Padilla Bay Hike

 It feels like it has been a solid month of dreary gray, wind and rain. But today I took the day off for a doctor's appointment and took advantage of a sun break to hike the Padilla Bay Trail afterwards. I parked at the north trailhead and headed down to the trailhead.

Padilla Bay Trail is a nicely graded, gravel covered trail that even mid week had several hikers and bikers on it at noon. As I walked, the clouds dissipated and the sun was out in all its glory.

The tide was receding and birds were hunting for food out in the bay. In the distance I saw two eagles sitting in a tree surveying the water. I had grabbed my binoculars and was happy to have them as I focused in on the distant birds.

A large group of snow geese swirled and landed on the water in the distance. 

I perused the sign at Indian Slough that talks about the migratory birds in the area. 

I continued along the path and saw a large bird in a tree. I pulled out the binoculars again but am not sure what I saw. It is perhaps a juvenile eagle because it does not have a white head or trail.

Many ducks and other birds hunted for food as the tide continued to go out and more of the mud flats were revealed.

I passed a rustic wooden building and a rotting piece of equipment that looks like it had seen better days.

I saw many herons hunting while I hiked the trail. They stood stock still until their beak would suddenly lunge into the mud.

When I reached the end of the trail I turned around and headed back towards my car, the sun warming my face. There is usually a moment about a mile into a hike where my shoulders loosen and slump and the stress I've been carrying slides off. I often don't even realize I am carrying stress until that moment happens. It happened for me as I came upon another heron.

Just past the heron I could see an odd looking piece of equipment and I was pleased to see a sign explaining that Western Washington University is using the equipment to monitor the area.

I passed the rustic building again and noticed the downed tree. Last time I hiked Padilla Bay Trail the tree was alive but sadly it probably perished in one of our wind storms this winter.

I feel so lucky that it was sunny and I had time after my appointment to get outside and hike. Recently I was reading a thread on social media where a woman talked about how she's lost her love for hiking. I have to say that although I still love to hike, I understand when she talked about how planning, logistics, and driving long distances sucked the joy out of it for her. I have not been hiking as much as I usually do but today reminded me of why I love it so much. Being outside nourishes my soul.

Several little planes buzzed over head since the trail is fairly close to Skagit Regional Airport. In the distance was a huge eagle's nest. I returned to my car and my tracking app says it was 4.44 miles in an hour and 47 minutes.