We Regained Our Cool! - Tuesday, August 5, 2020

For the past four days, we have been in a cool, comfortable summer spot in the U.S. After a couple of weeks of high-90s to the mid-100s, first in San Antonio, and then on our eight-day drive to the Pacific Northwest, we have finally found summer nirvana, temperature-wise. Not only that, but our current location is absolutely gorgeous. 

Bob and I have a little history in this area. In about 2004, Bob accepted a job in Fife, Washington, which is near Tacoma. Gig Harbor is just across the Tacoma Narrows from Tacoma. When we moved up to Washington, we bought a home in Milton which was very close to Bob's work. After we had been there a little over a year, we looked at a house that we thought we'd like to buy in Gig Harbor. Eventually, we decided against it, which ended up being a good decision since Bob later accepted a job offer on Oahu in Hawaii. But we still think Gig Harbor is a pretty, charming place!

Here in Gig Harbor, Washington, the temperature is moderated by the Puget Sound, the Pacific Ocean, and the Olympic Mountains. Our afternoon high temperatures since we've been here have ranged from 73 to 79, and our overnight lows are 57-59. 

That will change tomorrow when rain is forecast. Our high will only be 70, with a low of 53. On Friday, we again will be in the mid-70s, and pretty much through the rest of August. Woo hoo. This is great walking weather!

Speaking of that, after spending Sunday and Monday getting set up with cable TV, high-speed internet, and going grocery shopping, my friend Diane and I hooked up for a Gig Harbor Historic Waterfront 10k Volksmarch yesterday. We started at 10:30 a.m. from the Harbor General Store.

I'd guess it was about 73 degrees when we started and about 77 degrees when we finished at 1:15 p.m. It was definitely warm, but breezes off the bay helped to cool us down once in a while. Anyway, let's go explore Gig Harbor and the bay...

This is a maritime town, inextricably linked to the water.

A seiner.

The first three white settlers in 1807 are believed to have been from Croatia, Portugal, and Montenegro. They were fishing in Puget Sound when they had to seek shelter in the harbor during bad weather. Native Americans had a village in the harbor already. The three fishermen liked what they saw and decided to settle here.

One of many historical markers on this walk

Docks in the bay.

Gig Harbor is known as "The Maritime City" and "Gateway to the Olympic Peninsula." People love their watersports in this protected harbor. 

Pretty banners!

Donkey Creek Park

Artistic bench!

Gig Harbor's maritime history.

Walkers, sailors, kayakers, joggers were all out in force today.

Our walk directions led us through historic downtown and all around the harbor. We passed small parks, the municipal dock, walked around Donkey Creek Park, past Finholm's Food Store, past restaurants, and residences. We stayed within sight of the water for most of the walk 

Stories of two Gig Harbor residents lost on Mt. Everest.

Historic Finholm's.

This woman did a lot for Gig Harbor. She was a hard worker!

We walked through Crescent Creek Park and saw a creative marine and wildlife totem. As you walk around the totem, you see, eagles, owls, salmon, seals, a whale, otter, crabs, and many more critters. Look closely, don't miss anything. 

After we did a lap around Crescent Creek Park, we crossed the street and walked Randall Road through a neighborhood to the Public Dock. The tide was way out, so the dock was on the ground. We walked down the dock to get closer to the water. 

Crescent Creek Park Totem.

Picnic shelter built by the W.P.A in 1937,
re-roofed in 2008 for historic preservation.

This young buck loved hanging out in this front yard.

View from the public dock: a well-used water playground. 
This is Tuesday around 11:30 a.m.

A great blue heron just caught his lunch.

This beautiful artwork is in someone's front yard!

A snack along the trail: juicy,
sweet blackberries are in season!

Hydrangeas.

California poppies.

Rotary International clock.

Locks on a bridge.

The Shenandoah: one boat, three lives -- teacher, seiner, tender.

The Shenandoah is being restored for
its 100th anniversary in 2025.

Big, festive color bowls of flowers. 

Marina view.

Trolley food truck and outdoor seating.
It was open earlier.

Chalk art.

The Russell Family Foundation building.

The Russell Family Foundation building above sits behind a hedge, back from the street. It's such a lovely respite to walk through the meticulously landscaped grounds, listen to the waterfalls, and enjoy the Oriental architecture.

We continued down Harborview Drive to its end at a little park at the old ferry landing. From there, we had a spectacular view of Mt. Rainier. However, it was very hazy today, so we could not get a clear picture. I will be returning there frequently to chase the "money shot" of Mt. Rainier on a crystal-clear day. Stay tuned.

Overlooking The Narrows toward Mt. Rainier. 

Puget Sound, low tide. This view is also from the park.

The small park we visited has historical markers about Galloping Gertie, the worst suspension bridge disaster in history, and this old ferry landing and the steamboat service that used to carry passengers across the Tacoma Narrows.

It would have been frightening
to drive on this bridge!

Anemone ranunculoides.

Maritime Pier.

Diane is ordering a snack at Harbor
General Store after our walk.

When we finished our 10k walk, I had a BLT sandwich which came with chips and a dill pickle. Diane ordered a snack and bought a chocolate chip cookie for each of us. That was a very yummy cookie. Thank you, Diane.

Do we recommend this walk? You bet we do. Great job Evergreen Wanderers. I'll be doing this walk again while we're staying in Gig Harbor. Bob will do it with me one evening after he gets off work.