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February 17, 2007
After what seemed like months with no road trips, mostly due to
horrible weather, we headed out under blue skies this morning
for a short trip past Granite Falls then through the Robe Valley.
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As
we approached Granite Falls, I couldn't help smiling at this sign
on the back of a truck. I know a few women who might like to take
advantage of this, heehee.
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We stopped
at Gold Basin
Mill Pond but there wasn't much to see yet. The water was as still
as glass and a small patch of ice still floated on the pond.
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The
drive towards Barlow Pass is really pretty, with the Stillaquamish
River meandering along the side of the road. Patches of snow were
visible here.
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The
Stillaquamish River is highly regarded as a fly fishing area, and
despite the patches of snow, we saw a number of fishermen standing
in the water.
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Next
we stopped at the Youth On Age trail. (No, that does not refer to
me and Tim!) It's named after a small plant, also known as the Piggyback
Plant, the leaves of which grow from the base of older leaves. When
the old leaves fall off, the new leaves take root.
The woods were alive with a gazillion shades of green, and there
were many beautiful mosses and ferns along the way.
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Here's
Tim beside one of the many huge Old Growth trees. Some of the trees
in this area are 500 years old or more.
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And
eek, there was snow here too! I could not resist walking across
it, just for old times' sake.
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Looking
up was great too. The moss-covered trees were visible through gaps
in the foliage.
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We
spied a couple of huge logs blocking the path and I couldn't resist
imitating The Thinker as we tried to figure out the easiest way
of getting around/over them.
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Oh no! What's
this? Our plans for lunch at Big Four were scuppered as we found
the road closed at Deer Creek. I guess the snow plows had not
made it this far yet. Rats!.
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Instead,
we settled for a picnic beside the Stillaquamish River at the Dick
Sperry Picnic Area. Dick Sperry was a miner, one of the founders
of the Sperry-Iverson Mine in 1895.
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Across from
the lunch spot was a huge rock, and we spied a small rainbow hovering
over the water cascading down the rock.
I must say
it was lovely to be out once again. I think we both enjoyed it.
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