Kayaking Near Wildcat Cove, Larrabee State Park

We are having an absolutely incredible summer in the Pacific Northwest this year, unusually sunny and dry. I usually say our summer here in the upper northwest corner of Washington State is from August through September, but this year July has been sunny and warm, too.

I’ve been out kayaking at least two times a week, and I’ve now sleuthed out where the otters live in Chuckanut Bay. It’s been really hard to keep my butt in front of my computer and finish the book (THE ONLY CLUE, sequel to THE ONLY WITNESS) and various contract assignments I’ve been working on.

Mt Shuksan from ridge above Lake Ann

Now it’s August and my work ethic is suffering even more. Yesterday I went on a killer hike to Lake Ann, and was reminded of what a spectacular part of the country I live in. It is a “killer hike” because there is steep elevation gain on both ends and miles of loose rock in between, so the return trip is as difficult as the trip in, but the views are so amazing all along the way that it’s well worth the exhaustion.

This time the trip was made a little more difficult than usual by a tree down across the trail at a steep spot. There was no easy way over or under or around the dang thing, and it was a group effort to get past it, especially for us vertically challenged types. I was glad I’d worn brown pants because I at least looked a lot cleaner and was less scratched up than the rest of my party after belly-flopping and straddling and sliding across the obstacle. Fortunately, the beer shrine we stopped in on our way back to town is accustomed to stained, smelly, enthusiastic hikers like us. And you can’t have an adventure without challenges, can you?

Night sky

Next weekend–the Perseid meteor shower. I can’t wait to get away from city lights and watch the stars fall out of the sky!   For now, I will try to pull my brain back to writing again, although my imagination is already eagerly traversing the mountain ridges that I plan to backpack a few weeks from now.

I hope that wherever you live, you’ve been getting out there and enjoying your neighborhood.