Day 19: Snoqualmie Valley Trail: Carnation to Snoqualmie

 Highlights:

Today’s target on the real Camino would have had me cover a mere 11.1 miles from Mansilla  de las Mulas to the famous Leon where I would have stood in awe of Leon’s luminous Gothic cathedral and Romanesque Real Colegiata de San Isidoro, and splurged on a night at Sand Marcos Parador.

On my real Day 19, I was excited to do my second point to point (yes, Don graciously agreed to pick me up at my destination), 12.9 miles from Carnation to Snoqualmie – home of the famous Snoqualmie Falls.

It was a continuously wonderful experience – the path was cool and sheltered with an ever changing cathedral-like roof of trees, the sun dappled every view, and the quiet with occasional whispers from the wind also quietened my mind.

As you can see from today’s photos, I was in farm country with horses, cows,  and roosters that I only heard but did not see.  Every once in a while, a large dried-up leaf would float down in front of me, a reminder that this is the shoulder season before our typically lingering Pacific Northwest summer is officially over.  I stopped to add a stone to an Inukshuk (here you call them cairns) at the side of the path, appreciating whoever had started it.

About two-thirds of the way to Snoqualmie, I passed beside Fall City and immediately began hearing rushing water – little falls, at the side of the path.  I thought about some tempting side paths but decided not to stray from today’s plan.  

Suddenly the silence was broken by rifle shots that seemed to get increasingly closer to the path. I am not a fan of any guns and was nervous about what was going on.  I looked up “gun clubs near me” and sure enough, the Snoqualmie Rifle Club was listed as .5 miles away.  I saw a Keep out – Rifle range sign and was happy to comply.

The first trail head stop in Snoqualmie wouldn’t meet my goal so I followed the route that took me off the trail and onto Snoqualmie streets.  The slim shoulders reminded me of my walking etiquette when we lived on Pender Island – if I can’t see them, they can’t see me, and I carefully crossed back and forth to ensure mutual visibility.

I turned a corner and my jaw dropped – in front of me were the gobsmackingly beautiful mountains that will be my destination tomorrow in North Bend – Big Si  and Little Si. I decided to give that shot it’s own slide today.

As I was within .1 miles of  my destination, a kind driver stopped and asked if I needed a lift. (I've been compiling thoughts and themes about this faux-mino experience and one of the things that keeps coming up is community. More to come).  I was happy as usual to meet my trusty partner and best bud, Don, who was already in the parking lot at the end of today's road.  Thanks Don!

I've decided that I will start Day 20 at the wonderful Snoqualmie Falls, to share that with you before I head to North Bend.

This journey is so much more than I ever imagined.  Thank you for sharing it with me and ¡Buen Camino!













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