Monday, April 13, 2020

Exploring Bellingham: The Division Street Trail


A Greenways signpost at the Aldrich Road end of the trail.
While walking for exercise in our North Bellingham neighbourhood, we discovered a trail. It's a Greenway path that runs east-west from Eliza Avenue to Aldrich Road. It's called the Division Street Trail.

It's included in the Bellingham Trail Guide that you can access by following this link. You can read about the Greenways trails by following this link. There's lots to do and explore in Bellingham while still maintaining social distancing.

You can use Google maps to locate the trail and follow your route.

The half mile long maintained trail runs through residential and natural settings.


We entered the Greenway trail at Eliza Avenue near backyards.
From our condo, the entire walk was two and a half miles. It's the farthest we've gone so far, but our increased stamina made it possible.

From busy Bakerview Road we walked north up quiet Eliza Avenue.  We previously took this route to walk through the Whatcom Community College campus which is currently closed.

The trail entrance isn't well marked, but the gravel path on the west side of the road is evident.

Towards the Aldrich Road end of the trail there's a protected area.

The trail itself is only half a mile in length. We only passed one dog walker at the Eliza end and two women walking in from the Aldrich end.  The entire length is flat and well maintained.

While the first part of the trail is flanked by homes and apartments, the last half passes through a Native Growth Protection Area.

The sign says: "This planting area and buffer are protected to provide wildlife habitat and maintain water quality. Please do not disturb this valuable resource."

It's much like the riparian area behind our condo, but much larger.

As we exited the trail, we found this cluster of painted rocks left to brighten our day.

Painted rocks "donated" to a planter along Aldrich Road.

What are you doing for exercise and to get fresh air? Do you live in town where your options are limited or do you live in a rural area with lots of choices? -- Margy

38 comments :

  1. I’m loving the way you’re making lemonade out of you know what! The reference about “increased stamina” says it all! And what a perfect city you have in which to increase it! We’re home again and I intend to get out on the river walking paths soon ... as soon actually as I finish putting away stuff and doing the laundry! .... never ever have we traveled so far, so long, with never more than an overnight stop. But it was all worth it.

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    1. So glad you made it home after your long journey from Florida to Oregon. And towing a small trailer to stay in through states that might not be welcoming for overnighters. My hat is off to you both. - Margy

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  2. Que bonito paseo, echo de menos los paseos a la orillas del mar, cuatro semanas ya sin salir de casa, pero pasarĂ¡ y le ganaremos la guerra a este virus. Cuidate.
    Raquel

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    1. It is a nice little path. Thanks, we are and will stay careful. - Margy

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  3. Hello, nice trail, flat and easy it great for a brisk walk too.
    I enjoy getting out for some fresh air and a walk with nature.
    Neat collection of painted rocks. Take care and enjoy your day and the week ahead!

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    1. It was our longest walk so far through the neighbourhood. Good thing it was flat the whole way. - Margy

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  4. Looks a good area for walking. I am desperate to get out on my usual country walks but that won't be for some time.

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    1. I looked through the trail guides I listed above and there are many such trails in Bellingham. The rest we will have to drive to a starting point. - Margy

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  5. I'm glad you found a place to walk. Take care.

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    1. It's nice to have a few options so we don't get too bored with one route. - Margy

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  6. what a great place. I like the Protection area and the cool rocks :)

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    1. The protection area with signs was a surprise. The area behind our condo is protected, but there are no signs. - Margy

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  7. We can only walk in our own neighbourhood, which in our case is all residential streets - so I walk around and around the house instead!

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    1. Ours are technically residential streets, but because our condo is next to a shopping mall we don't have to walk in front of people's homes. - Margy

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  8. It's so good you found somewhere quiet to explore Margy. There are compensations in this lockdown in that everywhere is much quieter, the roads, the trails, parks and in the air above us.

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    1. It is a lot quieter. Once they remove the stay home order I am guessing it will be harder to find places to walk and social distance at the same time. My guess that will be in about a month from now in Washington State. - Margy

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  9. what a wonderful place.
    With us not everything is allowed but I can ride a bike in my area!
    Take care and stay healthy!
    Greetings Elke

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    1. That's the same for us, we can walk or ride a bike in our neighbourhood. We used to be able to walk in uncrowded parks but now we are supposed to stay close to home instead. - Margy

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  10. Margy - isn't it interesting that in this time of isolation, your stamina is growing? Good for you. We have been exercising much more routinely for the last month, a combination of cardio and yoga. The yoga is new for me and I find it is helping me to stay calm. I am more focused on my breathing and posture than I have ever been.

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    1. I was just telling Wayne we have exercised more now than in years. Too bad I won't be going to my doctor for my annual physical anytime soon. He always asks what I do for exercise and now I have an answer. - Margy

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  11. Beautiful place, vive la liberte!:)

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    1. Thanks. It is great to be "free" just for a moment. - Margy

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  12. Are you splitting your time between RVing and boating?

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    1. We hope to be fairly shortly, and going home to our cabin. - Margy

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  13. Just yesterday, I noticed someone planted inspiring painted rocks along a river trail. It was so fun to read and discover them.

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    1. I follow a rock painting Facebook group and it's fun to see all of their works for inspiration. - Margy

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  14. Oh if only we have trails as gorgeous as those Margy, it would have been better for me and my body that needs more activity. Love the painted rocks, remind's me of those from Carol on her blog. Please enjoy the weekend and sending my warm greetings from the Philippines! Stay safe Margy!

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    1. Thanks for the long distance greeting. If anything is "lucky" about this isolation period is that many of us have tools to communicate. - Margy

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  15. ...we have been taking self isolation very seriously and don't get out these days. Thanks for take me along on the walk, it felt good. Take care and stay safe.

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    1. Where we walk we are far away from people so in a way it is an extension of our isolation practice. - Margy

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  16. Beautiful captures. Due to lockdown we are spending all our time at home and have started doing yoga which helps in strengthening the lungs and the stretches keep the muscles from tightening.

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    1. I haven't tried yoga but did buy us some stretch bands for work our muscles in addition to the walking. - Margy

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  17. Hi Margy
    That looks like a nice walking trail! We also have quite a few trails near our home and try to take a walk whenever the weather permits. We wear our masks and try to stay distanced from any people we see. My grandchildren like to paint rocks and scatter them in different places--it's a fun activity for them.

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    1. That's a fun way for kids to get involved in sharing their talents. - Margy

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  18. Replies
    1. It was fun to discover it by accident and then doing the research I found there are a lot more tucked away around the city and county. - Margy

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  19. Nice photos and I love the rocks!

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    1. They were a fun discovery at the end of the trail. - Margy

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