Professor Getty

       I have this buddy named Professor Getty. I have worked with him at several Wally World's and he is one of my few long term friends. We have been there for each other for at least ten years. Meaning it is a give and take relationship. That is very rare. My wife and I have recently decided that we both need new friends, because our current ones only seem to know how to take. They only show up or call when they need something, and that usually is free baby sitting from us. This just happened last night, but they could never handle watching our three kids. Anyways, you are straying off topic again! My buddy and I have logged in lots of miles lost exploring through the woods. And have been on some crazy hikes in Oregon, Washington, Utah, Arizona and beyond. He is also the only person that has experienced a hike with me, and went on more! If he ever gets wi-fi again, he will also be co writing blog posts with me. Especially the angry "mini rants" I enjoy.

      This may or may not be his real name. He also helped me pick "code names" for tons of Wally World workers. And he is helping pick me a good Indian name, for when I start at the casino. The good and the ugly, name wise. I will later explain some cautions while picking a great "code name." His name came about when he went back to college for about the third time. He soon discovered he was one of the oldest people in the class. And somehow I could picture him walking into the class room in a suit with arm patches, corduroy pants, holding a briefcase. The class room would pause, and than assume he was the professor. Bringing this up repeatably was one of the reasons he dropped out of school, but it was amusing.

      He came through town last month. And of course we had time for a little exploring. No completely crazy trip through forest and ocean. But still a good time.
We started out in a great little town named Fairhaven. Because that is were I live.

Around The Village Green. Many events and free shows happen here through the summer. And it is a great place to wear out the kiddos.

Than we had some time to smoke a cigar down by the bay.

       If you follow State Street into Bellingham and than keep following along the shore line and the magnificent large houses, near the airport you hit a turn out. Several trails branch out of here. All of them are lame. But the view can be very amazing. Down below this huge hill is some great exploring. And I will share about this in a very near blog post.

This great plane circled us as we were out watching the bay line.


We soon decided it was time to move on, and headed back toward downtown. If you take a left just after the bar--Coconut Henry's I believe it is, there are trails to explore galore! Many lead around the Bellingham Tech College.

Just look for this stack. Before the stack and the college, off to the right is a nice large sized area to park.

You than come upon some train cars to explore. Do not get on the train cars! ;)

The next day we headed off for Larrabee State Park. Miles and miles of scenic views are offered both on the road and on the trail. We did not head down to the beach, but decided to head up into the forest.

Mr Getty showing off his rental car and survival gear from Haggins Grocery Store.

The trail soon got boring and we took off straight up a huge hill. We do not favor trails, because someone has already been to were they lead.

Another little waterfall. The fresh water slowly making it's way to the ocean.

I do not see how this lake could be very lost

with this huge sign and all.

We did not make it all the way to the lake. Mostly because the trail continued up ward and

because you and I have seen lakes before.

Above is one.

Another blog post to come---Lake Sylvia

Please also check out my longer running blog at http://exploreb-ham.blogspot.com/

And as always I greatly welcome your comments on my thoughts and exploring.

Share your pictures or exploring trips!

Any guesses what the next exploring post will be about??.....

Another Great Weekend Playing In Bellingham

Another Great Weekend Playing In Bellingham

Summer made an appearance in our area, and was out in full glorious force over the weekend.  

Our family took full advantage of this, all weekend long.   

**The above great painting is on Rail Road Avenue by Man Pies**

I am sitting on our front deck--trying to ignore the neighbors and fully enjoying another sunny day, this Wednesday.   As the sun starts to go down, and the temperatures get nicer.  I am recalling the weekend, and digesting.  Because our family just ate at the Home Town Buffet.   

They are featuring steak every night and have an Icee machine now.  And the cliff notes are:  I ate way to much.     

First off----any guesses what my next exploring blog post will be about?  

And now it is time for my picture of the day!  

OK this concept needs a new title.

But it is what it is.   

I show a picture I took--try to keep them newer pictures, and than explain a little bit about the picture.

This is right down town Bellingham.

I have shot many great pictures in this area, just down from the old city hall building. 

This was just a few weeks ago, and is another reminder of how fast all of the area water is flowing. 

Stay out of the faster moving water!

That said---- I start my weekend with our family at the Aquatic Center.  

  Our oldest turned 12 on the 3rd of July, and he wanted to have his party, swimming.  My wife and I had never been to the building, and we took the family there during free swim.  They have family prices and single prices that are very reasonable and offer the whole area for two full hours.  We had a great time in the huge pool, hot tub, and slide that wraps in and out of the building.  A great way to beat the heat for sure!    

     Saturday it was time to give mommy a break, and I took off with all of the kiddos.  Including an extra.   We explored the Saturday market.   Always enjoyable.   The above statue is also praising the sun!   For more on the market  please check out    http://exploreb-ham.blogspot.com/2012/05/great-saturday.html

This market trip was fueled by Woods Coffee!

   Than we all went to Wally World.   The birthday boy had birthday cash to spend.  And so did all of the kiddos, just in lesser amounts.   I worked with the company for eight long years, so dislike the box store.  But some how like it less every time we visit.   I am still not sure how that is possible.  

    And than we ventured to Boulevard Park.   Always a great place to soak in the rays and the sights.    I have posted about this park several times already.  So I will not say much here.  But simply post some new pictures I got while there. 

Happy day!   

The view just past the coffee shop.

