If this is Thursday it must be postcards, 761

 

 

 

 

 

  

233 - Côte d’Émeraude, Dinard, La Passerelle Émeraude – Les Casinos

[Photo :  Quest Henne]

 

A Vintage black & white unused postcard from the early 1900s features a picture of the Emerald Coast or Côte d’Émeraude, Dinard France.  The title with a identifying number is printed at the top of thepicture.  Barely visible at the lower right corner is Photo-Quest Henne.  The card has a divided back but no information about the publisher, printer, or distributor.  Using a magnifying glass, it is possible to discern the clothing that helps date the picture to the early 1900s.  Women are wearing long dresses, the men are in suits, some wearing hats. 

 

Dinard is a community located in Brittany, France.  The beaches and mild climate make it a popular seaside resort and tourist destination.  Attractions include film festivals, casinos, and deluxe hotels.  The photo shows beach cabanas and hotels and casinos in the background.  The Thursday postcard from 5 January 2023, #589, also features Dinard and includes pictures of the famous luxury villas.  Although it retains its French charm, it is also known as one of the most British coastal resorts in France. 

 

For additional information, see:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dinard

Cheese Rock, Teanaway Community Forest, 2026

  

 

 

 

 

New signs going up in the Teanaway Community Forest!

 

The various fascinating rock formations in the Teanaway Community Forest are mostly sandstone with wind erosion holes.  The surface of the rock looks like it should be smooth and soft to the touch but feels like coarse sandpaper when tested with a finger or the palm of the hand.  We hiked to Cheese Rock in October 2023.  [To see that report, put Cheese Rock in the blog search box.]   

 

This time we went with good friends who had not been here before.  It is a 3.5-mile RT with ups and downs, some quite steep. Total elevation gains about 400 feet that feels like more than that in a couple of places due to the steepness.  There is one double outhouse and a brand new additional single outhouse in the enlarged trailhead parking area.  There are two approaches to Cheese Rock, one goes up the Vesper Rock slab, the other is on an old logging road for most of the way, branching off to the left on a rutted wide path up to the rock.  Both times we have been to Cheese Rock we have used the old logging road.

 

   

Charlie checking out the llama’s packs

 

 Dot and Peggy

  

Dot has longer legs and a wider body than Peggy but both are Ccaras llamas, a special breed used as pack animals.

 

Last time we were here we saw llamas on an exercise route and their handlers.  Imagine the delighted surprise when I saw the llamas again.  This time the animals were wearing packs and getting used to carrying extra weight before the official hiking and camping season begins about a month from now.  We talked with Charlie, the handler, and found out that he has 6 of these llamas on a ranch/farm close to the community forest.  It makes a convenient and ideal place to exercise and train the llamas.

 

 Jack the horse and rider

 

This is wild turkey hunting season.  We encountered a total of 4 hunters, dressed in camo gear, with shot guns, and two of them had plastic turkey decoys strapped on their backpacks.  They had not seen any turkeys; however, and were on their way out back to the trail head.  Shortly after talking with the second group of two hunters, we met a woman who was riding a horse.  She told us the horse was named Jack.  She asked where we were headed and we said Cheese Rock and she raised two thumbs up.  She said she had been riding all over the forest trails that day.  She smiled and said she had seen turkeys but didn’t tell the hunters.     

 

 We made it to Cheese Rock

 

 

Ron and Bob smiling in front of Cheese Rock

 

We had no rain, only high clouds, peek-a-boo sunshine, and 15 to 20 mph winds at the top by Cheese Rock.  The temperature stayed around 55 degrees F.  From the top we could see down the rock slab route up to where we were.  Someone was going down.

 

 

 Someone going back down the slab route

 

  

When I took this picture, we could not tell if the person was male or female, only that they were walking down the rock slab.  Later when we reached the main trail back to the parking area, we met the woman who turned out be the one in this picture.  She was hiking by herself and had taken the alternate route up the slab then got about this far when she thought it was not safe to continue up and turned around.  She then went back down a bit, took another trail, and ended up going up to Split Rock instead.  While we had encountered other people on our hike, we were the first people she had seen all day.  

