03 May 2011

{03may2011: Road trip part 1}

While it feels like it's taking spring forever to get to the PNW, we found one partly nice weekend to make our annual road trip up north for tulips and beer!
We started with our favorite bakery/cafe, Farm to Market Bakery, in Bow, Washington.
While we ate delicious baked goods, Darwin munched on grass.
We were a little less organized on this road trip than last year and it ended up affecting the number of stops we made. After breakfast we stopped at Larrabee State Park again for a hike. We parked in the main lot and thought we'd try a different trail to Lost Lake. Because of where we parked we were actually 2.2 miles away from the trailhead and so our hike started on an uphill climb up a service road.
As I said before it was only a partly nice day (some sun breaks, but also clouds and drizzles) so we were dressed in layers for our hike. But of course climbing uphill = HOT in layers, so as we made our way to the trailhead I removed layers til I was down to a tank top and my puffy vest, it really is not a flattering look.
Don't judge me. hahaha
From the trailhead it says it's a 2.5 mile hike to the lake. They lie.
While it was a lovely (steep) hike, after about 2.5 miles you climbed up to the ridge of the mountain and started working your way down, and could see the lake, but never quite got to it. After walking the 2.5 miles, we stopped a passing runner to ask how much further it was to the lake. She told us she's actually never gotten to the lake because there are fallen trees that block the path, and you'd have to climb over them to find your way to the trail. After hearing that, we decided to turn around and head back to the car, after all there was beer and tulips to still get to!
Darwin did have fun though, since it was rainy earlier, the trail was pretty muddy and she had a blast going through the mud puddles.
Let me just tell you, I'm in no shape for a 9 mile uphill hike. It took us at least 2-3 hours, and the next few days my booty and legs were so sore I walked funny.
And I was so exhausted I only managed to take one picture of beer!
Unlike last year's three brewery stops, we only managed to stop at Boundary Bay, but it was really good! That darn hike just took up way too much time (and energy).
Part two of the road trip to come!

11 comments:

  1. OOOH that looked like a really fun hike! Too bad you didn't manage to get to the lake though. Darwin would have loved to play & cool herself off in it. OH MY you drank ALL those beer?

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  2. What an awesome annual trip :)

    Kari
    http://dogisgodinreverse.com

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  3. that looks like a nice hike!!!

    ...did darwin get taller?!?!

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  4. That part about the mud sounds like a blast! And all those snoofies.... WOWZERS!
    Play bows,
    Zim

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  5. what a fun!!!!


    Kissslobbers
    El'bow & Hauwii

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  6. Oh - great post! I love the ones of your hikes - always such lovely pictures and we're so envious!

    I know what you mean about being out of shape. We took Honey to some giant sand dunes last weekend and God, walking uphill in sand is hard work! I started off running to get Honey going and she shot past me while I was huffing & puffinf all the way to the top! :-)

    Time to go back to those exercises classes, I think - ha! ha! - am beginning to realise that being skinny doesn't necessarily mean being fit!

    Am not a beer drinker so can't really appreciate the different types but that's a very pretty picture!

    Hsin-Yi

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  7. Love the hiking and beer! I just realized there was a huge tulip farm near Seattle. I've always wanted to go to one, but I thought I would have to go all the way to Holland. Is it worth traveling all the way there? Maybe it could be our next year Spring trip (as we've never even been to Seattle before).

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  8. this sounds like a super fun trip! Man, I love the PNW....

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  9. You guys always go such wonderful beautiful places! Your so LUCKY! :D

    The mud looks like such great fun!

    Licks and lots of slobber,
    Lexi and Jasper the Danes

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  10. Loved your hiking, wonderful places...
    I am sure Darwin had lot of fun, plus she had a free facial/paws treatment with the mud ;-), so what more can you ask?
    Don't tell me about being out of shape... we went this weekend and we thought we would not get back to the car...
    Lovely beers, would love to have tasted them, I cannot hold too many of them, but I sure appreciate them... Would love to try them...
    I like Warsteiner (a blonde one), Kilkenny, Guinness is too strong for me (sorry Darwin I know you love it). Lucille instead does not like beer nor wine...
    Ciao Lucille & Nicoletta

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  11. Okay, first of all - Darwin is adorable!! I've always been curious about great danes and I think Darwin may have just won me over to the great dane side!! Also, I am extremely jealous that you live in the PNW! We took our first trip there this past May and I fell in love!! I am trying to convince my husband we need to move there ASAP! Great blog! So glad I found you guys1

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