The Kaleberg Journal - January 2026

01/20 - Signs of Springs at the Dungeness Dike

It was almost spring like at the Dungeness Dike. It was a bright sunny day, and we had started at the schoolhouse rather than near the creamery. There was an eagle on display and bright shiny water. We were sure it was still winter, but we saw some Queen Anne's lace in bloom, a wooly bear caterpillar out crossing the trail and, to our great surprise, the first skunk cabbage of the year. It has been a mild winter, so maybe this isn't as odd as we think.


An eagle on the watch



Bright sun and bright water



Queen Anne's lace

A wooly bear caterpillar

Scan for skulking skunk cabbage.



Keywords: dungeness, spring

01/15 - Dungeness Highlands

This isn't one of our most ambitious hikes. It's just heading south from the Dungeness Spit parking lot along the water and then cutting inland. It offers great views of the Strait of San Juan de Fuca and the Olympic Mountains. This time, everything was fog enhanced. The sky was a spectacular gray and the mountains blurred in the distance. It was an easy enough walk but very rewarding.

The Olympic Mountains


The misty trail

The thicket



Gray sky and mountain view
















Keywords: dungeness spit

01/12 - Little River Trail

With all the rain this winter we decided to head up the Little River Trail where we were rewarded with a little river in full spate and a misty forest trail. Here and there we were slowed by windfall, but the trail was easy going. Once in the national park proper, we descended to the roaring river and mystical forest.

Descending to the river





Entering the misty forest

A little waterfall across the river

Windfall



Down by the river




Fungus?


Walls of the river valley

More mist on our way back





Keywords: little river, waterfall, winter

01/10 - Find Me A Primitive Trail

The usual route to Dungeness Spit from the parking lot is pretty enough, but we prefer the slightly longer but even prettier Primitive Trail. If nothing else, it has better slime molds.

















Keywords: dungeness spit

The Kaleberg Journal - December 2025

12/09 - Dungeness Dike

We went to the Dungeness Dike after the big storm. It had rained all night, and the wild winds had been blowing. The river was high, and the land was flooded. The new dike held.

It's almost winter, so flowers were few and the trees were bare. The ponds were full of ducks, and we could hear frogs croaking somewhere. We had a great view of an osprey, a distant view of an eagle, a silhouette of a jay, a great blue heron and a rather odd mystery bird a bit too far to photograph properly.

Flooded



An eagle


An osprey



A few flowers left

That mystery bird - It might have golden feet. It might not.

A great blue heron



Ducks and more ducks






A hard to see hawk

That's not a bird as best we can tell.

A jay

Keywords: ducks, dungeness, eagle, flowers, winter

The Kaleberg Journal - November 2025

11/15 - Dungeness Dike in the Mist

We took a misty day hike at the Dungeness Spit. It was a familiar trail but the mist made it mysterious. The mountains and sky were hidden. We could be anywhere.























Keywords: dungeness

Keywords: dungeness

11/14 - Dungeness Spit By Way of the Primitive Trail

There are two ways to get from the parking lot down to the Dungeness Spit. There's the regular trail which is nicely paved and relatively straight. It gets one right there. There's also the Primitive Trail which meanders through the forest before joining the regular trail at the overlook. We usually take the Primitive Trail which is much more atmospheric.

In the late fall and winter, the tides for hiking the Spit are often so hide that there is no beach to walk on. Heading out means clambering over and around driftwood and taking advantage of what soft sand is available. This visit was much nicer. The tide wasn't low, but there was a fair bit of walkable beach with sand firm enough for easy walking and not all that many strips of rocks and pebbles. We only made it out to the half mile stake, but it was a treat given the time of year.






















Keywords: dungeness spit

The Kaleberg Journal - August 2025

08/27 - On To Australia - First Stop - Vancouver BC

We like to fly to Australia via Vancouver. The alternative is via Los Angeles, but that means flying down to LA and dealing with LAX in both directions. YVR in Vancouver is a much smaller, calmer airport, and, for us, it's easy to get to Vancouver.

We always spend an extra night so we get to eat dinner at Le Crocodile which was in top form as usual and to walk the loop along the shore in Stanley Park. One isn't really in Vancouver until one sees the bright yellow mound of sulfur across the water. It's one of the city landmarks. The featured bird on this walk was the heron. There were lots of them perched on rocks and enjoying the waterfront much as we were.


Flying in to Vancouver BC

We had no idea.

Nothing says welcome to Vancouver like its huge mound of sulfur.

One of many great blue herons

The Lion's Gate Bridge








Return to civilization

Keywords: australia, flying, vancouver

Keywords: australia, flying, vancouver

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