Last Long Weekend Of The Summer

On the final day of Labor Day weekend the sun came out.

It was watery and weak early in the day, but continued to gain in strength as the day progressed and eventually it turned into a very beautiful and warm day, on this last long weekend of the summer.

Early in the day we headed out to Echo Cove to walk.

The picture above was taken on the drive Out the Road.

The fog was still thick in the mountains and we stopped the truck, while I stood in the middle of the empty highway to take these beautiful pictures.

A thick treenline of both hardwood and pine trees enclosed us on both sides of the highway, and the beautiful mountains lay directly in front of us.........

Glacier Highway facing south, heading back towards home, Auke Bay and town.......

There are a large number of small ponds such as this quiet place, scattered along the highway heading to the end of the road.

They are muddy and boggy and filled with now-fading skunk cabbage.

They are one of many reasons that Xtra-tuffs (aka Juneau tennis shoes) are a must.

Over the past nine months I have wandered on beaches, muddy trails, bogs, river beds, sand dunes, board-trails, fields, meadows, mountains and hills.

Many times I had no intention of getting my feet wet, but almost completely without fail I have walked through wet areas on all of these adventures.

And without boots my feet would have been soaked each time (instead of just the few times when I dared - or stupidly - decided to wear trail shoes).

I love the freedom to wear them and be able to walk through almost anything that my adventures in Juneau throw my way.........

Surprisingly, even though the parking lot at Echo Cove was filled with vehicles, there was no-one around when we arrived.

This lovely little sailboat was floating quietly and alone on the very still water in the cove.......

By late morning the temperature was rising (46 when I first woke up), the sky was blue and the sun was gaining strength in the sky. 

The water and the mountains and the pine trees were beautiful.  A serene picture..........

We walked along the shoreline heading towards the opposite side of the cove.

We soon came across this rock.

An artistic venture worthy of a photograph.........

We (LC, Jamie and I) walked on a combination of sandy beach, rocky shoreline, four-wheeler and off-road motorcycle trails, and gravel and dirt trails along the shore relaxing and walking in and out of small coves.........

As we got closer to the large sandbar that crosses a good portion of the width of the cove (and which protects the cove from the usually choppier water in the channel) we veered away from the shore and headed up a small trailhead to explore.

The trail opened up to a beautiful pine-tree and moss covered series of trails.

Surprisingly the first thing we saw was this tire swing........

Exploring the area further we found some really interesting things.

A board nailed between two pine trees that made an unexpected makeshift table.........

And these items found on the table........

A large saucepan filled with dirt, a soda can and a broken bottle lying on top of a completely moss-covered fallen tree.

The bottle was broken, the can was crushed and the saucepan was full of holes.

All remnants of recent target practice........

My Mountain Boys Ka-bar......

The sun and water through the trees.......

And one of many unexpected dirt, moss and root covered trails that we explored before heading back along the shoreline..........

Toadstools everywhere.........

The mountains on the way back to where we began our walk.

Surprisingly today we did not see or hear either eagles or ravens.  Where did they all go on this last long weekend of the summer in Juneau??

I have been surprised many times at how quickly the tide comes in.

I have heard stories of people sitting and picnicing on the beach on Douglas Island, only to have them constantly move their belongings closer and closer to shore, trying to stay ahead of the rapidly encroaching high tide.

On the way out we walked on this trail.  On the way back we had to move onto a higher trail because the tide was moving in.............

Another unexpected sight was this trap sitting abandoned and resting against a rock close to the water.

It looks like it has seen better days.........

The devils club - that thorny and ugly looking plant that is as prevalent in Juneau as skunk cabbage, is beginning to fade.

No more large and thorny bright green leaves.  And no more surprisingly beautiful bright red berry-like blooms.

Their leaves are quickly turning yellow.  Soon they will be just brown, ugly and thorny stalks again...........

We veered off the beach once again close to the parking lot and wandered back on to the dirt trail.

We found this abandoned metal coffee pot........

My tired Mountain Boy and my tired Point Dog........

This most beautiful of places.........