Deception Pass

 We said our good byes to Ko-kwal-alwoot and her eternal reign over the tide pools of Rosario Beach on Fidalgo Island and drove the short hop over the steel span to land on the other side of Deception Pass and land on Whidbey Island for a hike down to the rounded stones of Deception Pass State Park.

 First order of business is to walk back over the bridge and look east to the snowy peak of Mount Baker. Then swivel our heads and look hundreds of feet below at the surging saltwater sweeping through the pass and out into Puget Sound. It was a spectacular view anyway one chose to look.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Looking west into Puget Sound

Gull perched on the rocky face of Deception Pass

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We took the forested trail over the cliff face and headed for the shore below for some photo ops and unbound delight at picking up and fondling the natural beauty of voluptuous, rounded, surf-tossed igneous knockers.

Trio of Trail Turtles balanced on an old snag

Moss and beard grow thickest on the north side.

When we wander out of the forest, we take time to climb on some large driftwood, attempt to skip stones and saunter on a typical, rocky beach. 

[A side note: I was enjoying the Cottonwood Art Festival in Richardson, Texas a few years ago, and one of the artists had an artistic piece featuring some nice stones. I asked her about her art, "Are those stones from Deception Pass in Washington?"

She was stunned by my question and observation, because her answer was "Yes." 

Rocks are my friends. This interaction confirmed that I was born to be a geologist.]

I was back to be among my friends, the stones of Deception Pass.

My girl beneath the Deception Pass Bridge

Inga has a bad taste, or a bad attitude in her mouth

Rounded stones side-armed across a choppy surf does not usually yield many skipping stone bounce rings, but it is fun to try. It is always a pleasant pass time to toss stones into the sea at Deception Pass.

 

Log sitters and finger pointers

 

 

 

 

 

Rounded stones side armed across a choppy surf does not usually yield many
skipping stone bounce rings, but it is fun to try. It is always a pleasant pass time to toss stones into the sea at Deception Pass.

We left plenty of rocks for others to throw into the sea. My unanimous decision, it was past lunchtime. We were headed for Anthony's Seafood in Anacortes, home of the award-winning clam chowder.