Nooksack Falls and Racehorse Falls

While our son and daughter-in-law were here we had hoped to do some sightseeing, but the day we planned (Monday, September 20) turned out to be very wet and rainy and so we only made a brief excursion.  We had intended to go back up to Artist's Point near Mount Baker, but only went as far as Nooksack Falls.  The stop there, though it was raining, was worthwhile, since there was more water coming over the falls than we had ever seen.

After a brief stop there we headed back down along the North Fork of the Nooksack River and then crossed the river and followed it back up a short way to another little-known location well off the beaten track, Racehorse Falls.  The falls are named for an opening that looks like the head of a racehorse, only visible when the creek that feeds the falls is low.

It was very wet there also and we were not able to get all the way to the falls after a short scramble over fallen trees, and other debris carried down by Racehorse Creek.  We did get a few pictures, though of some unusual fungi, of the autumn leaves and of the falls, though we had to be satisfied with a distant view.  By the time we left it was raining hard and we headed back home.

Taken earlier in the year, this last photo shows the falls with a great deal less water.  Can you spot the racehorse?

Artist's Point

Our son and daughter-in-law were visiting the last couple weeks and though the native orchids are all finished blooming, we did have opportunity to do a bit of sightseeing.  On Saturday, September 18, my son and I drove up to Artist's Point, a viewpoint at the end of the Mount Baker Highway that gives some of the best views of Mount Baker and of Mount Shuksan from over 5000 feet.

My son and his wife have been in Washington many times, but the road to Artist's Point in only ever open for a few months at the end of the summer and so they had never been there.  The day was partly cloudy with the peaks moving in and out of the clouds, but we were able to see some of the surrounding area and were able, too, to hike around just a little, before heading back home.  The following pictures show some of the scenery.

Bellingham Harbor

After going out for dinner one evening while our youngest daughter and son-in-law were here (Thursday, September 9), we went to a small park on Bellingham Bay to watch the sunset.  It had been a beautiful day and there were people flying kites, walking their dogs, watching the sunset, and just relaxing.  These are a few of the pictures we took that evening.

Can you spot the dragon?

Rose Hips

In the pavilion in the park a group from Western Washington were celebrating.  Outside there was a car on display which we photographed and later discovered to be the Viking 45, the entry of a team from Western Washington University in the Progressive Automotive X Prize competition: www.progressiveautoxprize.org/teams/western-washington-un...