C.J.'s Birthday Weekend

30 May-1 Jun

Mount Blum from near Swift Creek

 The plan was to try out my new Washington State Veteran's ID Card to get free camping at state parks. We'd go early Friday so there should be lots of sites available. When we arrived and found out the reality of fair-weather spring weekends at popular camping parks like Larrabee near Bellingham, we had to make some hard choices. Fortunately the weekend turned out as good or better than the original plan.

30 May, Fri - We loaded the kayak and our flying gear and left around 1015 which put us at Larrabee State Park on Chuckanut Drive about 1230. Even before entering the gate we spotted the "camp area full" sign. We were totally astounded and drove through one of the loops - there were many vacant sites but all had "reserved" markers on them. Talking with a ranger we found out that most of the popular campground allow all sites to be reserved. We considered Bay View SP maybe 30 miles south but when I called the reservation number I found out that no same-day reservations are accepted. The ranger had suggested Cama Beach or Camano Island SPs as possibilities but they were far away from the flying at Blanchard. Also we would miss an opportunity to have a birthday dinner at Chuckanut Manor, bummer! After much discussion we decided to try Baker Lake where there were many USFS campgrounds and there would be kayaking on the lake (and have the BD dinner next week at the Blanchard Bash). Sure enough, the two CGs we looked at had plenty of sites and we found a really good one with a view of snowy Mount Blum at Swift Creek CG. (which

Mt. Blum  from our campsite

may have been once known as Baker Lake Resort.) After quickly setting up the trailer, we drove over to the boat ramp and launched our kayak. Without thinking much about it we headed north (east, actually) downwind, first paddling up the Swift Creek inlet a short distance then heading across a large bay eventually reaching Shannon Creek CG (after a pit stop at a place where hatchery fish are introduced to the lake). We went a bit farther but not quite to the end of the lake, probably about three miles, far enough that we were able to have a view of Shuksan as well as Mt. Baker. Returning was not as easy: the afternoon valley flow was strongly up lake. It wasn't quite white capping but we had to work hard to maintain 5.5kph or more (where before we had been making 7.0 easily, going downwind). Back at Swift Creek we pulled into the swimming beach just a short walk from our campsite (#39, if we ever want to reserve it) and carried our boat up rather than put it back atop the Sorento. We were pretty pooped and C.J. was happy to have a simple pre-cooked meal to prepare, but we didn't stay up too late partying.

31 May, Sat - Even though it got light early, we slept in till after 0800. Once we finished breakfast we felt

Mount Baker

recovered enough to at least think about a short paddle out to where we could see the morning light on Baker. We had carried the boat only a short ways when another camper asked if C.J. would be upset if he volunteered to carry her end of the kayak. Not a chance! We paddled straight out toward the far shore so we could look back at Baker; it was a magnificent view. Then we continued across, and south along the east bank. Once we were far enough out in the lake we also had a view of Shuksan. Most of the way the shore was steep and overgrown but about 2.5 mi down there was a flatter area and we could spot the Baker Lake Trail and maybe a place to camp. Shortly after that we met a kayaker coming from the dam who was planning to camp there. A short distance farther on, we recrossed the lake looking for a place to stop and have a snack. On this shore it was mostly marshy so we started back north until we found a nice sandy beach - an obvious boat-in campsite. After sharing a granola bar we were getting back into the boat when C.J. stepped into a deep spot and fell in the water up to her neck. We didn't have much in the way of extra clothes but fortunately (good planning) she was wearing synthetics which could be rung out and shaken mostly dry. [The fortunate part was that the day was sunny and warm and we would be paddling with the wind.] We cruised by Panorama Point CG where we saw a couple of nice sites with views. Back at the swimming beach, the same guy showed up to help us move the boat back to our site. [Really, we should have thought to bring the kayak cart with us.] After lunch and a rest we took the car a few miles back down

Bunchberry

Baker Lake Road to a 1/2-mile interpretive trail called Shadow of the Sentinels. That certainly didn't wear us out so we drove down to see what the Puget Sound Energy-run Kulshan campground near the dam looked like. Same price ($18, but only $7.50 for seniors, military and ?), not as secluded, not on the lake, more of an RV camp but no electricity although there seemed to be water and sewer. We continued on and found ourselves crossing the high dam on a narrow one-lane road. A mile beyond the dam we turned around at the trailhead for the Baker Lake Trail. We didn't know how far along the road went before it was blocked by snow but we figured that even if we could drive all the way up to the old hang glider launch, the trail to Anderson Butte or Watson Lakes would be snowy. We had a pleasant dinner outside - no bugs, no bees, and mild temps.
1 Jun, Sun - Figuring that we had had enough exercise we headed for home fairly early. We stopped for gas at Costco in Burlington (3.719) and then went in to get an ice cream bar. None were available so we went over to the TV section and talked to the salesguy who showed us a Vizio M-series smart LED TV that had just become available. Since I had been looking at a cheaper E-series and this one wasn't much more expensive, we decided to get it and replace our old 21-in Panasonic CRT TV. We got some fruit as well then drove in light traffic all the way home. It was early enough that C.J. had time to work in the garden and I weed-whacked the swamp (still not dry enough to mow). Later I removed the old TV and set up the new one.

2 Jun, Mon - We had an appointment with Comcast to install our new Xfinity internet and phone service between 0800 and 1000 so we got up earlier than usual. Naturally Bob, the cable guy, didn't show up until closer to 1000. It's a good thing we were planning to also sign up for "limited basic" cable for the TV because Comcast used the coaxial cable that Dish was using so we've lost our TV for the moment. However, with the smart TV we can watch free TV shows via the internet. We've got a great deal of about $50 per month for high speed internet and phone service which includes caller ID and free long distance and a way to send text messages for free on our mobile devices with an app. That price is good for two years then it'll be much more expensive but right now it's considerably less expensive than Century Link and AT&T. Later I was all set to begin putting a new coat of stain on the deck when I found some more rotten boards and spent most of the day replacing those and doing some mowing. C.J., of course, was working in the garden.