Knock, Knock, Knocking On Heaven’s Door

There’s been a sudden improvement in the weather here in the Pacific Northwest, and luckily Leslie was able to take Wednesday off so we could go up to Port Townsend for the day.

I knew it was going to be a good day when a Varied Thrush flew in front of the car just as we entered Ft Lagler and this Horned Grebe in full breeding colors

Horned Grebe

popped up right in front of me when I first reached the beach.

A little further down the beach we ran into a flock of Brandt

pair of Brandt

who’d been driven our way by a flock of noisy kids on Spring Break.

Followed shortly by a small flock of Sandpipers

Sandpiper

who bedazzled us with their flashing wings and sharp turns.

Unfortunately, the Harlequin ducks seemed determined to stay far off shore,

Harlequin Duck in Distance

and since this is the only place I’ve managed to see them consistently they’re likely to have departed by the next time I get back here.

Oh, life’s little disappointments.

Sometimes one has to compensate by exploring the local art shops, perhaps compromising on a piece of deck art that one can afford:

Moon with Serpent

And by finishing off the day with a late lunch at Fins Coastal Cuisine consisting of Asian Pear Roasted Beet Salad, fried calamari, and SEA SCALLOPS AND WILD MUSHROOM RAVIOLI.

Of course, after last week’s bout with pneumonia, it almost seemed like I was knock, knock, knocking at Heaven’s Door.