 

   

View looking toward Mt. Stuart from Cheese Rock

 

Bonus for the day was meeting and talking with a volunteer on a bike who was posting signage all along several of the trails.  He provided some historical information as well as answering our questions, then letting us know that a new section of the forest would be open beginning in June. 

 

Spring is a good time to look for and admire the wildflowers.  What did we find along the way?

 

 

 Ballhead Waterleaf

 

 

 

 Arnica

 

 

 Arrowleaf Balsam Root

 

 

Glacier Lilies

 

 

Larkspur

 

 White Lomatium and Ponderosa Pine Cones

 

Spring Beauty

 

 

 White Rhododendron, Alba Albiflorum

 

This rhododendron is found in the Cascade Mountains of Washington, Oregon, and British Columbia, Canada.   Here it is growing almost out of the rock on a windy high spot.

 

 Pink Lupine

 

 Purple/Dark Blue Lupine

 

The purple or blue lupine is more common.  We had not seen a pink lupine in the wild before this.  Commercial garden lupine can be almost any color.

 

Count for the day:

 

13 people, 5 dogs

RT 3.5 miles

Elevation gain:  400 feet

Discover Pass required

 

 

 

 

If this is Thursday it must be postcards, 760

 

 

 

 

 

Elevator Building at the Carlsbad Cavern National Park, New Mexico

 

This is an unused linen postcard featuring the elevator building at the Carlsbad Cavern National Park in New Mexico.  At the bottom left, the photograph is attributed to Kennicott.  The code:  4A-H141 is found at the lower right corner on the frontside.  The title is placed on the top margin.  Linen cards were first introduced in 1930 and were popular until the early 1950s.  They were made from a higher rag content paper and have a definite texture. 

 

On the reverse of the card C.L. White, White City, N.M. is found along the left side margin.    Along the center line is “Genuine Curteich Chicago, ‘C.T. Art-Colortone’ post card.”  There is a blurb at the upper left corner:  “Jim White, the discoverer and explorer of Carlsbad Caverns has his experiences written up in a book of thirty-two pages with 30 illustrations, of which 16 subjects are in beautiful colors, and a wonderful colored cover entitled: ‘Jim White’s Own Story.”  Be sure and read these thrilling experiences of a lone cowboy three days under the world in Carlsbad Caverns.  Born July 1, 1882, died April 28, 1946.” 

 

The Carlsbad Cavens National Park, established in 1930,  is located southeastern New Mexico about 18 miles southwest of Carlsbad, New Mexico.  The caverns are the main attraction of the park.  Visitors entery the caverns by taking the elevator or hiking via a natural entrance.  The limestone Big Room is the largest such chamber in North America.  It is almost 4,000 ft or 1220 m long, 625 ft or 191 m wide, and 255 ft or 78 m high at the highest point.  In 1995 it was recognized as a World Heritage Site. 

 

The existence of the caverns had been known by Native Americans for hundreds of years but it is not known how far or if these earlier people went into the caves.  The first modern cave exploration is credited to James Larkin White, aka Jim White, in 1898.  He was a 16-year-old cowboy rounding up stray cattle when he thought he saw smoke from wildfire.  He rode out to investigate but did not smell or hear crackling fire.  When he got closer, he realized that it was not smoke but thousands of bats.  Full of curiosity and keeping the caves a secret for a time, he returned, made a ladder using some rope, fence wire, and a hatchet to cut nearby shrubs.   He held a homemade kerosene lantern in one hand and descended into darkness.  Five days after his first venture into the caves, he returned with a Mexican boy about his same age.  They brought food, water, fuel and homemade torches and began a 3-day exploration.  The place names within the caverns are the names Jim gave them as he continued explore the caverns.  The areas he explored are approximately the same areas of the cave that tourist trails cover today. For many years he was associated with the caverns in various capacities including Chief Ranger, 1926 - 1929.  

