North Head

Once again, we hit Seattle right, weather-wise. On the first Sunday in November, we took off after church hoping for only a drizzle. The weather we got was phenomenal, considering the forecast for more of the same. It had rained for 12 straight days and we're expecting rain at least through Wednesday. It's been a very wet early winter. But there is a couple feet of snow up in the Cascades and the ski resorts are opening. Considering the brutal lack of snow in the mountains the last 3-4 winters, this is a very good start. We may even go cross-country skiing one of the next couple weekends.
Upon arrival, it was windy and chilly at Seattle's Discovery Park (north near Ballard), but surprisingly, the sun was streaming through the clouds. We put on sweatshirts, hats, gloves, and hiking boots for the one mile trek down to the beach. When the clouds started to move away from the Olympics in the background, I was delighted with the backdrop for this lighthouse sticking out into Puget Sound. All around the point were sailboats, working cargo ships, seagulls and cormarants, and even a couple wind-surfers in wet suits.
It's funny how you can start out in a chilly place and begin walking. Pretty soon you are wondering why you have on a heavy sweatshirt. Up and down the hills that slope toward the Sound make for a strenuous walk and soon you are, indeed, sweating. So even though it's called a sweatshirt, you really aren't interested in sweating, but "Perspire on, Hardy Soul!". Off come the gloves, hat, and windbreaker/rain jacket. They'll be ready for the windy point when we get down to the lighthouse.
It brings back memories of living in northern Wisconsin. We'd go to the Madeline State Park Cross-Country Ski trails after school and ski 5-7 km. The best temperature was around 5 degrees. You'd start out chilled and within 10 minutes, you were taking off gloves and the outer windbreaker because of how much energy you were putting out skiing. I don't recall kicking off the shoes though. I think I was doomed to have eternally cold feet. I'm just glad they didn't affect me 24 years ago. I would never have done so well in the marriage dept. It's hard to believe - 24 years.
The hike travels along the bluffs, which are actually giant sand dunes with soil on top. Looking at the small forest that we walked through, I'd guess these dunes have not moved for centuries. The hike is only a mile with an elevation drop of about 400 feet, I'm guessing. We reached the beach and moved along the drift wood. I had an inspiration for a picture using a depth of field technique. see blog above
We watched a couple guys wind surfing. After a while, a diver popped up near the jetty and took pictures of them from below. They tried to get action shots of them being lifted high after jumping. I didn't really plan my picture well and missed getting them in the air. The photo I got, though, was kind of funny. It shows lines from the parachute going down into a big splash. again, see blog above
On the way back, we had a great view of a shower coming our way across the sound. Here it is in black and white. In many of the digital photo mags that I read while at Barnes and Noble, there's been a growing interest in B/W shots. I've been toying with some with decent results.
I think I could write another two pages about Sunday. Maybe at a later time.
We both continue to be amazed at how much we have seen and experienced in Western Washington. It's said that Sheboygan isn't hell, but you can see it from there. Western Washington isn't heaven (try following our disgusting politics for proof), but I think we can see it from here. La Crosse County residents, You may claim to live in God's country, but this is his art studio.