In this time of covid-19 it is easy to feel confined at home but the parks are jammed with people, so Mike proposed a hike to Decker's Cove for a little variation. The shoreline on our side of the island is mostly lined with rugged cliffs, but a little ways up the coast there is a place where the hill collapsed (long ago) and formed a tiny cove at sea level surrounded by giant boulders. It is contained in the county park to the north of us, but there is no trail except the one that starts at our house. Did I say trail? Deer trail is really what it is....the faintest track through the dense vegetation of our temperate jungle, or closer to the cliff edge, under and through the lattice of madrona branches. It is not far, but not easy. We took a lunch, some big clippers and the dog, and made an expedition out of it.
The tide was low that morning, just beginning to turn when we reached the cove. Usually it is full of water behind its guardian rocks, but not that day. All of the usually submerged boulders were exposed, rising from the large tide pools at their feet. Down among them it felt like the level of the sea just beyond was higher than my head. Boats and kayaks passed by seemingly at arm's length, and porpoise arched between them.
We ate our sandwiches and then investigated the tide pools. They were crammed with crabs. Red ones, green ones, hermit crabs.....also mussels, anemones, limpets and barnacles. Approaching a tide pool made all the crabs dash for cover, and then if you were still they would peek out and take up their lives again. Click on the picture and see how many you can find. I see twelve clear ones, but there were many more still hiding in the crevices.
The bald eagles who nest nearby were displeased with our presence and flew overhead squeaking in their rusty gate voices, so we didn't stay as long as we might have. On our way home we clambered closer to the edge and were treated to a view of the keyhole in the cliff that we usually only see from far away on the other side. Sometimes seals can be seen from above chasing schools of feeder fish into the narrow cleft below and trapping them for easy pickings, but not that morning. The bull kelp is getting very dense so that may be a deterrence.
It was a nice outing, but by the time we bushwhacked back home even the dog was tired. We are lucky to have natural beauty and plentiful exercise in such easy reach.