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Discovery Park

 My first hike of the year was at Discovery Park.  Its wonderful living in a place where right in the city you can find this incredible “park” full of hiking trails that lead you through trees, down to the beach that is littered with shells and giant pieces of driftwood, past a beautiful lighthouse and along a trail that has lookouts for the eagles living there.  534 Acres, with 11.81 miles of walking trails.
 I think as soon as we got out of the car, I realized how much I have missed being out in the trees and wandering down the paths.  You get filled with this sense of quiet, peaceful wonder and revelry at the magic of nature.
 Walking to the trail head, we came across a large number of American Robins.  No, I am not a birder.  I had to look the pretty birds up when I got home to find out what they were!  Google is my friend!  I don’t care if they are trying to rule the universe.  They very thoughtfully share the universe with me and if I ask the right questions, they give me answers!
 Discovery Park20120211_0743We’ll call this one Sarge.  He’s trying very hard to concentrate on his duty station and hoping that there will still be a few squigly crawlies left when he is relieved of his duty.  Cautious little buggers, they even have eyes on their backs.    Well, that’s what it looks like to me.  That’s y story and I am sticking with it!
Discovery Park20120211_0748 A bit further along the path, we noticed one of the eagles that lives in the park soaring along in the wind currents.  The raptors are just breathtaking to see in flight, their impressive wing spans, their seeming effortless gliding through the skies.  And yet again, you want to shoot yourself for not having the good telephoto lens on the camera when it happens!
 My first visit to Discovery park led us down a path that had platforms, which I later learned were for eagle viewing.  We had walked about halfway down this path when we heard a “screech” off to the side.  When we didn’t see where it was coming from, it started again.  We finally spotted him/her (the problem with birds like bald eagles is they dress alike!  So, unless you see the two of them together, you aren’t sure which it is.  And it would probably not be advised to get up close and personal with them)  The moment we saw him on the branch, he settled down and just posed for us.  Not another peep out of him.
 This picture is not from yesterday.  They, or at least one of them was in the air.  No such photo opportunity!
 They are listed as having a wing span of 8 feet.  But, the thing that struck me the most about them is their eyes.  They are like polished sky blue crystal.   The lords of all they survey!
Discovery Park20120211_0753 I think one of the things that I love so much here are the clouds.  Having spent decades in the land of summer/not summer, they skies have become a wonderland of visual spectacles.  Today was no different.  The sun kept trying to make its presence known through the layers of clouds and casting glowing touches that only almost broke through.
 Discovery Park20120211_0770And sometimes, the glow broke through just a bit more, creating halos and light streaks in celebration.
Discovery Park20120211_0780As you walk along the trails, you get the touches of both the city and the nature, for they seem always to be intermixed.  One can almost forget looking across the expanse of water that houses dot the far shore.
 Discovery Park20120211_0788Wild rose hips, I believe.  I just liked the color contrast.  The last dying breaths of the year, but holding in them the promise for the coming spring.
 A peek through the trees at the city beyond.Discovery Park20120211_0791
Discovery Park20120211_0793 I still need to find out what kind of tree this is.  But, it was striking to see it set back in a hidden area, the tips of the leaves a bright yellow.
Discovery Park20120211_0799 And a trip into the forests just isn’t complete without an encounter with one of the spirits of the forest.  This hermit tree just begs for sitting at the base of to ask the deeper questions of life.  Though, it seems you can already hear the answer.  Just be.
 Discovery Park20120211_0809   And this one tells you to laugh and be happy!
Discovery Park20120211_0812 Fort Lawton Military Cemetary
 Discovery Park20120211_0815I love the look of the dead leaves being caught in the branches.
Discovery Park20120211_0821 Mists and moss and cloudy skies.  Course, that does make for a problem here.  The people that say that moss grows on the north side of a tree have obviously never been here.  It grows on all sides of the trees here.
 Discovery Park20120211_0830  I have no idea what this looks like to me.  Every time I look at it, I see different things.
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