Views of Sequim, the Olympic Peninsula. . .and beyond
I don’t know the history or the current status of this Sequim icon, but I certainly enjoy seeing it everyday, and because I see it more as a work of art, I decided to treat it as such.
I hope you enjoy the end result and if you have some knowledge of the owners, etc., please share it with me, and thanks much!
It had been awhile since I’d gotten close enough to photograph our elk herd, which I consider to be the gems of our community. But I was fortunate to spot them yesterday evening and to share in this tender moment between two cows.
The anticipation of seeing them, both the cows and the bulls, keeps me enthusiastic about hauling my gear, bundling up and waiting for the right moment, although it’s hit and miss as to whether they’ll show up, or “pose”.
I love the challenge though and when I take out-of-towners to their typical spot, they understand completely, although they often ask, “why would anyone name this SCHMUCK Road”???
Although I captured this photo in 2019, apparently, we’re due for our annual snowfall again soon, which brings the photo back to mind.
After arriving in Sequim in September 2018 after 30 years in nearby Renton, seeing over 2.5 feet of snow accumulate in February was a rude awakening – especially after being told “Sequim is so much sunnier than the rest of Puget Sound”; and “Sequim hasn’t gotten much snow in the last 20 years.” by the locals.
So after helping my hubby shovel it for hours and cursing our real estate agent under my breath, I took in on myself to make a statement of my displeasure by snowballing the SunLand sign at the entrance to our neighborhood.
But I did so before I complained to another resident about how surprised I was to see so much SNOW, when she relayed that she had just moved to Sequim from Hawaii – in order to escape the heat!
That’s when my whining stopped and I put myself in her place, but all the while dreaming of Hawaii…
Since we don’t always have the state of the art medical equipment and technology available to us on the peninsula, a trip to Seattle is sometimes the best option, and today, we were happy to transport a dear friend to the “big city” when she needed access to it.
Driving into Seattle is not for the faint of heart, but taking the ferry can be a breeze, especially on a cold and rainy night, like tonight. So although we drove over, while tackling heavy traffic, slick roadways and wacky drivers, we persevered and made it to our destination.
On the way home, we opted for the “scenic route” via the Seattle to Bainbridge Ferry, and were pleased to see the ferris wheel colorfully lit, reflecting on the water, making our journey back home so much more enjoyable, dry, and photo worthy, of course!
Stopping by JWM is another way to spend a foggy day, of which we seem to be having again.
And after being a boat owner for over 20 years, seeing sailboats anchored in the bay makes me nostalgic, although my husband and I owned a powerboats exclusively.
There’s something about being on or near the water that calls to my soul, but since then, I’ve only answered it from a kayak.
In the meantime, I take joy in seeing the boats, the reflections, and of course, the birds…my current passion.
And for those of you who are curious about the marina’s name, their website at https://portofpa.com/marine/john-wayne-marina/ states: ‘John Wayne Marina was constructed in 1985 on 22 acres of land donated by the John Wayne family. John Wayne frequented Sequim Bay waters aboard the family yacht (the “Wild Goose”) and envisioned a marina in the scenic bay prior to his death. Eventually, this vision became reality under the ownership and auspices of the Port of Port Angeles.’
While cruising Water Street and the beach in Pt. Townsend a few years back, I had the pleasure of photographing a musician as he entertained a crowd of onlookers and listeners. I found out later that he’s Phil Flugehorn and the bubbles behind him were created by Brenda Easley, aka, The Bubble Lady.
As Brenda swayed along the shore creating enormous and colorful floating backdrops, he created an atmosphere of his own while playing requested tunes from the crowd as they sang and shouted for more.
I can’t remember when I’ve been more delighted to attend an impromptu photo shoot then that unforgettable day on the beach, and I’m forever grateful to Brenda for forming the enormous bubble behind Phil – which resembles the shape of the horn…now that’s good karma!
To learn more about Phil, visit his website at www.flugelhornphil.com. And you can find Brenda at www.facebook.com/brenda.easley17.
My apologies, I guess my colorful photo art post yesterday sent the website into a tizzy since the scheduled post didn’t go through until I published it manually…oh well, maybe this black and white image will get things back on track.
Otherwise, I find this walking bridge, aka the railroad trestle, to be photo worthy anytime of year, even in the dead of winter.
A great place to take visiting friends or family, it truly has an interesting history, as the sign indicates, as well as the website, https://peninsulapassage.com/johnson-creek-train-trestle/ :
“410 feet long and 86 feet high, it is the largest railroad trestle on the Olympic Peninsula. It is curved and banked for strength and stability. These two platforms originally held barrels of water for use in the event of a fire. Platforms were built with money raised by friends of Jerry Williamson…1947-2002”
Fast forward to today, and we find it being part of the Olympic Discovery Trail (since 2002) and a beautiful crossing for runners, walkers and bikers. Another reason to tackle the temps and get outdoors!