Our first stop was the Casino for a filling breakfast. But before we ate, I had to play a game of Rich Little Piggies with my free $5 from our Fun Book...
I was down to 15 cents when I got a bonus and ended up with $8.35. I cashed out, put $3 in my pocket and $5 in the machine again, which the piggies quickly ate up! Oh well, on to breakfast...
We used our $5 off card from the fun book, and since breakfast only costs $3 each to start with, it ends up being almost free! I ordered the two eggs, two pancakes and a strip of bacon, which goes into a napkin and into Larry's pocket for Duchess.
Larry had eggs, hash browns and toast...
After breakfast we whipped up a couple of sandwiches and headed out for the day...
Every time we park Jumbo in a new place, I set out my chicken planter with my pot of pansies, and I recently planted some hens and chicks to go with it! Makes it feel like home...
Larry locked up Jumbo and we were on our way...
The road to the North Beach in Deception Pass State Park.
The trail to the North Beach...
One of many ferns to be seen along the way...
It is wonderful to know that some things never change. This is the beach that I remember the best in the park and looks exactly as it did so many years ago!
I wonder if the driftwood is the same that was there 30, 40, even 50 years ago? I could swear that I've climbed over it in the past...
Such a beach-loving dog!
Larry looking for some special rocks to add to my ever-growing collection...
Duchess playing a little Leash Game on the way back to the car...
The trees smelled marvelous...
We especially wanted to visit Rosario Beach to see the Maiden of Deception Pass Story Pole, so that was to be our next stop.
As we passed over the bridge, Larry noticed some boats pushing a large load of logs. We had to stop for that!
Me on the bridge...I didn't walk out too far!
and in honor of Larry's new job at Auto Zone, someone had left a U Joint on the edge of the bridge railing...
When we reached Rosario, we first walked down to the beach to check out the tidal pools...
It was amazing to see how much life could be spotted if you only stop
and look closely enough. There were miniscule crabs, shells that walked
about on their own, teeny fish, sea urchins, and so much more that was
way to small for us to identify.
"Don't drink that water, Duchess!"
The Maiden of Deception Pass
As told by Charlie Edwards to Martin Sampson,
1938
Ko-Kwal-alwoot
and other maidens were gathering sea food on the beach one day, when one of the
shellfish slipped from her grasp and fell into deeper water. She reached for
it, and it slipped from her hand again and again, and she kept following it
until she was in deep water, well over her waist. Suddenly she realized that
what seemed to be a hand had grasped hers and was holding her there. Terrified,
she attempted to free herself, but a voice told her not to struggle or be
afraid, that she was very lovely, and he was merely holding her there so that he
could look upon her beauty. Soon her hand was released, and she returned to her
people.
After a number of
such meetings, during which the spirit held her hand longer and longer each
time, and spoke soothingly to her, telling her of the many beautiful things
which were in the sea, there came a day when a young man emerged from the water,
and accompanied her to her father’s house, to ask for her hand in marriage. The
people of the village knew not from whence he came, or who he might be, but they
noticed that in his presence they were chilled, as though icy winds were
blowing.
At first when he
asked for Ko-Kwal-alwoot’s hand, her father was indignant and said “No, my
daughter cannot go into the sea with you—she would die.”
“On the
contrary,” said the young man, “she will not die; we will give her eternal life,
and we will be very good to her, for I love her dearly.”
Then he warned
the father that if he could not have Ko-Kwal-alwoot for his bride, all the sea
food would be taken from them, and they would be very hungry, but the father
still would not agree. As time went on, there was a great scarcity of food of
all kinds, and even the streams started to dry up, so that they could have no
water to drink.
When she could
stand it no longer, Ko-Kwal-alwoot went out into the water, and called the young
man, begging him to give her people food. But he replied, “Tell your father
that only when you are my bride, will the waters teem with fish, and your people
may again live in plenty.”
At last her
father, realizing that his people were starving, reluctantly agreed to give up
his daughter so that the many members of his tribe might live. He made one
stipulation, however, and that was that she was to return to her people for a
visit once a year, so that they could see if she was being cared for and was
happy. This was agreed upon, and Ko-Kwal-alwoot, wrapping her garments about
her, walked into the water, farther and farther until she was out of sight, and
only her hair could be seen floating in the current.
True to the
agreement, there was food in plenty, and the tribe prospered. And
Ko-Kwal-alwoot returned to her people once each year, and before her coming
there was always more food than ever before. Still each time she came, her
people noticed more and more of a change in her. Barnacles grew upon her hands,
up to her arms, and the last time she came they had started to grow upon the
side of her face which had been so beautiful, and her people felt the chill
winds wherever she walked, and they noticed that she seemed to be unhappy out
of the sea. On her last visit they told her she did not need to return to them
again, unless it was her wish to do so.
Since that time
she has been their guiding spirit, and through her efforts there has always been
plenty of shell fish and food of all kinds in that vicinity, and the spring
water has always been pure and sweet.
The Samish Tribe
believes that as the currents flow back and forth thru Deception Pass, her hair
may be seen drifting gently with the tide, and that she is always there to look
out for the welfare of her people.
This version of
the legend is found in
THE SWINOMISH TOTEM POLE, TRIBAL LEGENDS,
by
Martin J. Sampson and Rosalie M. Whitney, 1938.
The dock...
Here I am hobbling down the dock... my knee was really hurting!
View near the dock...
We drove back to West Beach to have lunch.
Duchess loves all the smells of the forest and the sea, and gets her face as far out the window as possible!
The view of the Olympics was spectacular...
I spotted these violet wildflowers growing amongst the sea grass.
We wanted to walk along the beach for awhile and decided to leave our lunch bag on the table. As we walked away, I turned around and noticed a pair of crows landing on the table. They seemed mostly interested in the chips that had fallen on the ground, but when we came back we discovered that they had a sweet tooth as well. I had forgotten to put the bag of chocolate chip cookies away, and they helped themselves!
Here they are looking pretty fat and sassy after such a filling lunch!
After lunch, we drove to Cornet Beach and spotted a few families of Geese. The goslings were in the cute fluffy stage!
On our way home, Larry drove through LaConner and decided that he wanted to drive over the Rainbow Bridge. We found the sign that pointed us in the right direction...
From below...
The underside...
As we were leaving town, Larry spotted something that was cool enough to make another trip around the block so that I could get a picture. I didn't get it at first, but it's a "2 Lips" ball!
And on the way between LaConner and Conway, there is a rusty Jumbo standing in the field!
And we realized that we had spotted four eagles along our journey. A pretty amazing day!!!
