Ebey’s Landing Hike—Wednesday, April 27, 2022
On Wednesday, April 27th, 10 CAI members including Sam & Sylvia Shiroyama, John & Flo Burnett, Kendra Wanzenried, Mary Morgan, Gerlinde Gruber, Joanie Pryor, Derek Brown, and Ida Callahan walked from Rosehill Community Center in old town Mukilteo to the Mukilteo-Clinton ferry. We walked on the 9:30AM boat and were whisked across Possession Sound to Clinton where we caught the Island Transit #1 N (northbound) bus. After a 30-minute ride up Whidbey Island, we disembarked the bus at Sherman Road. Just a short walk north on the Kettles Trail which parallels Highway 20, we turned to our left and wandered southwest through forest on the Kettles Spur Trail, skirted the Prairie, and headed toward the Prairie Overlook trailhead.
After a short respite and use of the most convenient restroom, we headed down the Prairie Overlook trail passing by Sarah & Jacob Ebey’s house and their blockhouse. The blockhouse had been built to ward of attacks by the local, Indigenous folks who, apparently, had an issue with their land be overtaken by settlers. The views as one walks toward the Strait of San Juan De Fuca are outstanding and vast; unobstructed as you look toward the Olympic Mountains. To the south is a vast prairie that stretches to another Ebey house at the edge of another forest.
When we reached the Bluff, we turned right which took us high above the beach for about a mile. There were wildflowers, seabirds, rustling grasses, and an eagle that sat perched atop an old snag. We dropped down to the beach and found a suitable log to sit on and have lunch after which we walked on the beach to where we could again access the Prairie Bluff Overlook trail. We ended our hike taking the Pratt loop through the prairie, the trees, and back to Highway 20 where we caught the bus. This was the only snafu – we got on the wrong bus!!!! After a delightful tour off the beaten path of Whidbey Island, we were dropped where we could catch the ‘right’ bus (#1 SB) back to Clinton and the ferry.
As often happens in our lovely Northwest, the weather turned out to be just what we needed and wanted – mostly clear skies with big, puffy clouds and sun to warm our souls. This trip was different than most CAI hikes here in the Northwest and reminiscent of some of our trips in Italy as we used two modes of public transportation. Everybody seemed to enjoy themselves, liked the idea of using public transportation although initially there was some skepticism, and talk about planning more trips of this kind. Excluding driving to Mukilteo, the only cost for the hike was our ferry fare!! I think it safe to say fun was had by all.
