PARK STROLL~Self-Care 2026; Castle Rock-WA

The Day dawned bright and warm, so, I enjoyed a half hour stroll around the Park 😁

I finished this up in the wee hours of the morning, so I wouldn't guilt myself while walking my pampering exploration stroll; it will go on the big bed tomorrow.

But first, I prepared for my return - I'd be a little winded 🌬️, so I set out my camp chair & table at the back door …

Getting this chair folded back up again was a trick! I was very thankful for my dumbbell routines that gave me the muscle 💪 to wrestle that thing closed again 😂🤣

Then I grabbed my phone 📱, my camera 📸, set my watch tracker ⏱️, and started out 👣:

Little purple groundcover; behind Independence.

Broad-leaf Holly with tiny flower buds.

Afternoon stroll along the upper level of the Park.

Every tree in the Park is blooming.

A carpet of dainty white flowers.

All of the Road Signs are PNW themed: mountain names, river names, tree names, fish names, ect.; these ones cracked me up 😉

l was really enjoying my Day out.

Orange butterfly = Lower level of the Park, which follows the rail tracks.

Beautiful day, today.

Pretty little tree with blossoms that resemble tiny roses.

Very colorful.

Humorous squirrel sign.

A log with conks on it. Conks are unique to the Pacific Northwest (PNW). They are primarily found in old-growth forests and are associated with large conifers in this region. The Laricifomes officinalis fungus, for example, grows in large conks on the trunks of trees in the PNW, indicating a specific habitat and association with the area. Additionally, the presence of conks on dead conifers in the PNW further supports their unique occurrence in this region.

Conks: (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polypore)

When I saw the conks, my mind started going down a rabbit trail: conks normally grow on old growth tree trunks - these logs laying on the ground, obviously staged, did not appear to be very old.

I got to thinking about when this Park was built; this Park was built the summer of 1998, on land fill sandy ash that washed down the Toutle River following the Mt. St. Helens volcanic eruption in 1980.

Mt. St. Helens Eruption: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1980_eruption_of_Mount_St._Helens

Bob & I were renting an RV Space at the Paradise Cove RV Park, directly across the way. The crew building this Park was also staying there. But until I married Holland, I had never been in here - and even though Holland & I have stayed here, this is actually my first walk about, because this is our first lengthy stay here: now that the rain is letting up, I will have time to enjoy more leisurely strolls 😊

The Pacific Rhodies are budding; though there are rhododendrons in Asia, this species is unique to the PNW region's special elements.

Next exploration.

Looping back towards home. And there is the freeway.

Short; & that's okay.

A gentle breeze blew through the trees.

It felt good to be outside 🌸

It felt good to be stretching my legs, again 👣

It felt good to have the sunshine on my face 🌞

It felt good to hear the soft song of the trees 🌳

After supper, I posted by Resurrection Blog Post …

April 4, 2026 - GADOL ADONAI = Great is the Lord~Holy Week 2026 #7; Castle Rock-WA: 

(https://roadgypsiesvalandholland.blogspot.com/2026/04/gadol-adonai-great-is-lordholy-week.html)

… then, I kicked my shoes off and totally relaxed. Today was a beautiful Day - and tomorrow will be even warmer; I think I will take another stroll tomorrow, if given time 😉