Monday, May 2, 2011

TIP TOE, THOUGH THE TULIPS.....

See the bright colours in the foreground?
As we got closer, the various colours in the fields jump out at us.
Row upon endless rows of tulips....and in so many colours.
A reminder that you can click on any photo for a larger view.
As the sign indicates, we are in Washington State - in the north west corner - just south of the Canadian border.
Being the 'green thumb' in our family, Jeanette always loves to visit gardens, check out plants, trees and shrubs and explore any landscape designs.  Look out if she has a pair of trimming tools in her hands because things change.....and for the better, I might add.

Although and RN by profession, over many years, Jeanette took horticulture courses (for fun) at a local college.  Although not her goal at the beginning, she actually graduated with a diploma in horticulture.  So.....we have an RN / Horticulturist in our household..... a pretty handy combination, I might add.

Sunday morning was true to the weather girl's predictions of sun and blue skies.

 A stream very near our home.

We suited up and headed for the Peace Arch border crossing, for entry into the USA.
The famous 'Peace Arch' that divides Canada and the USA on the Pacific coast of the northwest mainland.
It was clearly a 90 minute to 2 hour wait to cross the border into the USA  but-----  we have NEXUS cards (also known as super passports) that allow us to drive in the NEXUS only lane and cross the border in mere minutes.
For the uninitiated, NEXUS accreditation requires a US Homeland Security/FBI security  check, RCMP (Royal Canadian Mounted Police) check and, once approved as a good candidate for NEXUS, and following a direct and to the point interview process, a high tech chip card is issued that allows trusted citizens to use dedicated NEXUS lanes to cross into the USA and back into CANADA.  Since 911, this has made crossing the Canada/USA borders a breeze.
We cruised the back roads  - we so well know - in Washington State and rode into downtown Bellingham.

My co-pilot rider wanted me to stop here so she could get this Bellingham, WA. harbour shot.

Jeanette hiked down towards the water to take the previous photo.  I held fort.

We cruised into 'Fairhaven', a late 1880's section of Bellingham, where we often find really good restaurants.

A late breakfast was in order so we stopped here.....at the Harris Avenue Café.

Can you see the street entertainers to the right.....and the harbour below?
Breakfast of eggs, toast, potatoes, coffee  =  $6 US. That is a bargain!
Once fed and watered, we rode further south on the famous Chuckanut ocean drive towards LaConner, WA....and..... you guessed it, the world famous TULIP FESTIVAL.

Puget Sound from high up on the Chuckanut Drive.

Wider view of Puget Sound.
The Chuckanut Drive - a Canopied road - covered by the large cedar and fir tree bows.  This is a fabulous motorcycling road.

Leaving the Chuckanut road and heading towards LaConner and Port Angeles, WA.
Although it may seem like this is a long ride, it isn't.  It took about one hour of actual riding time to get to LaConner, WA.
These are near new boulevards in the country where the wonderful tulip farms are. 

The colours are spectacular.
WARNING!!!  Prepare to see a high volume of photos......
....and we hope you enjoy them all.














OK......enough of that.  

We really enjoyed our time looking at these wonderful fields.....and the colours.  This is an annual event....and although these fields look magnificent, the cooler than normal spring weather has impacted growth.  It is a spectacular sight to witness anytime.
We chose to ride home on Highway 9 (east of I-5), north from Sedro Wooley, WA.  Jeanette caught this shot of Mt. Shuksan in the North Cascade Mountains to the east.  Mt. Shuksan is just south of the famous Mt. Baker.

Stopped for much needed fuel - just south of Lynden, Wa.

Approaching the Aldergrove, BC - Canadian border crossing.  This is a small border crossing - located about 14 miles east of the Peace Arch border crossing.
So, after a good five hours on the road, and tip toeing through the tulips, we headed back north for home.  Although the weather girl had forecast temperatures in the 15 top 18 degree Celsius range, we doubt the temps got any higher than about 11 or 12 degrees Celsius.

