coupeville wharf

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FOR THE BIRDS – September 18, 2017

Happy Monday and welcome to another wonderful week in paradise!

This morning’s walk wasn’t all that long as we have threatening skies but I did spot a bunch of birds. First up, Frank, one of our great blue heron’s, flying low over Penn Cove.

Frank Flying Low Over Water

Down by the Coupeville Wharf there were hundreds of seagulls swimming around and standing on the beach. Here are just a few.

Seagulls On The Beach

I wondered what the attraction was and I think I found it. It would appear that the crabs are in and easy pray.

Seagulls with Crab

Our weather has really changed the last two days, almost as though a switch was thrown changing it from summer to winter. Here’s just one more indication. It looks like the Canada Geese are heading south!

Geese Flying South

Any my “beauty shot” for the day is some boats tied up to the dock basking in a beautiful Penn Cove sunrise.

Boats at Dock at Sunrise

There, that should start your week, it certainly did mine. Have a great week and, weather willing, we’ll do this again tomorrow. As always, thanks for walking with me!

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FOG BANK WHARF – September 1, 2017

Welcome to September 2017. It was a beautiful morning for a nice little walk. 52 degrees F and clear skies. I only walked 2 1/4 miles but that’s because I stopped a lot to look at the scenery and take photos. Here are just a few from my efforts.

First up “Frank Fishing”. This Great Blue Heron was frozen solid waiting for just the perfect breakfast to swim close enough to snatch from the water. At least while I was standing there it struck out. Maybe I distracted it.

Heron Fishing

One thing that is really beautiful on Whidbey Island are all the “high bank” areas that we have exposing millions of years of geology. This high bank is along Scenic Heights just southeast of Oak Harbor on the other side of Penn Cove from Coupeville. The morning sun really makes them stand out.

Scenic Heights High Bank

The Coupeville Wharf was basking in the morning sun as well but there was an ominous cloud bank behind it. Fortunately the cloud bank has dissipated and it’s going to be a beautiful day all over the island.

Whar and Cloud Bank

I have a busy weekend of music ahead. The Island Jazz Collective, a jazz group I play drums with, will be performing at the Ciao Italian Restaurant in Coupeville tonight  from 6:00 – 8:00PM. On Sunday we’ll be playing at the Oak Harbor Music Festival from 12:00 – 1:00 PM. If you get a chance, stop by and listen to some cool jazz and say hi!

Thanks for walking with me and have a great September.

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CARDOON August 31, 2017

It’s really hard to believe that August is over already but what a fabulous summer we’ve had. I think we are on day 74 with temperatures above 70F and only .02″ of rain. We could use some water!

On my 2.5 mile walk this morning I saw fourteen deer. They seem to be everywhere right here in town. This is a very poor flash picture of a deer going after some low hanging fruit but I just had to share. Talk about a stretch!

Low Hanging Fruit Deer

It was really cloudy this morning but like this photo of Penn Cove and boats with the low tide showing in the foreground.

Cloudy Morning Penn Cove Boats

I’ve taken photos of the Coupeville Wharf with the street lights on before but this morning I just had to take one more!

Coupeville Wharf Street Lights

On the way home this blue flower caught my eye. It’s on a very thick, six to seven foot tall stock and as big as a fist. The blue spikes really stick out. It’s a “Cardoon (Cynara cardunculus), just in case you were curious.

Cardoon (Cynara cardunculus) Blue Flower

I did a lot better with this flower than I did with the “blueberries” I showed you the other day. Carmen, one of my fellow walkers, pointed out that they really are “Oregon Grapes”. Sorry for the misinformation.

Thanks for walking with me today and now it’s onward to September 2017!

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SAILBOATS AT SUNRISE – August 25, 2017

As we approach the last few days of August, the dark mornings are getting longer and change is in the air. I keep leaving a little later each morning trying to catch the sunrise and this morning did not disappoint.

Perhaps you’ve heard the old song, “Red Sails In The Sunset”, well this morning it was “Red Sailboats in the Sunrise”. This was taken from the Coupeville Wharf where the sailboats were moored overnight.

Sailboats Red Sunrise at Wharf

Several of you asked if I would take a photo of the beautiful old home that was being painted a very dark color, when it was done, so I did. Now that it’s done it’s quite striking and looks more dark blue that it did against the original yellow color.

