I woke up this morning in the mood for a
Sunday~Funday :-D
I remembered that I had been interested in a
little country county Park a few weeks ago – I was researching the Park on
Kalama’s waterfront, when I saw a side bar notation for Haydu Park on Kalama
River Road … so, I wrote the location down
and planned to go sometime.
That sometime was this morning ;-)
So, I punched the address into the GPS and
set off :-D I knew where Kalama River Road is – but I don’t remember ever
seeing a Park out there.
I was curious.
I took the Nichol’s Boulevard route to the
bridge that accesses the freeway; and took the Kelso/Seattle exit:
10 mins
8 mins
I drove Old Highway 99 to that stupid
round-about-circle that is centered smack-dab in the middle of Kalama River Road
… played ring-around-the center … and drove Kalama River Road the short
distance required to reach the Park.
8 mins
It’s a new Park (new to me anyway; it’s 5
years old); and it sits off Kalama River Road.
Bob & I never visited this
Park, so this is a true Solo Lobo Venture ;-)
I started my walk by walking the paved
pathway to the end of the concession & picnic tables area, and around the
basketball court. I like the layout of the grounds.
There was cottonwood fluff floating on the
breeze, surrounding me … and littering the grounds everywhere:
Haydu Park on Kalama River Road. Very nice – maintained excellently. And the Restrooms were open :-D
Starting off …
Plotting my mileage route.
Cottonwood fluff.
Throughout the entire walk, there was an
abundance of wildflowers, medicinal herbs, and edible plants for human foraging
…
Wild daisies playing peek-a-boo.
The foxgloves looked like they were competing with saplings for survival; every once in a while, they’d show themselves.
As I was walking the paved trail towards where
I assumed the river to be, a couple was walking through the grass; parallel to
me. So, because I am not shy – and I was curious – I asked them if there were
trails along the river. The fella said no … there was a beaten footpath, but
there was nothing along the river but beach front. I thanked him: they continued
on their way, and I decided to walk the river after I did the entire Park: I
wanted to gauge the Park first, then add extra mileage if needed.
I never did find out what this is; but it sure was pretty.
Flying baseball warning. The walking trail is right in the line of ball fly …
The Kalama River is a 45-mile tributary of the Columbia River, in the U.S. state of Washington. It flows entirely within Cowlitz County, Washington.
The Kalama River (red line).
Apparently there is no fishing beyond this point of the river.
What is going on with this mullein?
A stand of Bamboo. Bamboo takes a long time to grow, so this patch has been there a while.
Fluffy, velvety heads of Rose Spiraea bobbing on the breeze.
I noticed a footpath off to the side; and my
curiosity moved me forward. I was surprised when I saw that it exited the Park
into nowhereland! I was left wondering why the caretakers bothered to close the
Park gates when this end was very obviously open to foot traffic.
Cutting across the upper end of the Park, I
spotted something on the hill across the way: it didn’t look like a house.
What is the thing in the faaaar distance?
I zoomed it up at home; and still didn’t know. Hmmm
So, I zoomed it up some more, and it looks like a holding tank of some sort.
Park Rules: posted at Park entrance.
Cloud watching …
When I pulled my eyes down from the sky
watching, I couldn’t believe the size of the rose hips I saw! I had Ragusa Rose
bushes on Merritt Drive, but the rose hips never got this big!
Ragusa rose hips are the largest and sweetest
rose hips – I am going to have to pick some of these this Fall … for teas
;-) The Vitamin C content in these rose hips are reported to be much,
MUCH higher than oranges.
GIANT Rose Hips! Ragusa
It looked like a dandelion … but IT WAS HUGE – the size of a small giant allium head! And the flower buds were strange looking too, with the pointy tips. It is a dandelion – a weird one: Are the caretakers Miracle Grow fertilizing it?
It is a horse corral – I looked into the Park (online info) more closely after I got home…
I crossed another Park entrance, and started
walking that boundary.