It was a wonderful day - either way.  Hard to beat sun and blue skies!

Thanks for dropping in.





17 comments:

  1. Looks like a very pretty, if chilly, ride!

    ReplyDelete
  2. MY GOODNESS THOSE TULIPS WERE AWESOME!!! Is that header in Desert Hot Springs!!! Sure looks like it to me!! :)

    ReplyDelete
  3. Great shots of all those tulips. Wow! I don't think I've ever seen so many flowers.

    Nice tour of Bellingham, it was nice to see the old part of town as most folks never get past the Bellis Fair Mall down there!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Luci,

    Yes, the header photo on my blog was taken this past February, 2011 at the Sands RV & Golf Resort, Desert Hot Springs, CA.

    ReplyDelete
  5. hey we saw those very same tulips a couple of weeks ago!..nice that they are still 'blooming beautiful'!!
    great photos....thanks for sharing your 'ride'!!

    ReplyDelete
  6. Thanks for taking us along on the ride! The Chuckanut Drive was a favorite of my dad's and we drove it many times in the late 50's. It has not changed much since then. Beautiful flowers and great photo techniques as well. Thanks.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Greetings! I've been following your weblog for some time now and finally got the bravery to go ahead and give you a shout out from Dallas Texas! Just wanted to say keep up the fantastic work!

    Look at my web page: トリーバーチ靴

    ReplyDelete
  8. These are actually great ideas in regarding blogging. You have touched some good factors here.
    Any way keep up wrinting.

    Here is my blog :: miu miu 財布

    ReplyDelete
  9. Everything is very open with a precise clarification
    of the challenges. It was really informative. Your website is very useful.

    Thanks for sharing!

    Visit my site; miu miu 財布

    ReplyDelete
  10. When some one searches for his necessary thing, thus he/she wants to be available that
    in detail, therefore that thing is maintained
    over here.

    Review my webpage :: トリーバーチ店舗

    ReplyDelete
  11. Hi there I am so delighted I found your weblog, I really found you
    by mistake, while I was browsing on Digg for something else,
    Regardless I am here now and would just like to say
    thanks for a remarkable post and a all round entertaining blog (I
    also love the theme/design), I don't have time to read through it all at the minute but I have saved it and also included your RSS feeds, so when I have time I will be back to read a great deal more, Please do keep up the excellent work.

    Also visit my web site :: 財布トリーバーチ

    ReplyDelete
  12. I am really impressed with your writing skills as
    well as with the layout on your blog. Is this a paid
    theme or did you customize it yourself? Either way keep
    up the excellent quality writing, it is rare to
    see a nice blog like this one these days.

    My web-site: twitteringcars.com

    ReplyDelete
  13. Great post.

    Feel free to visit my homepage クロエ アウトレット

    ReplyDelete
  14. Neat blog! Is your theme custom made or did
    you download it from somewhere? A theme like yours
    with a few simple adjustements would really make
    my blog jump out. Please let me know where you
    got your design. Thanks a lot

    Here is my site http://www.chloeoutletshop2013.com/

    ReplyDelete
  15. Hurrah! After all I got a webpage from where I can in fact obtain useful facts
    concerning my study and knowledge.

    Also visit my webpage - クロエバッグ

    ReplyDelete
  16. Howdy, i read your blog occasionally and i own a similar one
    and i was just wondering if you get a lot of spam remarks?
    If so how do you prevent it, any plugin or anything you can suggest?

    I get so much lately it's driving me insane so any support is very much appreciated.

    Feel free to surf to my blog post moonfruit.com

    ReplyDelete
  17. Wow that was strange. I just wrote an extremely long comment but after I clicked
    submit my comment didn't appear. Grrrr... well I'm not writing all that over again.
    Anyway, just wanted to say excellent blog!

    My page :: http://rydbikes.com/index.php?option=com_blog&view=comments&pid=656552&Itemid=0

    ReplyDelete