July, 2020
Oh, I suppose I could make you wait before I tell you what I found this morning. But I won’t. You already know what happened because of the title to this blog post! It happened as I was leaving the area, with trailer in tow. The Eagles were back at that causeway!
I didn’t realize they would be there, so I sort of dawdled this morning, slowly getting my chores done in order to hitch up and head out and head home.
I had a great week of camping and exploring at Scenic Beach State Park. I didn’t really want to leave, but leave I must. As usual, I took my time stowing everything inside the trailer including the remote solar panel and its cabling.
I then hitched up the truck to the trailer, triple checking everything about the connection between truck and trailer.
I then checked the brake settings for the trailer’s electric brakes, checked the trailer lights (running lights, turn signals, brake lights, 4-way flashers), I plugged the monitor into the truck’s dash board for the camera that’s on the rear of the trailer so I could see behind me. I then walked around the trailer one last time, double-checking that all access hatches on the trailer were closed and locked, the windows closed and secure, the trailer door closed and locked, and the trailer door step folded in. That might seem like a lot of things to keep track of and do. There are actually more items to do than what I list here, but I use a checklist, so it doesn’t really take much time and I don’t forget any of the items.
I then sat in the truck and warmed up the engine. I updated my log book with the date, the location I was leaving, my intended destination, the weather, the truck’s mileage, and finally the exact time of day that I was pulling out. I made sure Little Towhee was right there with me, sitting on the dash, ready to speak up if I was not doing everything perfectly properly.
Then I turned on the truck’s headlights, checked that the monitor was working for the camera on the back of the trailer, released the hand brake, put the truck in gear, and I was on my way. I was happy to have been here at Scenic Beach and to have seen what I had seen. It’s gorgeous here! Did I mention that it’s gorgeous here? 🙂
As I passed the Ranger station at the campground entrance, one of the Rangers that I had talked with a few times during the week happened to step out the door just as I was driving past. She waved and smiled and said “safe travels, come back!” I returned the greeting. Those folks are such great people. I always make a point of thanking them.
I drove out to the “main” road, turned left, and drove north through the little town of Seabeck, enjoying the view of things that had become familiar to me by then. And on up the road I went, with the trailer in tow, going over in my mind the route I would take to get all the way home.
About two miles north of Seabeck, the road makes a slight curve to the left as it crests a small hill, and then it coasts gently down to that large bay and the causeway where I had seen those Eagles a few days before. I wasn’t paying a lot of attention, just rummaging around in my mind, remembering special things from the week. Just as my truck started to cross over that bridge at the south end of the causeway, I looked at the north end of the causeway and then I looked UP … whoa!! I slammed on the brakes and pulled over so fast that Little Towhee screeched at me at the top of her lungs. She didn’t like all that bouncing and jouncing!
Here’s what I saw in that moment when I looked UP …
The Eagles were back! 🙂
I parked the truck and trailer off on the side of the road and jumped out with my camera, lickety split. This time, I was not at all hesitant about approaching the Eagles. They weren’t bothered by me being below them earlier this week, and they certainly weren’t bothered today either.
As usual, please do click on photos to enlarge them, especially if you are using a full size monitor or TV screen to view them.
She was on the left … he was on the right.
She looked right at me. She held that stare for several moments. I didn’t think I looked like a meal, but I began to get a little nervous. And then she looked away as if nothing had happened. Maybe she was looking at me and wondering what goofy things these creatures are that walk around on two legs and never fly.
By and by, I walked back to the truck and trailer. Just before I jumped back in the truck, I spotted a third Eagle … on the wing … out over the salt water of Hood Canal … likely with a meal in its talons.
What an exceptional way to end my week here. Scenic Beach State Park is high on my list of places to return to, you can bet on that!
I had a nice drive home. Instead of taking the trailer to the storage lot, I brought it to the house and parked it in the driveway right in front of my house so I could wash the trailer and take care of a few other trailer chores.
I’m looking forward to spending time with friends here at home, doing the laundry, picking up my mail, and getting the trailer prepped for another trip. I already have my next camping trip planned. Stay tuned, and come on along!