Black House

At the end of my walk I decided to take a photo of our volunteer sunflower. There is a pot of flowers on the porch and a few weeks ago what looked like a weed started to sprout. Rather than pull it we decided to see what it was. We think a squirrel most likely planted the seed to be eaten at a later date.

Well it grew and grew and grew and a couple of days ago the flower opened up. What a spectacular addition to our home.

Sunflower Home

So that’s what I saw on our little 2.4 mile walk this morning. Of course I saw lots more but that’s enough for this week.

Have a grand weekend and if you happen to be in the Seattle area swing by the Hiram Chittenden Locks in Ballard, my big swing band, The Tempos, will be performing Sunday from 2:00 – 4:00. Grab me and say hi, I love to meet people who walk with me. I hope to see you there!

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DEFIBRILLATOR – August 23, 2017

This morning I have a safety announcement for the citizens of Coupeville and its visitors. I just spotted a defibrillator mounted to the side of the Collections Boutique store at the Front Street end of the Coupeville Wharf. We can only hope that no one ever needs to use it but it’s there should an emergency arrive.

Collections Store with Defibulator Box

Do you see it, next to the little library box?

Defibulator Box

I was out walking early this morning and the sun wasn’t quite up yet but I still got this interesting photo of Mt. Baker just above the trees.

Mt Baker Sunrise through Trees

And once again, I just couldn’t resist taking yet another photo of a sunrise over the wharf and Penn Cove. Who could get tired of this view?

Wharf Boats Sunrise

The schooner Suva was basking in the morning sun. I copied this description from the Suva website.

“Come aboard the Suva and sail back in time! This Gatsby-era schooner was built in 1925 for Coupeville resident and attorney, Frank J Pratt, Jr. She was designed by Ted Geary, a noted Seattle naval architect. Built in Hong Kong, then shipped to British Columbia for spars and rigging, Suva sailed into Coupeville making a grand entrance. Since that time, Suva remained in Puget Sound waters. She is now the proud flagship of the Coupeville Maritime Heritage Foundation, only her sixth owner, and is open to the public for tours and sailing. Come discover her charm. Welcome aboard!”

What a beautiful old boat!

Suva at Sunrise

And that’s a wrap for this weeks Hump Day. Thanks for walking with me and I’ll see you again real soon.

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BOATS & MORE BOATS August 21, 2017

Happy “Eclipse Day” and a new week. This morning it was overcast and a tad foggy but it should burn off before the main event.

Since it wasn’t a great photo day I decided to show you how busy our dock is. There were a lot of boats tied up and even some rafted to one another. There were others anchored out in Penn Cove.

Here’s a long shot of the Coupeville Wharf and some of the boats. And you’ll notice that “Frank” has a little cameo in this shot.

Boats at Wharf

These two big, beautiful yachts were rafted together. I guess we know how the other half is living 😉

Two Large Rafted Boats

I doesn’t seem to matter how big your yacht is there’s always one that’s bigger. This sailboat took up the entire fuel dock. I have no idea how long it is but it’s big and beautiful.

Big Sailboat at Gas Dock

And there you have it, a nice start to a new week. Thanks for walking with me and remember, DO NOT look directly into the eclipse!!!

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A DIFFERENT DAY – August 15, 2017

As you’ve seen in my recent blogs we’ve had stellar sunrises. Well today was a different day and with it came different weather. It’s cloudy and we have some fog so like my brother Ron always says: “On a foggy day take foggy photos”. Works for me! Here’s the Coupeville Wharf taken from the end of my street.

Foggy Wharf

There is a beautiful old house that I just love. I believe it’s a bed and breakfast but not sure. I like the bright yellow paint with the white trim, very classy.

Yellow House Before

Well that’s about to change. They are painting it and I have to say, I’m not crazy about their color choice. It’s like a blue/purple/black color. It may be striking when they are done but I think I prefer the yellow.

Yellow House After

It seems like every week there are more and more deer. We saw a doe with two new fawns just yesterday, I believe it might be the second batch this year. Taking care of all those kids must wear them out. Here’s a pair just resting in the tall grass.

Deer Resting

I have a neighbor who’s a retired art teacher and he is always putting up interesting art in his yard and gardens. This one caught my eye this morning with the sunflower in front of it.

Art and Sunflower

And that wraps up Tuesday’s walk. I hope you enjoyed it, I sure do enjoy the company from all of you. Have a great day!