CAMPING AT BIRCH BAY

With the promise of dry weather with temps in the 40s and some sun breaks, we chose to do a couple of nights camping. I had hopes of maybe getting to ride my bike on two of the days, but our initial day was taken up with driving, exploring Bellingham, and having a La Fiamma wood stove pizza lunch. We chose take-out (shocking I know) and had our lunch in the van but we do really enjoy pizza from here. 

We arrived at Birch Bay in the late afternoon so the sun was about to set and evening was approaching.

Birch Bay is a small summer resort town on … Birch Bay just northwest of Bellingham. Though it is a resort town it is not particularly touristy and at this time of year there are year round residents only. We had the usually packed state park mostly to ourselves with only a few scattered campers about.

There are black squirrels here and this is the only photo I got of one foraging in the brush.

My bike ride happened on our second day. At the very start we each and both initially thought of abandoning this idea as the cold wind and air was not very enjoyable! We started from camp and picked up at the green arrow in the photo below. 

Stopping to layer on some more clothing items (balaclava, heavier gloves, neck gaiter) we felt better and continued on toward Semiahoo. There are delightful views along the shoreline.

I can never pass by any roadside stand without stopping to take a photo. Lots of different honey here that we did not purchase 😏. 

It was a surprise to see snow in a few shaded areas and of course Susan had to “play” in it for the moment.

Along the road I spotted these wild animals that I remember seeing on other rides here at another time.

As we near our half way point and our destination, there is a bike trail along appropriately named Semiahmoo Spit. I am not quite sure why it has the name on the post.

Getting to the Marina I wondered if they would be open for a bite and hot drink this time (they weren’t the last time we were here), and that we might be able to get a hot chocolate. Yes! They were. We had our delicious and rich hot chocolate and shared sandwich at the outdoor table that would have made a boring photo! But we were seated near a special attraction.

Along the Spit Trail we were lucky to see this raptor watching us and everything around. 

Time to head back. In town I could not resist these festive mailboxes which give the flavor of the resort.

There were a few photos that I left for another trip up here — just as I had done with the “wild metal geese”. I love it here and enjoy coming for a ride and the ‘seaside’ atmosphere, so I know this is not our last trip here, and maybe we can even bring the Grandboys as we have done in the past with their cousins who now live in California.