 

A previous Thursday postcard, #353,on 31 May 2018, has a photograph taken inside the Big Room at Carlsbad. 

 

For additional information, see:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carlsbad_Caverns_National_Park

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Larkin_White

https://www.nps.gov/cave/blogs/jim-white-cave-explorer.htm

 

Rosario, Deception Pass State Park, 2026

 

 

 

 

  The Indian maid statue, Rosario, Deception Pass State Park

 

The same day we visited Washington Park we drove across the Deception Pass bridge and on to Deception Pass State Park, Rosario.  The Discover Pass or a day fee is required here.  The park has a picnic area, a modern flush toilet restroom, and access to the small beaches on each side of the peninsula.  The Indian Maid statue with information placards explaining her story is located right at the beach access and the trail up to a territorial view point.  The trail is steep but short.  The views from the top are beautiful especially on a nice sunny day.

 

 

Looking north toward the San Juan Islands from the top at Rosario

 

  

This is another trail we often do at the beginning of hiking season.  This day we saw lots of blue camas in full bloom, more of the Spring Gold, Star Flower, Madrone trees in bloom, red grass, and something we think is Pacific Sanicle.  Pacific Sanicle is common in the area and grows amid Camas and Sea Blush. 

 

Blue Camas growing with Spring Gold

 

 

 

Madrone tree in bloom

 

 

 

Star Flower

Red Grass

 

We see this plant often here and at Goose Rock, another part of the Deception Pass State Park.  It probably has an official name but I have just been calling it red grass.  It is pretty and catches the eye since it is red and among the gray rock, green and brown everywhere else.

 

 

 

 

    Pacific Sanicle ?  

 

On the drive home we stopped in Mt. Vernon for milk shakes.

 

Count for the day:

14 people, 6 dogs

RT a loop of about ½ mile

Discover Pass required

 

Washington Park, Anacortes, 2026

 

 

 

 

  

Bob taking pictures of Fawn Lilies and Calypso Orchids

 

Washington Park is located in the city of Anacortes, about an hour and 40 minutes drive from home for us.  There are parking areas, picnic shelters, beach access, and modern restrooms.  No pass or fee is required unless you park a boat trailer in a special lot or are camping.  The camp ground has spots that can be reserved for RVs and tents.  There are also modern restrooms with flush toilets and hot water in the camp ground.  

 

 A one-way paved road makes a loop that can be walked by pedestrians.  Dirt side trails branch off from the paved road here and there offering opportunities to get off the road and into the woods or down to the beach.  The park is a popular place for locals to walk their dogs.   

 

We try to go to this park every year in mid-April when the fawn lilies, calypso orchids and other wild flowers are blooming.   There are a couple places with short dirt trails leading to semi-open areas where the lilies grow in the hundreds.  Mixed in with the lilies are the tiny bright purple-pink Calypso orchids and sometimes Coral Root can be found in with them too.  We have found Chocolate lilies here also, but this time we were either too early or too late and did not see any.

 

 

 

Shooting Stars

 

 

 

Shooting Stars often grow in marshy open areas.  These were found along the fence line in the wide open meadow at the top of the hill. 

 

 

 View from a corner of the meadow area 

 

 

 

Blue-Eyed-Mary

 

These flowers are very tiny and frequently cause a surprised "Oh" when seen.

 

 

 

Spring Gold

 

Pink Sea Blush 

 

 

 

 

Field Chickweed

 

 

Dandelion seed head

 

 

 

Calypso Orchids

 

 

Spotted Coral Root

 

 

 Death Camas

 

 

 Fawn Lily 

 

 Group of Fawn Lilies

 

 

 

 Yellow Monkey Flower

 

 

 Prairie Star

 

 

Deer we saw in a group of five that were browsing in the grass 

 

 

 

Count for the day:

 

33 people, 14 dogs

 

RT 2.1 miles

 

No fee or Discover Pass required.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

If this is Thursday it must be postcards, 759

 

 

 

 

 

Mission San Carlos Borromeo, Carmel, California

[Photo by:  John H. Atkinson, Jr.]

