The Nissan Rogue has been resting. And it is grateful for that! After five weeks on the road crossing into Washington State from Ohio, several thousand miles on its middle aged tires, and writing four blog installments for Hashtag 59’s readers the Nissan Rogue has been restoring itself in Bellingham Washington. Let’s continue with our on the road nomad series in Bellingham Washington and the North Cascades!

A beautiful city located near the border of America and Canada Bellingham was a marquee draw for the Rogue’s extended road trip for several reasons:
1. Great hiking near the small city.
2. A food truck located on every corner.
3. Friends from high school and college who live there and love it there.
4. Mountains & Water all right there for your enjoyment.
5. A very connected community that cares about each other yet is also very worldly. (Liberal. Pro Black Lives Matter. Pro LGBTQ. Pro Food Composting. Pro Shopping Local. Pro Solar Energy. Pro Environment. etc.)

So that’s where the Rogue has posted up shop in Washington. In front of the studio apartment with a yogi vibe in it called The Garage Mahal. Which is a highly recommended airbnb should you ever visit the area.

The Rogue hasn’t been completely powered down though. Just less of a maniacal pace than the several weeks prior. The Rogue has taken to having days off driving and allowing its owners to just ride the bicycles and walk to places.

A few hiking spots though have been calling its name as have several other highlights during its stay here in Bellingham.

Here’s a bit of a BHAM (Bellingham Washington) roundup:
1. Hiking:
Oyster Dome. Clayton Beach. Lake Padden.
2. Eating:
Sage Against the Machine. Kebab Casual. Taco Trucks Galore! Fairhaven Poke.
3. Cooking:
Bellingham Food Co-Op Grocery Store.
4. Reading:
Boulevard Park & Fairhaven Park.
5. Waterfall Chasing:
Whatcom Falls.
6. Experiential:
Teaching a Zoom Yoga Class on the Beach to a few in-person friends from high school, college, and the Enchantments while bringing the Yoga On High family to BHAM via Zoom. It was a very cool experience! It was SO NICE out my phone overheated but alas we found shade and the yogi’s on Zoom waited around!
7. Furry Friends:
Playing at the beach with the 14 year old pup known as Dexter. A true lover of all.
8. Cycling:
The Interurban Trail & FLYING down Alabama Hill.

Beyond BHAM beckons a true wild wilderness in North Cascades National Park & Mt Baker Snoqualmie National Forest.
The Rogue caught a ride in its friends Subaru because there are a lot of potholes and dirt roads out in these areas. Three days exploring this region more has led the Rogue to believe that the Cascades might be the MOST UNDERRATED mountain range in America.

Some of the great hikes in Mount Baker included Skyline Divide, Park Butte, & Gothic Basin. The WTA is a great resource to learn more about these trails, check them out HERE!

The opportunities to adventure here are endless and the Rogue really wants to be in charge one day but those Subaru’s are just way better on the rough roads. Guess that’s why every other person in BHAM owns a Subaru!

On the way out of the National Forest one day the Subaru picked up a hitchhiker and its pretty pup Clementine who had gotten stranded when their truck wouldn’t start after the hike. They were about five miles into a fifteen mile walk to cell phone service after a VERY STRENUOUS HIKE. The Rogue’s Grandma Mary had said to not pick up hitchhikers ironically when visiting in Colorado. But it had to. Who would have thought.
Regardless of the chance you might get stranded these hard to reach trails are still an absolute must visit when in the BHAM area.

The locals keep telling the Rogue the weather isn’t this beautiful and pristine. There’s not even any air conditioning here. The Rogue has been getting told this about Washington State for years though.
Guess they don’t want to let the secret out about how amazing it is here. The Rogue understands.

That’s about it. Between the special yoga class, the hitchhiker, the connection with old friends, hiking up Oyster Dome, gawking at Mt Baker, and getting some rest BHAM was exactly what the Rogue expected BHAM to be.
Beautiful. Activist Driven. Craft Beer Heavy. Outdoorsy. Kind. Welcoming. Restful.

The open road beckons once again and so does a trip to Whidbey Island and Olympic National Park before the Rogue heads for the Oregon Coast.

Thanks for reading and bon voyage to the Dirt Paths my friends!

The Rogue (Mike R)