The end of the Rainbow -- 9/11/2014

Our first night at Alderbrook Resort and Spa gives us a gentle rock on the outside dock and we wake very rested.  By 8:30A the northeast wind kicks up and we begin the bouncing.

All day!

The dock master offers us to move to the inside, but it is too rough now to leave our site.

It is not rough on land, so I walk around to take photos of this very beautiful resort.  I stop by the registration desk for a trail map in anticipation of exploring some hills in the forest across Highway 106.

Warming Fire for Chilly Afternoon

After lunch Herb takes Jake and I take my camera for the hike.  I am told the Viewpoint Loop is the least steep, so that is where we head first.

A Hemlock tree grows from the decaying stump of a long ago cut Douglas Fir and recycles the nutrients.  It is called 'Nurse Stump.'

At the highest point near the cliff toward the marina,

     We find MoonShadow....

And Willie's Tug....

A bench marks the farthest point in the Viewpoint Loop and we begin our way back to the trailhead.

The trail circles around, then ties into another loop which looks like a fun walk. We are not ready to stop yet.

A sign tells us we are seeing 200 - 300 year old Douglas Fir trees, which were most likely left by loggers in the early 1900's as seed stock for the future forest we now see all around us.

Herb's feet are seen under the log and his hat is seen just above.  He has to duck under the fallen tree across the trail.

After a swim in the pool and a soak in the hot tub, we note the winds have calmed down enough that we wisely move our boats around to the inside of the dock before they pick up again.   Vicki and Bruce join us for Happy Hour and we watch the croquet and corn hole toss games in the Courtyard across the water. A most difficult one is the golf.  A player tees off to sink one in any of the cups located in the four corners of the float.

A nice one just misses the cup and causes a sparkling splash!

Bill's Houses

Alderbrook Resort and Spa

Dinner is in The Restaurant at Alderbrook and we can see MoonShadow below in the left window.

Tomato basil soup, oysters on the half shell, halibut, scallops -- Yum!

Being here is quite like being at the 'end of the rainbow.'

Willie of Willie's Tug,
   and of Walldog, Willie and Jake
   Thursday, September 11, 2014