Is Sequim Weather early Summer?

Today, we received an email from our friends, Ron and Mary-Nell from Texas, who love Sequim and their annual Sequim Vacation. Here is a short glimpse of their email:

"We really enjoyed the photos on your May 26 post. We were amazed to see people fishing at the park in shorts. Has this been a typical May with everything being so green and flowers blooming? I thought it would be still on the cool side but as we've been following the weather daily from down here it appears to have been a lovely month overall."

Yes, you are right to envy us. Ever since the Memorial Day Weekend (actually even much earlier) Sequim residents and visitors get spoilt by the most pleasant May weather in years. It's like an early summer! And according to this Sequim weather link from Ron, who watches Sequim weather carefully in order to know what weather he can expect when he will finally move to Sequim with his family, this stretch of nice weather will continue next week!

It's amazing how nice sunny weather can make people happy and feel good! Friday, we decided spontaneously to visit our favorite place in the Olympic Mountains, the Sol Duc Hot Springs. Before we settled down at the resort, we went for a walk to the Sol Duc Falls. On can't really call it a hike with it's one way 0.8 miles mostly level walk. We love this walk through the woods, admiring wild flowers, listening to the birds and taking a short break at the powerful falls.

Arriving at the Sol Duc Springs Resort, we noticed immediately the effect of the closure of the Hood Canal Bridge. At 11am we were almost the only visitors there. Later the Sequim Senior Center bus made it there but hardly anybody from Seattle. Businesses on the Olympic Peninsula are desperately waiting for the reopening of the Hood Canal Bridge. Latest we read in the Peninsula Daily News was June 11! Sequim vacation businesses will appreciate it.

Yesterday, the warm weather attracted lots of visitors to Carrie Blake Park for their popular annual dog show, the playgrounds, the ponds or just for a walk or a bike ride. Everybody having a good time!

Today, we headed with the bikes for the first time weat again on the Olympic Discovery Trail, past the Railroad Bridge - Dungeness River had lots of melting water from the mountains - and past Carlsborg till Kitchen Dick where we turned around after a 40-min. bike ride. Best part when going west on the Olympic Discovery Trail are the amazing mountain views of the Olympics. You may see mountains which one cannot see from Sequim, and all still covered in snow sparkling white against the blue skies! Lots of bikers enjoyed the trail like us.

The most impressive picture caught our eye when entering the Discovery Trail passage to the Railroad Bridge through an Eagle Habitat. There they were: two bald eagles perching on the highest branches of the tree with no leaves around looking out for their prey. Those are the moments when you say "Why didn't I bring my camera?!" Next time we will. Hope the eagles will be there then.

Tags: Sequim weather, best weather in Sequim, Sequim vacation

Sequim Vacation Roundup May with Photos

Welcome back to our Sequim Vacation blog. After our short update on the Sequim Irrigation Festival in May, let's talk vacation and the favorite topic weather. Sequim weather has been quite pleasant in May and attracted lots of visitors to the Olympic Peninsula for a short vacation on the extended Memorial Day weekend.

I was suprised though to read in the Peninsula Daily News that a number of visitors got stuck at the Hood Canal Bridge and were not to happy to find the bridge closed. I can imagine that they did not know before departure but how they could have missed all the signs along the road, is still a mystery to me.

When we drove back from Seatac Airport to Sequim a week ago, we noticed lots of signs 'Hood Canal Bridge is closed' along the Hwy. BTW, it took us about 3hrs to drive to Sequim on Hwy 101 from Olympia. It's a very scenic drive but long. I expect visitors to the Peninsula still waiting till the bridge is open again on 6/15/09.

Not only Sequim visitors enjoyed the beautiful weather on Memorial Day Weekend. Sequim residents were out and about, in Carrie Blake Park, biking and walking the Olympic Discovery Trail or visiting the Juan de Fuca festival in Port Angeles. To watch the wild life in Carrie Blake Park, which is a short 3 min. walk from our house, was especially fun this time. Three Canadian geese families took their new fuzzy babies for a first swim on the pond, where the model boaters had a boat race. Well, no collision occurred!

Kids were having fun at the pond too. I watched how two boys caught each a decent size fish. The park allows kids in company of their parents to try their luck fishing in the pond. Here is a photo of one of these lucky boys.

Well, let's not forget that it was Memorial Day Weekend. Sequim Sunrise Rotary had been busy preparing this holiday to remember soldiers who died in the service for their country. Rotary volunteers had displayed American flags all along E.Spruce St.and E.Fir St. Here is a photo of their work.

Last but not least, The German Restaurant 'Sauerkraut', which opened about 1 mo. ago, enjoys many satisfied visitors like our friends Gail and Tyke from Sun Meadows eating Bratwurst with Sauerkraut and Sauerbraten and a delicious cinnamon bun for dessert.

Anything you want to share about Sequim or Sequim vacation, please, leave a comment. Your questions are most welcome too.

Tags: Sequim, Vacation in Sequim, Olympic Discovery Trail, Best of Sequim

Parades,parades and a Yellow rubber duck race

Wow..wasn't that a great Irrigation parade we had in Sequim this past weekend. I tell you, for a small town, Sequim knows how to party. The turnout was outstanding despite the Hood canal bridge being out.

Well if you missed that parade or you just like parades go on down the road to the seaside town of Port Townsend and catch their Rhododendron Festival Grand parade this Saturday, the 16th, starting at 1pm.

If you are not into another parade try the Rubber Duck Race in Port Angeles on Sunday. You still have time to make your purchase of a rubber duck and the chance to win the grand prize of a new Toyoda Tundra truck. The proceeds go to the Olympic Medical Center Foundation. The event starts at 11:30 at 1902 Marine Drive. Food and entertainment will be provided.

And last but not least, if you are in Sequim on Saturday our weekly Sequim Open Aire Market is now open, on Cedar St just off Sequim Ave, from 9am to 3pm. Lee Tyler Post will perform with a selection of blues and rock from 11am til 2pm. Come out and buy local.

Our next big event is the Lavendar Festival check here for last years post.