Our little bay stretches between two points that jut out into the sea. At the north, Birch Point isn’t really a point at all, but rather a rounded knob that curves around with Drayton Harbor beyond. On the south, there is a genuine point, Point Whithorn is the name of the geographic feature, a series of high bluffs with a short, steep trail leading down to the water’s edge. There are two oil refineries and a now idle aluminum plant with docks that extend out into the sea south of Point Whitehorn. The industrial area, along with the aquatic reserve between them and the point are generally known as Cherry Point.

We lived in our house and explored our neighborhood for three years before we discovered Point Whitehorn Marine Reserve. It is 54 acres of forest, bluff and beach. There is an ADA accessible trail to viewpoints at the top of the bluff. The trail crosses 19 small wooden bridges and passes by giant old growth trees with dense undergrowth. The viewpoints before the steep trail down to the beach offer spectacular views of the Strait of Georgia and the San Juan Islands.

Yesterday was a picture perfect day for a walk through the reserve and down to the beach. There aren’t many truly cloudless days in this part of the world, but there were no clouds to be seen yesterday afternoon. A bit of sea haze was on the horizon between us and the islands, but they were easy to see. The water was calm and the day just right for a comfortable fall walk.

Like folk who have lived here longer than us, we have begun to understand the cycle of seasons. We know that rainy days are ahead for us. Unlike other places where we have lived where floods occur in the spring, November is flood season around here. The rains usually begin in October with several successive atmospheric rivers dumping lots of rain on everything west of the summit of the Cascades. The level where the rain turns to snow descends with the coming of fall and generally ends up around 4,000 feet, where the snow falls wet and heavy. Rivers fill with water and the managers of the dams in the mountains make complex considerations trying to keep their reservoirs full for maximum electric generation year round. Reservoirs store not only water, but for practical purposes they also store electrical energy. Controlling the release of water through the dams allows power operators to maximize electricity production. When the reservoirs are full, however, dam operators are forced to release excess water that can result in downstream flooding. When the rains are accompanied by warmer air causing snow melt in the higher elevations, area rivers flood.

Winter can also bring king tides with cause coastal flooding. The king tides don’t come as early as the November rains so the two phenomena aren’t simultaneous.

Anticipating the coming of rainy season, we are reveling in the clear days and relatively warm daytime temperatures. It is a season for slightly longer walks and for lingering to enjoy the beauty of this place we call home.

When we got down to the beach yesterday, we found friends there enjoying the day. These friends have two boys, a second-grader and a fourth-grader. The boys were having a great time building a lean-to out of driftwood and decorating it with rocks and shells they found on the beach. There were some relatively large pieces of wood that required the boys to cooperate to move them into place and there was a fair amount of discussion as to how they should be placed to enhance their structure. Their structure was large enough for the boys to crawl under a makeshift roof that provided a bit of shade, but that wouldn’t have kept them dry in the rain. It was clear that the younger brother was enjoying being under the cover more than the older brother, who stayed outside of the structure all of the time that we were chatting with their mother.

The mother said they had talked about going to a park for the day. There are several nice parks in our area, some with lots of open space for play, climbing structures, swings and other amenities. The boys, however, had told their mother that they preferred to go into nature, by which they meant a place with less development. The Point Whitehorn Marine Reserve was just the right place for their outing. I asked the boys if they had see the giant tree that had fallen leaving a small cavelike divot beneath the upturned roots. Someone has hauled a small stump into the area which seems quite inviting. It is large enough that the boys could stand up under the shelter of the roots above. The boys immediately knew the place to which I referred. The younger one said he likes going under the roots. The older one reported that he thinks the place is “creepy.” He doesn’t like the way the roots hang down from the area overhead.

Our conversation couldn’t have taken 15 minutes and the boys were busy building all of the time. However, it was enough for me to learn quite a bit about them and to notice some differences in their personalities. The conversation reminded me of how much I enjoy being out in nature, but also how much I enjoy being with people. When I walk through the forest, I enjoy the solitude and the quiet. I can also find great pleasure in an empty beach with a log or rock on which I can sit and enjoy the peacefulness. But I don’t need to have the natural places of this world to myself. Our walk along the beach was enhanced by a conversation with friends, and the piling up of driftwood, rocks and shells by a couple of young boys added to the interest of the beach and the joy of the day.

I don’t need to own a large amount of land, but I am grateful to live near protected natural places that we share and all can enjoy.