Are We Walking to Alaska

Are We Walking to Alaska
Are We Walking to Alaska - A True Story

Tuesday, June 24, 2014

Welcome Summer

As is typical of our summer in the Pacific Northwest - today it is raining - it will be 71 and rain so that is very pleasant.  We have some rain here in the summer, but when it is sunny it is the most glorious place on earth.


First day of summer we packed a picnic and headed for Birch Bay - picnic, lawn chairs, small folding table, napkins, tablecloth, jug of ice water, cameras and tripod.
There were clouds out over the mountains in Canada - but at the beach it was sunny and very warm 
We found our favorite spot - behind a big tree and down on the beach.  We only saw a few people walking on the beach - this is the quiet end of Birch Bay State Park 

 I found some very nice, smooth rocks - I think I'll paint something on them.
We had a visitor - looking for something to eat I think. 
Gentle waves on the shore - I could sit and listen to it all day. 
Up in the trees were great flocks of little birds - I have no idea what they are - but they sure were fun to watch as they swirled in and out of the trees. 
Oh - look what is going by - a vintage Dodge Coronet.  Love the rumble of the old cars.  There are fuzzy black dice hanging from the rear view mirror.
The sky was so blue - the clouds so white! 
Two young men were floating and paddling about on a driftwood log 
Good summertime fun! 
We had our picnic - took a short walk - sat and talked for hours.  A peaceful way to start summer.  As the sun began to set the clouds out over Canada turned the most wonderful shades of yellow and gold.  Look for the heron - the left side, right above the beach line, just a little to the right of the bunches of small beach grass, it looks almost like a piece of grass.  
Sunset over Drayton Harbor
While watching the sunset I looked up and there was a Bald Eagle sitting in a tree 

And then in another tree - another eagle.  Several people stopped and were taking pictures of the sunset - and I pointed out the eagles to them. 


 The colors changed each minute - I think I took about 60 pictures of the sunset
There was a heron off to one side - that was what first drew me to this location - always looking for another heron to photograph. This is the same heron I tried to point out earlier - a tiny dot on the water's edge. 
 Just a silhouette because of the light from the sunset

Turn around and there were some fabulous reflections in the slough that runs into Drayton Harbor




 Watching the sun finally set - it was a glorious day.  We spent over six hours at the beach.  We are so lucky to live in such a beautiful area.


One last look - and there seems to be a whale in the sky over the sunset.  Perfect first day of summer!

Did you do something special on the first day of summer!



11 comments:

Debra She Who Seeks said...

Mother Nature put on a spectacular show for you!

Tamar SB said...

Gorgeous!! This is why I love visiting the Pacific NW - that sunset is so stunning! Thanks for linking up!

Jeanne said...

Oh JoAnne, your sunset pictures are just stunning. What a wonderful day you must have had! The little flock looks like they might be babies. Not sure. Lovely lovey pictures of your day!

Julie Fukuda said...

I think my most beautiful sunsets were seen the summer I worked in the Pacific Northwast. I remember Mt Rainier looking like a giant strawberry sundae in the sky.

The Weaver of Grass said...

You are lucky indeed JoAnn. I don't know what those birds are but here, if we couldn't identify them, we would call them 'little brown jobs.'

HickChickBritt said...

That was a beautiful sunset that night! We live in sumas so it is wide open to the west and the sunsets are quite awesome!

Kay said...

Beautiful series of shots, JoAnn! That was a particularly glorious sunset. You've captured many of the highlights of things to love about the Pacific Northwest. I wonder if those birds might be starlings. I say that only because they have short-ish tails & hang out in flocks like that. Beyond that I'm clueless!

Candy S said...

Glorious pictures of a glorious sunset. This is why my Bucket List has traveling to the Pacific Northwest right up there at the top of the list. The sweet little birds do look like they might be juveniles. The are just cute as the dickens. The heron is so dramatic framed with the glow of the sunset behind him, beautiful. Every time I visit I have to say your pictures are fabulous.

Wildflowerhouse said...

Beautiful photos. Such a glorious day you had.

Barbara said...

What a special day you had at a beautiful place, you are lucky to live in the area.

Deb @ Frugal Little Bungalow said...

JoAnn what lovely photos...the place is absolutely gorgeous and you captured so many special moments and birds here :)