I guess I have to start somewhere, and hiking is going to be it. I have assigned myself 12 new-to-me hikes in this year’s adventures. The point here, above all else is to make sure I don’t stay locked away in my house.  Beyond that, it seems, hiking 12 new hikes won’t be possible on our tiny island – not challenging ones anyway – and so I will have to branch out.  I wondered whether I would find one far away for my first go, but as it turns out, I took the easy route and went to the closest trail – one of only maybe two near my home. This is dangerous behavior, as I am really cutting out my fallbacks should a year go by and I still need a couple hikes. Oh well, it is done. Without further adieu, Gazzam Lake Trail.

 We set out, sandwiches in bag for a Sunday afternoon quickie.  Gazzam Lake trail stretches from the forest of inner Bainbridge Island, to the channel of Puget Sound stretching between our island, and the more westerly peninsula of Bremerton and Silverdale, Washington. At around 2.5 miles each way, it winds by a small lake covered edge to edge in lily pads and cattail. The lake itself was rather unremarkable, so much so I forgot to take a picture. I did capture some graffiti on the water tower early in the hike, and that should be noted, as this island is remarkably white-bread so far, and decidedly missing some naughty undertones. I’ll take rogue art where I can get it.

 Just a short distance past the lake, still in imperial wooded forest, the sky and sea peek through the trees and you begin a rather steep half-mile downhill to the rocky shores. The smell is that of any good northwest coastal shoreline – pungent. Fish bodies, mud, brine and sea air all swirl into something that I can only describe as home.  The cooler outside air makes this combination of seaside smell somewhat different than the ripe ocean smells of Hawaii. There, the sun bakes the ripe out of the shore long before it can stew. Here, brine is an actual flavor in your day if you dwell near the shore. I never thought I would miss this particular odor, but on first sniff here in the greater Seattle area, I can honestly say I am in love. Brine and seagulls – who knew they could be missed?

Though our hike was less then challenging, it did render some insane shell finds and a solid five plus miles on the pedometer. I will certainly consider this for weekly exercise and a solid place to hike visiting friends…