Adventuring out

On my Tuesday and Wednesday days off I drove west beyond Olympia and north onto a peninsula that points into Puget Sound.  I launched Dolphin-kayak from a small boat ramp into Eld inlet.  4 Common Loons watched me, as did a group of Sea Lions on a floating dock.  All moored boats have covers to protect them from the gulls.
      I also visited Chehalis River Surge Plain, just west of Montesano.  It is a lovely riparian area with hiking trails and a boardwalk.  While on the boardwalk I noticed a clump of animal scat.  Not dog/ coyote, not a pile like a bear, or any other animal I knew of.   Hmmm.  I finished the boardwalk and drove to another trailhead to walk down an old dirt road.   On the way back I noticed a large black lump in the trail, well ahead of me.  A Wild Boar !    At first it did not notice me, but later put it's nose to the air.  Suddenly it turned and started running towards me.  I detoured off the trail, through the forest and up to highway 107.  It did not follow me.

    

  I found these Savannah Sparrows on a tidal beach picking seeds or insects out of the wrack line.




   

  Saturday this region had a big rain and wind storm.  I worried about all the hikers out on Wonderland Trail.  Sunday morning the skies cleared quickly and we saw Rainier in a fresh coat of snow. 

Native Huckleberries are very good eating.  More than once these bushes have given me a dessert after lunch or dinner.