Skyline Drive: 2023/06

51. Rattlesnake Ledge Trail at the North Bend (6/4/2023)

21 miles on 90E from Bellevue from exit 32, then 3 miles into the Rattlesnake recreational area
It's a lake at some altitude, blue and green in the water
Wildly popular and the parking lot filled very quickly on Sunday then it's parking on the roadside. The trail is 1.9m at the marker one way up an incline is tolerable, but over an extended period can be a stretch. I walked 3650 steps upward then came down
There is a large beach area for a picnic, although there aren't many picnic tables around to do sunbathing

52. Carkeek Park via Pipers Creek Trail (8/26/2023)

West of Seattle, I-5 173 exit then to the west; lots of parking spots in this expanded community park
Just a short walk to the central playground and railroad crossings; there are bluff trails on and off the stairs, not too steep, also Everything is within a short distance
Asian Family Market is just 10min away on 99; but it's not worth going

53. Olympia

54. Gold Creek Pond and Keechelus (8/13/2023)

Set direction to the Keechelus Trailhead; 51 min to the east of 90 (all uphill); only a few parking spots, and need discovery pass; then walk towards the boat launch using the I90-pass
Keechelus Lake via the John Wayne Trail; all dried up and left many tree trunks exposed on the soft banks; very hot; couldn't find the one with head
https://www.parks.wa.gov/521/Palouse-to-Cascades-Trail
Gold Creek, 5min drive across the river on the other side of the I-90; unpaved path to get to the very small parking lot (needing national forest pass)
A small pond, the loop is within 2 miles, mostly shaded; lots of picnic tables at the front; only one flex restroom spot

55. Sheep Lake and Sourdough Gap on the Sunrise of Mt Ranier

56. Mt Helens (7/23/2023)

https://www.wta.org/go-outside/seasonal-hikes/summer-destinations/mount-st.-helens-hikes
https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/giffordpinchot/recarea/?recid=31562
Trip took 7-930AM in the morning, but close to 5 hours back in the late afternoon (with gas stop, Barclay seafood, 99 ranch Renton)
Hummocks Trail (2 hours 37min)

Harrys Ridge Trail (relatively flat, 8 miles, very tiresome)
Mt St Helen Volcanic National Monument (closed); trail - boundary trail to Devil's point
Drive from Mt Helens Forest Learning Center (closed); Elk Rock, (view point only); Castle Lake (overlook), Loowit Viewpoint (closed), Johnson Ridge Observatory (closed), Bridgeview Viewpoint; Coldwater Lake (has picnic table, very nice lake view)

57. Mt Baker (7/8/2023)

https://www.alltrails.com/explore/parks/us/washington/mount-baker-snoqualmie-national-forest?b_tl_lat=48.2763964&b_tl_lng=-121.9819875&b_br_lat=46.8503336&b_br_lng=-120.9272225&mobileMap=true&ar[]=10117861&diff[]=easy
https://www.fs.usda.gov/activity/mbs/recreation/hiking/?recid=17520&actid=50
3 hour's drive in; then coming back, stopped at Sam Oh Jung Lynwood Korean restaurant for a classic Korean dish
Artist Point, easy trail Huntoon Point Via Artist Ridge Trail (still covered in snow on the day of visit)
Heather Meadows visitor center, which has the trail of Bagley lake loop, 1.5 miles
Bagley Lake, park in the overflow parking lot, difficult and rocky trail (did not proceed)
Picture Lake Path, an easy trail
Highwood Lake (did not see)

58. Ebey's landing, Fort Casey, Fort Ebey state parks, Mt Erie, Shrimp Shack (8/19/2023)

1.5 hours to the Deception Pass direction; then drive on another 45min to Ebey's Landing
Ebey's Landing requires a discovery pass, a small parking lot with 10 car slots; 1 mile to the state park line then another 3.8 miles loop on the top of the bluff around the lagoon (didn't go, steep incline)
Fort Casey has large compound and gun battery exhibitions; the lighthouse should open at 12PM noon (didn't go)
Fort Ebey state park has two directions, beach and the gun battery underground that was used in 1942
Mt Erie is very high, and very steep, can drive up and park in the 80% high on gravel ground, then use the stairs to go up
Shrimp Shack at 230PM has a busy parking lot, but not too crowded. Fresh shrimp is very delicious.
Whistle Lake (didn't go)

59. Kingston, Poulsbo, Townsend (can ferry to Vancouver)

60. Mt Baker Beach Park, Coleman Park (8/5/2023)

Seafair airshow, 35min at 330PM start. Parked on 2836, 33rd street; short walk 10min to the Mt Baker Beach park, use the space on the left side of the bathhouse
90 Portal viewpoint can be around the corner
This was not a good spot, Seward Park is better

61. Pier 46, T-Mobile Stadium on Seafair (8/6/2023)

Park at "U-Park", 0-2 hours for $7 before tax and all day $10
Cross a few pedestrian crossroads into Pier 46, which opens probably at 9AM for 930AM first batch of fleet ship tours
Onboarded two ships, USS Barry and a US Coast Guard that repairs buoys
In total, it takes less than two hours; but in the future, park all day for the potential wait etc

62. Volunteer Park Conservatory, walk to Rondo (25min drive and 18min walk)

63. Twin Falls near Bellevue (30min)

64. Seattle Seafood Market

65. South Bend

https://southbend-wa.gov/
2 hours and 19min
Oysters and seafood
South bend retail market; keywords oysters; Goose Point oysters; Nelson Crab; Seasonal seafood

66. Seaside, Oregon

3.35 hours
Seaside is a small resort city in northwestern Oregon. Its beach is known for surf breaks and a 1920s promenade. The Seaside Aquarium has touch tanks and a seal exhibit. To the south, Tillamook Head National Recreation Trail climbs a forested cape to Ecola State Park, with views of the 19th-century Tillamook Rock Lighthouse. Rich wildlife includes eagles in the Necanicum River estuary and migrating gray whales.
https://www.seasideor.com/
The Tillamook Head National Recreation Trail follows the western edge of the headland, through thick coastal forest to Ecola State Park. The region offers other world-class hikes nearby, including the Fort to Sea Trail from Fort Clatsop, Saddle Mountain in the Coast Range and Oswald West State Park south of Seaside.

67. Issaquah community center and the Issaquah farmers market (9/15/2023, 10/8/2023)

Set direction to Issaquah community center to visit Jakob Two Trees (seasonal), passing the dog park into the Rainier Trail, 3 miles of walk or say15min walk in some post
https://www.issaquahwa.gov/778/Farmers-Market; May 6 to Sep 30 in the 2023 year
10/8/2023 - Salman Day Festival, 3 day festival in the old town of Issaquah; park on the 2nd Ave and inside the haunted house; arrive at 930AM; lots of community service booths to take in some free swags

68. University Village Shopping Center (3/1/2024)

Store directory - https://uvillage.com/directory/?gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAiAloavBhBOEiwAbtAJO-bOWH_Jm4BvgFyzCglJTfxZ_LGirf4J8l1YghQbUFbytcgWGM7YpBoCI2wQAvD_BwE
All birds returning shoe
Backcountry, CB2, Crate and Barrel, Everlane, Jcrew, Sephora, Northface
Away at the far south side

69. Oak Creek Wildlife Area

70. Insurance

98point6, registration 20 dollars, then 1 dollar
CVS clinic
GoodRx
Walmart Generic Drug Plan
Costco and Seseme care; use GoodRx ahead of time to check the cheapest price at which pharmacy, and potentially send there

Skyline Drive