 

This unused color postcard featuring the Mission San Carlos Borromeo was distributed by Bell Magazine Agency of Monterey, California with color production by Mike Roberts.  At the bottom left is C33551 Color Photo:  John H. Atkinson, Jr.  At the upper left corner is a blurb:  “Mission San Carlos Borromeo, Carmel, California.  Established June 3, 1770, San Carlos is one of the oldest yet one of the best preserved of the Missions.  At the foot of its High Altar rest the remains of Padre Junipero Serra.”

 

Mission San Carlos Borromeo was the second mission built by Franciscan missionaries in Upper California.  It was also called The Carmel Mission.   The mission was founded in 1770; however, the church itself was not built until 1797.  Father Junípero Serra, who was later canonized by Pope Francis and is now known as Saint Junípero Serra, headed the mission until his death in 1784.   From the time it was built until 1833 it was the headquarters of all Alta California missions.  The Mexican government secularized the buildings and land in 1833.  The building fell into disrepair.  Only the chapel was saved when the roof was rebuilt in 1884.  In 1886 the ownership of the mission was transferred from a group of Franciscans to the Diocese of Monterey.  Since that time Carmel mission has been a parish within the diocese.

 

Beginning in 1931, Harry Downie began restoring the mission.  He worked continuously for 50 years.  It is the only Spanish mission in California with the original bell tower and bell.  The Carmel mission also contains the state’s first library.  The mission is on the National Register of Historic Places and is a National Historic Landmark. 

 

For additional information, see:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mission_San_Carlos_Borromeo_de_Carmelo

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jun%C3%ADpero_Serra 

https://sbthp.libraryhost.com/agents/people/32

English Boom Trail, Camano Island, 2026

 

 

 

 

 

 

English Boom Trail sign at parking area

 

On the same day we went to Cranberry Lake we also drove to English Boom where we walked the short beach trail.  It is a free county park founded on a historical site.  There are remains of pilings for the docks built during early logging years that were used when transporting logs by water.  A small limited parking area is next to the beginning of the trail.  As it turned out, we were lucky to find a spot.  When we returned from the approximately easy 1-mile hike we saw several cars had parked along the roadside since all the regular spots were filled. 

 

There are a couple of short wheelchair-friendly boardwalks and a viewing area plus picnic facilities but no outhouse or regular restroom.  We had been here before when the tide was in and it wasn’t possible to walk all the way out to the end due to water over the trail.  This time we planned to try it at low tide and were able to go the entire way without problems.  This park is a popular birding area. 

 

The park was named for Edward G. English who was a leading timber magnate in the Northwest and also one of the founders of the town of Mount Vernon.  

 

   

Historical information with photographs 

 

 

 Bob on the trail

 

  

This trail or pathway surface is packed sand with a couple of small bridges over a stream.  

 

 

 

    This stream meanders in and around the trail 

 

         Someone built a driftwood tepee

 

 

The tide is out

 

The remains of dock pilings are everywhere along the shore for almost the entire length of the trail.

 

  

Driftwood and more pilings

 

Tide is out, mud flats with Mt. Baker in the background

 

 

 

Shore erosion

 

Most of the beach was rocky with mud flats when the tide is out.  There is a lot of driftwood.  We noticed some places where the water is eroding the shoreline.  Here sand has been partly washed away from rocks and clay soil.  

 

 

   

Bird sitting on the top of an old piling

 

Even though the trail was posted as a birding area with several different birds identified as possible to see, we only saw a few Mallard ducks and this black bird.  We have often seen Great Blue Herons and eagles on both Whidbey and Camano Islands but not this day.

 

Count for the day:

 8 people, 1 dog

RT approximately 1 mile

No fee or Discover Pass required