Me fully enjoying the sun as the kiddos played.  

Just above the park.  

I call this one

"coffee with friends!"

    On Sunday we ventured to Lake Padden for the day.   And enjoyed the water and some BBQ steaks!   The only good thing we have gotten at Wally World for awhile.   Yes, they came from Wal  Mart.    I was surprised how good they were.  

Can you smell the steak??

Another trail to explore!

Again I have talked about the lake before --so will just post some new pictures.   

Did I mention I love pictures?

Our dog Max  drying off. 

Next I will tell about Ski to Sea---yes finally!

Here I am waiting for the parade to start, while in the middle of the street. 

I also have many other posts in the works!

Including the 4th of July, our trip out of the area to Lake Sylvia, free & cheap local entertainment,  

More Chuckanut exploring, walking and viewing all of the statues on WWU campus, Pioneer Park, The bay, And many many more!

Please don't forget to check out my newest blog

http://exploreb-ham.blogspot.com/

And as always

**Happy Trails!!**

6/24/2012 AKA A Month Till My Birthday

   Lake Sylvia across the state in Grays Harbor.   A few weekends back we spent a terrific, if not overcast day at the lake.  Were do you think they get the Gray part of the name?   As I keep saying, lately --an exploring blog is also coming on this weeksend trip.   Among everything else  I just started a new job last week, and have not had as much free time as before.  More insights on the new job soon---- mostly to protect the innocent, myself.   Cliff notes:   I may very soon have a new new boss.   But it is great to be part of the work force again.  I have been making cash off selling items online and such lately, but this is actual, git down and dirty work.   Working at work, what the heck!  Right?   Anyways, if you live in the Bellingham area and have not gotten the memo, a Pilot truck station is being built in near by Ferndale.  It Actually opens tomorrow!   And that is were I am now working.  Lucky me this company pays once a week, we should wake up with more cash in the morning.  It is going into the account direct deposit, so I might just stay up till midnight, to see if the cash shows up.  I used to fight direct deposit---any time I got a job, because for whatever reason, I enjoy getting and seeing the physical pay check.  But in a paperless environment, one that takes 80 mailed notices each month to tell you that your car insurance is due and than paid in full.

   This was takin' in the same area.  In a town that I seldom wish to go too.  I have to say this time, it led to a great trip.   And as I above said, I will retell it all very soon.   I share this picture---of a simple run of ditch, near our friends house, simply because it reminds me of a saying from The Simpsons, that has always stuck with me, no one, even myself knows why.    This saying is talking about bad water.   And I believe the worst water we have endured was around the Phoenix AZ area.   But most of the worse things we found were in that area!  Anyways, here is the quote...  "If it's brown, drink it down!  If it's black, send it back!"   This should be remembered when dinning in any less than fine dinning restaurant or while in Phoenix or Mexico for sure!  Just sayin'!

   And now to stay in tradition, I will post about coffee!   Imagine that!   Coffee really is my best friend.   And those that know me well, or have to be around me in the mornings, especially my beautiful wife, are very glad, that I continue to love coffee.  So that I can be a functioning person in the mornings or afternoons.  Whenever I happen to crawl out of bed.  

 Like booze, the more coffee I drink, the better looking I am to my wife.  Or is that the more great coffee I bring her?   Either way, I just mentioned to squeeze an entire paragraph outta onna my favorite things.  If nothing else, you can scan my old blogs and gain hundreds of pictures, thoughts, and insight just about coffee.  Not to mention all of the other topics I ramble on about.  Sometimes surprising everyone and becoming deep!

   I am not sure were the following person shops, or why they get taxed twice, but that is a heck of a discount on midgets!   Wait, what exactly was this person buying?   I go with the more PC termage and say vertically challenged.  

  Speaking of PC......

  Our dog, Max, thinks he's people!    So our kids really wanted a pet---and we got this great dog a few months ago.    Now they ignore Max.  But that's to be expected.  What always surprises me, even tonight on our walk around town---is any time the two youngest see another dog, even when I am walking ours, they have to run up and ask the owners if they can pet the dog.    We have a dog that is starved for attention, and they could pet all day everyday.  But whatever.  


    Just as a thought if you live in this area-----and have Facebook, join the fan page for 100.7 the wolf out of Seattle.   You can enter to win $500 worth of gas!    I know with the rising prices of gas, this would help us a ton, and should not be sharing, because I want to win.   But maybe the great radio station will really enjoy me rambling on about them.  I am just happy we get the station clear up here in Bellingham.   Because many of the local stations, leave a lot to be desired.

  I honestly just heard about a new kitchen faucet, that dispenses coffee.   How great does this sound?   True or not.   

**"So I saw an automated sign waving machine today on the Guide in Bellingham. No need to pay anyone to hold the sign and wave at people. Dam machines are taking all our jobs."**---I personally hate the self checkers at stores, because I have been a cashier for years.  And one worker can easily be in charge of ten or more self check out stations.  Luckily for us human cashiers, most others hate the check outs, mainly because they can not figure the dam things out.  

    Summer time is time for lemonade!

    So---I have some great posts coming for both of my blogs.   Please stay patient with me.  And thank you for all of the views!    This sight is getting very near to 9000 views and my newest blog sight has 400 views now.  I am also working on a story that is still playing out with us at the moment.  As I always say, I can not make this sh*t up!   And it is a doozy of a story, if I do say so myself.  I hope everyone is have an adventure filled summer!