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.
