As We Wend Our Way...: Day 6

How's this for an early morning view?

Today, we did something that should be on the bucket list of all my friends. We hiked a certain trail along the Nooksack River. Jeff has declared this spot to be his favorite place in the world. Personally, I'd like to have my ashed sprinkled there. Or at least some of them.

I'll give you detailed directions so that you know how to get there, in case you ever find yourself in northern Washington.

While traveling on the I-5 through Bellingham, take the Sunset Dr./Hwy 542 exit and turn east. You'll stay on this road the entire drive. Upon leaving the freeway, it will take you about an hour to get to the trail head.

Depending on where you're from, you may or may not be used to following the speed limit on wide open roads. Well, follow it closely in Washington because the law enforcers are sticklers.

Make sure you don't accidentally branch south onto Hwy 9 just after Deming. Also, don't turn north on the 547 in Kendall. Stay the course on the 542.

Shortly after passing through another mountain hamlet called Glacier, you will cross over the river. Just past that there will be a campground to your left and a small parking area to your right. Park on the right and walk west, past this sign...

...and down a staircase to the trail head. Turn left and begin your adventure in Wonderland.

Here are some pics which, of course, don't do the place justice.

It's not just the landscape that is gorgeous. Don't walk too quickly or you'll miss out on all the amazing details of God's creation.

Here's a fungus larger than a 16 year old's hand, growing out of a log:

Behold the unintentional artistry of a woodpecker's hunger:

Here's an up close shot of the woolly green sweater that all the trees and rocks seem to be wearing this season:

Fun with moss:

Soon it was time for us to leave this verdant Utopia behind and go meet our friends for another hike.

Another hike? Isn't that getting old already?

No way!

If you go to Horseshoe Bend and still have time after your hike, I advise that you continue east on the 542 for another hour or so. It ends at a place called Artist Point at a ski resort. Talk about views! We didn't go there this time, but I'm including a few pics from our trip there last August so you'll see what I'm talking about.

The Alps don't have anything on the Cascades! It's difficult to see, but if you look closely at that third picture you can make out the outline of a very snow-covered Mt. Baker in the middle of the frame.

Soon we met up with the Mom and the Younger for our second hike of the day. Darling Doggy came along but wasn't allowed on the trail so he went for a ride:

The trail we traipsed is known as the Dagobah Hike in our friends' home because it reminds them of the swampy planet where Luke Skywalker met Yoda. It was very cool.

Another great thing about these hikes is that they aren't strenuous at all. They're pretty much just nature walks, so you don't need to shower when you're done and you can just walk along, chatting with your friend:

That evening, the Dad took us to the local chocolatier per our request. I was a bit startled by the posted prices.

However, I was pleasantly surprised by the chocolatier himself. He was this bearded guy, behind the counter, dressed in a couple of mismatched flannels and very eager to talk about each product. It was kind of odd because we're standing in this classy, upscale shop, oohing and awing over finely made chocolate and we're being waited on by a knowledgeable and chatty "lumber jack".

He threw a couple of free pieces into our bags and charged us less than the posted prices on certain items. I figure that's his way of being able to charge people a lot if he wants to or appear generous if he wants to. Fine by me!

Each of us chose a few pieces and settled down to take little luxuriant nibbles.

Two of my selected three:

Voila!

Make it last, Girlfriend:

We passed around a few of them to sample $0.30 worth of each others' chosen items--not the most hygienic exercise, but tasty.

Here's my Hazelnut Hedgehog after it had done the round:

I'm not sure whose teethmarks are whose, but at least it wasn't dripping with saliva.

I got really excited when I saw that they sold sipping chocolate. Ever since I'd heard about that stuff, I wanted to try it. Think hot cocoa, but thicker and more decadent.

I was not disappointed.

I passed my three ounce cup of velvety delight around for everyone to taste.

Pinkies out!

Now that's fancy! (For you SpongeBob fans.)

When I finally got my little expensive cup back, I did what any chocoholic would do:

Sorry you had to see that but the dregs were positively delicious. Here's a nicer, pre-vacation picture of me posted in hopes of erasing the above vision from your mind:

After all the chocolate consumption took place, someone had the bright idea to jump into a nearby lake. Three of the four of us rose to the challenge. Guess who declined...

Delaney gave the experience two enthusiastic thumbs up: