On a recent Saturday – a blue, high-ceiling day –
I rode the ferry to Whidbey Island, where
the main road traces a curvy spine –
climbing and dropping,
climbing and dropping.
With no views
of malls.
It’s a world apart.
On the island’s west shore, a narrow strip of land fronts Admiralty Bay
(a bay that connects Puget Sound and Seattle to the Salish Sea and the great Pacific Ocean beyond).
It drew me in for a look.
Where the rock-strewn beach hooks westward,
a ferry idled in the fog. Fishermen gazed into dark waters.
Behind the driftwood-littered shore,
a marshy lake: its wet, salty earth stained red with Glasswort (Salicornia).
Known as Pickleweed and Samphire, the odd little vegetable is harvested
and eaten
around the world.
Grasses criss-crossed in the field, like a finely etched engraver’s plate.
On the road to Ebey’s Landing, fog,
thick as cotton, smudged a hillock of Douglas fir
behind an old farmhouse.
Bicyclists stopped for pictures.
Round the curve, down the hill…
park the car, step onto the beach…
Breathe.
I walked alone up the beach.
I found another wetland there, shrouded
in fog rolling in
from the Salish sea,
softening the colors
so subtly.
On the beach side, driftwood giants
rose up –
sky, land, sea,
wood, grass, rock –
all one.
Water is the common denominator –
mighty bull whip kelp sloshed
back and forth,
back and forth,
slowly washing up onto land.
Fog silvered the water.
It all left me
finally,
speechless.
***
bluebrightly 
Me too…:)
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🙂
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Gorgeous images Lynn, What a beautiful place!!
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It really is a wonderful island.
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your images evoke such a quiet wondering…very beautiful.
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Hi Anne!!! Glad you liked them – you’d surely love the scenery!
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Your photos are always a breath of fresh air and a kind dose of medicine for the soul 🙂
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What a nice thing to hear – thanks for that Maya.
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Beautiful!!
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Thanks Vlad!
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Such gorgeous images! Your day must have been so wonderful. 🙂
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It was!
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Another beautiful set Lynn. I especially liked the photos with the fog. Some great textures too – wonderful!!
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The textures were beautiful, and the fog made the colors so subtle and harmonious. There was a bank of fog on the water that was amazing, but the photos didn’t turn out so well. Overall though, a day of gorgeous sights and great photo opps!
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those grasses and the shoreline – the landscape between lifetimes, with odd piques of colour
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So beautiful, Lynn. I adore the last driftwood image – stark wood against foggy backdrop of sea and sky. An enchanting set of evocative images.
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What a wonderful thing
It is to take a walk with you, Blue.
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As always it is a pleasure to watch your photos and let my mind wander. Love all of them, Lynn!
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I always find it impossible to pick a favorite from your many great shots Lyn but something about the giant driftwood on the beach took my breathe away – the life in those beautiful twists and frozen turns!
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I hope you get out here someday, Patti!
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One day I hope Lyn, until then so happy to follow behind you and enjoy your views!
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What a spot you found to explore Lynn ! I think we are both intrigued by much the same details in the landscape . I love that description of YOUR wispy grasses … *criss crossed *like a finely etched engravers plate .
Layers of bleached softness … driftwood heaps … starry moss … so much to enjoy on this walk . Lovely series indeed .
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wonderful images, and just the right note in the accompanying verse ~
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Thank you!
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I love this collection, Lynn. You have a great eye!
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Excellent post; glad you found me 🙂
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