Gas Line warning. That gasline literally passes through every square foot of this Park. That’s concerning because gas lines do explode.
I think this is a Chokecherry shrub.
Cottonwood fluff piling up.
I noticed house on the hills. It made me sad.
I know people have to live someplace, but I like seeing trees on the hills; it
makes me sad the forests are being cut down and lawns laid – I’m all for
expanding the land to allow for houses, but I like to see forests on the hillsides
and hilltops; not houses.
And houses up there doesn’t bode well for
woodland creatures either.
The hills are being denuded and populated.
House going up all over those hills.
I had, at this point, walked the entire Park:
I turned my attentions to the skinny footpath leading to the river.
I was hoping, as I walked, that there would
be significant riverfront to walk: some river paths are only a sliver, perilously
hugging the raging river.
I was delighted to see that there was a LOT
of river beach :-D
Big, fat, wild Sweetpea Flowers.
Glittery rock: I did not bring it home – I’m sure Bob was shocked if he was watching me; I always brought rocks home … and Bob always teased me about being ‘Lucy’ ;-)
Scotch Broom & Beach Sand Verbena: that pretty little purple flower caught my eye as I was walking. These flowers complement each other.
Walking the river beach would definitely add some extra mileage to the hike. It would be relaxing, and pretty to walk. The river is always busy with people and critters.
Walking back to the Park from the riverside,
I noticed a flower that looked like wild phlox. It’s not phlox … a google
search at home, told me the plant is called Dame’s Rocket.
Apparently, it’s edible; and we should eat it
every time it pops up.
The article I found, said, “It’s so invasive,
it is your civic duty to eat that weed!”
Dame’s Rocket is of the mustard family. Young
leaves collected before the plant starts to flower, are eaten like cress. The seed
pods can be added to stews and soups … the seeds can be sprouted and eaten. The
spicy flowers are used to flavor fruit dishes and salads.
Dame’s Rocket. Edible plant.
I was glad I had my backpack-purse today with
the Benadryl capsules: on the return trip up the footpath, I saw that there
were ground hornet holes littering the entire path.
By the time I reached the car, I was soaked
with sweat and salt kept burning my eyes.
These pretties came home with me: Pink, Blue, & Hunter Green with White Quartz: I had 2 more pretty rocks in my right jean’s pocket ;-)
This could get tricky …
My haul - I like colorful things: and I am a bona fide rock hound, and make no apologies about it. Bob called me 'Lucy' (The Long Trailer movie with Lucy & Dezi Arnaz).
THE LONG, LONG TRAILER Movie. 1953. Lucy loaded it down with rocks she’d collected along their honeymoon drive.
Sweaty and salty: damp clothes and hair was sticking to me.
A little over 2 miles - walking 1-1/2 times around the Park + some beach front. Not an official hike, but I think the mileage can be stretched by adding more beach front.
I decided, as I left the Park, that I was
going to drive all the way into Kalama and eat at that Mexican restaurant I’d
been eyeing for years. Bob and I always talked about trying it … but the Lucky
Dragon Chinese restaurant right next door always lured us to them :-D
Today, I tried Playa Azul.
Playa Azul: play-a (soft a) azool (oo = hard u)
My table – a Silver Dollar & a Blitz Beer cap.
And abundance of meal varieties, & the prices are good.
I don’t qualify …
Playa Azul interior.
HOT-HOT-HOT SALSA!
Crab Enchilada w-Refried Beans & Rice
7 mins
8 mins
I had a great day today.
It was adventurous – as every solo lobo venture without
Bob, is for me: I am learning how to be more observant (Bob used to be the hawk); I am learning how to pay closer attention (my safety depends totally on me now). But, it is also adventurous in ways it couldn't have been if Bob were still here with me (I'm more inclined to do things he didn't want to do). I like getting out of Longview for a day. I like new places to explore. I like meeting other out-doorsy people :-D
Today's Sunday~Funday was relaxing and enjoyable.
**SUNDAY~FUNDAY POSTS (2020)
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