Lynden - Nooksack Valley East

Saturday, July 24 and Hoody and Koody finally have perfect weather for biking. I know since Koody commented that Hoody has shorts on – probably the first and only time this year given Vancouver’s weather. Today we will cross the border into the USA and tackle one part of the Nooksack Valley. We’re graced by the company of ‘Ole Dutch’ who is in town this summer and can join us on our excursion. A 40 minute wait to get through the border and then the ‘Three Stooges’ will be biking away.

We park the car at the Lynden City Park, get organized and take our traditional beginning picture. Koody bravely asks a passerby to take our photo. Probably not our best but with Koody always in Hoody’s shadow, it is as expected. Ole Dutch couldn’t wait to get started and quickly bikes to the street awaiting us. He performs his 1st miracle – the parting of the road. All the cars stop and wait for him as they think he is ready to cross the crosswalk. He has to keep waving them on as the slow pokes need to catch up. It’s obvious the tone is set for today – Hoody & Koody will be pulling up the rear.

We head out in an easterly direction through De Dutch town of Lynden. Our 1st sighting – an honest to goodness ‘Roundhouse’, on an odd-shaped lot (I think triangular) with owners that certainly must be ‘Square’. They can’t be Dutch or, given their height, they wouldn’t be able to stand up straight inside. A bit further along and Koody is snapping photos of ‘De Dutch’ lawn ornaments. It continues to shape up into a ‘De-lightful’ day.

It’s about a 20 minute ride before we leave ‘De-Dutch’ behind and hit the country roads. One thing that strikes us is how clean, green and impeccably well-maintained this little-known, tucked away part of the USA is. We pass a farm house which I am sure the Spanish artist Gaudi must have influenced. Although not gaudy, the geometric painting designs are quite unique. And then ‘Ole Dutch’ turns to us and says “Up there, in the sky, it’s a bird, it’s a plane, no it’s a motorized paraglider?!” We are fascinated by the contraption which is carrying 3 people. De Dare Devil Koody confesses he would never go up in one of those things, while ‘scared of heights’ Hoody would entertain the idea of flight – just not today as we are sticking with our ‘rubber meeting the road’ and eventually continue.

A short distance further along and we come to a herd of cows out ