Two of the most relaxing and beautiful places in Washington state are the captivating Lake Roosevelt located in the northeast corner, and the very soothing Rocky Point Beach on Camano Island which is a part of the beautiful Puget Sound. I have been, lucky enough to live near both. These two places are exceedingly special and have many similarities. Whether it is the way I can feel the breezy air or the sandy shores every time I step by the small waves with my bare feet or maybe the children I’am able to faintly hear in the background as I’am sitting in deep thought. These two places are similar in ways, but for me the memories and reasons for spending time at Lake Roosevelt or the beach at Rocky Point are very different and seem to be beneficial and calming in their own ways.
The exciting days I have spent at Lake Roosevelt all through my childhood have made many lovely memories. Living about 10 miles from the lake, my family and I spent time there often. When I think about the lake now, I can still see everything in my mind: the curvy road we had to drive in order to get there, the railroad tracks that align the edge of the campsite, the arid brown hills that surround it, and the many Ponderosa pine trees that follow the path through the campsite and down to the water’s edge. This lake is not just any lake. To me this is a place, I have birthday memories, the same place my dad taught me to swim. It was always there that we would go as a family and spend time together, sometimes a day to have a picnic and swim, or a week of hearty camping. My younger brother and I would ride our bikes up to the railroad tracks in hopes that a train would come so we could watch it go by. The sandy campsite grounds were always cluttered with fallen pine cones and pine needles. When I walked to the calm water, I could see the dark wooden dock that seemed to beckon me it was so far away I was afraid to swim to it.
My favorite thing to observe at the lake, was the busy wildlife some of which were the birds that would land on the overgrown grass and look for food. The squirrels that would jump down from trees to look for bits of food left by picnickers were funny. Little tadpoles in the water squirmed away when I tried catching them in my little plastic pail. At the lake there was always something to observe with total fascination.
I loved the smells of the lake. I always knew when we had arrived at the lake because the way it smelled of fishy lake water and the sweet smelling Ponderosa pines. When sitting by the fire pit roasting marshmallows, the smoky air would blow across my face.
Every so often a train would pass on the nearby tracks, and we would hear the whistle. Sitting on the sand I would listen intently for the small lapping waves on the shore, but most days when the wind was not blowing, it would make the waves too small to hear. What I could always hear were the birds chirping and other children playing until the sun went down. That’s when the crickets would start their songs. My favorite thing to listen to was the whistling winds through the pines. All these sounds together made a memorable chorus in my ears.
When I walked up past the shore over and through the overgrown grass, I loved the feeling of the warm pavement on my bare feet. The only feeling that was better was the warm soft squishy sand that crept between my toes. I especially liked when the wind was in my hair, but the wind only chose to come out on special days at the lake.
After my family moved to Camano Island in the early spring of 2003, I found myself often at the seashore instead of at the lake shore. The beach has become a calming place for me to get away from the everyday buzz of life on this side of the mountains where life moves at a faster pace. When I first walk up to the beach I see the rocky beach and the rippling waves crashing on the sand. It also has a lovely view of Whidbey Island that is just off to the west in the far distance. I love to sit down on one of the many pieces of driftwood to watch the seagulls sweep down and feast on the fish in the bay. When the tide is low, it is fun to observe the jelly fish floating around in the salt water, the starfish on the wet sand, and seaweed of all different colors. Spending much time on this loved shore is already making new memories I will be able to cherish forever.
The smell of the island beach to me is the smell of home. It smells of salt water and I can taste it on my lips as I breath in the sweet salty air. It also smells of seafood and breezy damp air. When it is a low tide I am able to smell these things from a very long distance.
The sounds I hear at the seashore are the best things to listen to on Earth. I can hear the ocean breeze rustles the nearby trees as it also blows a soft wind across my face. The sounds that the ocean seagulls make when they beg for a bite to eat tell me I am home. Bald eagles calling to their mates and young ones. Every so often a boat motor makes me think it would be fun to get a ride. All these sounds break the rhythm of the lapping waves.
As I stand in the wind, I can feel it brace up against my body. When I feel up to waking on barnacles, it is fun to look for treasures in the sand. Sometimes, I am lucky to find sea glass of all colors that have smooth velvety polished sides. The best feeling the bay gives is when walking barefoot in the sand and hopping through the cool crisp waves.
These two places seem much alike, but are yet very different. They have been more meaningful to me then any other place I have visited. I will always love the way I felt at Lake Roosevelt spending time with my family throughout my childhood, and someday I hope to return and relive the many good memories I have. The beach by my island home now is very special and will always be a part of my life. I never plan to stray far from it. To experience such joy from the different Earth’s shores is truly a blessing.
The exciting days I have spent at Lake Roosevelt all through my childhood have made many lovely memories. Living about 10 miles from the lake, my family and I spent time there often. When I think about the lake now, I can still see everything in my mind: the curvy road we had to drive in order to get there, the railroad tracks that align the edge of the campsite, the arid brown hills that surround it, and the many Ponderosa pine trees that follow the path through the campsite and down to the water’s edge. This lake is not just any lake. To me this is a place, I have birthday memories, the same place my dad taught me to swim. It was always there that we would go as a family and spend time together, sometimes a day to have a picnic and swim, or a week of hearty camping. My younger brother and I would ride our bikes up to the railroad tracks in hopes that a train would come so we could watch it go by. The sandy campsite grounds were always cluttered with fallen pine cones and pine needles. When I walked to the calm water, I could see the dark wooden dock that seemed to beckon me it was so far away I was afraid to swim to it.
My favorite thing to observe at the lake, was the busy wildlife some of which were the birds that would land on the overgrown grass and look for food. The squirrels that would jump down from trees to look for bits of food left by picnickers were funny. Little tadpoles in the water squirmed away when I tried catching them in my little plastic pail. At the lake there was always something to observe with total fascination.
I loved the smells of the lake. I always knew when we had arrived at the lake because the way it smelled of fishy lake water and the sweet smelling Ponderosa pines. When sitting by the fire pit roasting marshmallows, the smoky air would blow across my face.
Every so often a train would pass on the nearby tracks, and we would hear the whistle. Sitting on the sand I would listen intently for the small lapping waves on the shore, but most days when the wind was not blowing, it would make the waves too small to hear. What I could always hear were the birds chirping and other children playing until the sun went down. That’s when the crickets would start their songs. My favorite thing to listen to was the whistling winds through the pines. All these sounds together made a memorable chorus in my ears.
When I walked up past the shore over and through the overgrown grass, I loved the feeling of the warm pavement on my bare feet. The only feeling that was better was the warm soft squishy sand that crept between my toes. I especially liked when the wind was in my hair, but the wind only chose to come out on special days at the lake.
After my family moved to Camano Island in the early spring of 2003, I found myself often at the seashore instead of at the lake shore. The beach has become a calming place for me to get away from the everyday buzz of life on this side of the mountains where life moves at a faster pace. When I first walk up to the beach I see the rocky beach and the rippling waves crashing on the sand. It also has a lovely view of Whidbey Island that is just off to the west in the far distance. I love to sit down on one of the many pieces of driftwood to watch the seagulls sweep down and feast on the fish in the bay. When the tide is low, it is fun to observe the jelly fish floating around in the salt water, the starfish on the wet sand, and seaweed of all different colors. Spending much time on this loved shore is already making new memories I will be able to cherish forever.
The smell of the island beach to me is the smell of home. It smells of salt water and I can taste it on my lips as I breath in the sweet salty air. It also smells of seafood and breezy damp air. When it is a low tide I am able to smell these things from a very long distance.
The sounds I hear at the seashore are the best things to listen to on Earth. I can hear the ocean breeze rustles the nearby trees as it also blows a soft wind across my face. The sounds that the ocean seagulls make when they beg for a bite to eat tell me I am home. Bald eagles calling to their mates and young ones. Every so often a boat motor makes me think it would be fun to get a ride. All these sounds break the rhythm of the lapping waves.
As I stand in the wind, I can feel it brace up against my body. When I feel up to waking on barnacles, it is fun to look for treasures in the sand. Sometimes, I am lucky to find sea glass of all colors that have smooth velvety polished sides. The best feeling the bay gives is when walking barefoot in the sand and hopping through the cool crisp waves.
These two places seem much alike, but are yet very different. They have been more meaningful to me then any other place I have visited. I will always love the way I felt at Lake Roosevelt spending time with my family throughout my childhood, and someday I hope to return and relive the many good memories I have. The beach by my island home now is very special and will always be a part of my life. I never plan to stray far from it. To experience such joy from the different Earth’s shores is truly a blessing.
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