Thursday, March 26, 2020

Exploring Bellingham: Marine Park


Marine Park is a small park overlooking Bellingham Bay.
Governor Inslee just announced a "Stay Home, Stay Healthy" order for the State of Washington. We all have to help prevent the spread of COVID-19. We can go out for essential activities like getting food, medical attention, and walking while maintaining a safe social distance.

Wayne and I went walking in Marine Park. It's next to Bellingham Bay with spectacular views of Lummi Island and Downtown Bellingham and Fairhaven. There's grass, tables, trees and few visitors.

The park is bordered by the train tracks linking the States to Canada. Passenger and freight trains pass by so close you could almost touch them. In fact, you have to be careful since the tracks aren't fenced.

A train passing by during a previous visit to the park.

The park is also under the flight path for nearby Bellingham International Airport. It offers commercial service and is home base to numerous private planes.

A private plane passes overhead on departure.

We took advantage of a clearing between rain showers to walk the park's gravel path.

Walking the uncrowded trail through a wooded section along Marina Avenue.

We saw more evidence of spring's arrival. The small plant is Purple Deadnettle. It makes me think of our Powell Lake home. It grows along the lake shore at the Shinglemill Marina. Thanks to a comment by Southern Sunflowers, the large shrub with the beautiful yellow flowers is a Forsythia. I've seen them in other parks and even found one in our condo's natural creek riparian zone.


Park hours are from dawn to dusk. Just before it closes you can see spectacular sunsets.

Looking across Bellingham Bay to the Fairhaven community.

Bellingham has some wonderful places to explore. This is just one of many we hope to explore. -- Margy

22 comments :

  1. It's lovely, so glad you can get to the ocean at a time like this.

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    1. The weather right now is much cloudier and more showers, so we are just walking the blocks around the condo. We have another park to check out next week if the weather breaks. Glad to hear you are getting plants for your garden started and the business is okay. - Margy

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  2. Hello, looks like a pretty spot for a walk. The views are lovely. I like the flowers too. Take Care! Enjoy your day, wishing you a great weekend ahead.

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    1. Thanks. Still trying to get a critter picture to share on your blog. - Margy

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  3. Looks like a great place to hike and explore, and glad you are out enjoying it. Stay safe and healthy!

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    1. I dreamed about going to Joshua Tree last night. Maybe that's a good sign it will happen. - Margy

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  4. Margy, I love the views you shared with us today! That train passing by (you took it perfectly with just a part of the train and another part with that ocean view! WOW!) and the woods as well. I remembered you when I heard from a friend that went driving up north from Arizona (they went to their children's place a month ago) back to Juneau and they passed by Washington state and BC. They're a very nice american couple from Alaska I met on a trip to Vietnam 5 years ago and we stay in touch on Facebook.

    Please stay safe Margy and your family. God bless and Happy Friday!

    Stevenson
    Cavite Daily Photo
    Stevenson Que Blog

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    1. My sister lives in Alaska for the majority of the year. She loves it. - Margy

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    1. Thanks Jim. I enjoy you Sydney photographs. - Margy

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  6. That is one of our favorite parks here - we go often for a little picnic and if the weather is cold or rainy we have a car picnic. Such fabulous views!!!!

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    1. We do have a lot of nice parks. Are you able to get out for drives still? - Margy

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    1. I am looking up parks online for us to explore while we are staying in Bellingham. It's been a fun activity. - Margy

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  8. Thanks for sharing these beautiful views of nature...we really need to see something like this now.
    Stay safe!

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    1. I am enjoying everyone else's pictures and stories right now. - Margy

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  9. I enjoy walking on a promenade in a small town on the Upper Chesapeake Bay. It's very peaceful next to the water and often there is an eagle sighting. The bush is Forsythia.

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    1. Thanks so much for identifying my plant. I'll make the addition to my post. - Margy

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  10. It's a miracle you found a park that didn't have many visitors and more surprising they waited that long for a Stay At Home order in Washington state. But isn't it a relief we can all get outside? It's been raining the last few days here in WI but that hasn't stopped me from getting outside trying to get my "bike legs" back. I did get "looks" from a deer yesterday while on a bike path though. The Cheetos bag was in the dog's mouth, I posted a pic, thanks for reminding me.

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    1. Ones without beaches seem to be okay. We've had rain off and on, but if we see a dry spell we head out before it closes back in. - Margy

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Thanks for stopping by. Comments, questions, and suggestions are always welcome. - Margy