUST get photos.

A small herd of American Elk - I've heard about them, but never seen them up here.  There were 8 total - some females and young males.  We didn't see any with the large sets of antlers.

They were grazing way out in the clearing - I had to use the highest zoom on the camera. 

Cars were stopping - some were turning around - everyone was talking about the elk and how fortunate we were to see them.

 

There were 8 in the herd - it was hard to get them all together - they kept wandering about as they grazed.

And so it wasn't just a ride in the country - it was a spectacular ride in the country - something always surprises us then we take a ride - so much to see - just have to keep your eyes open and have a wonderful driver who will constantly stop and make U-turns and park along side the road and watch for traffic - it is a magical combination.

What has surprised you on a ride in the country?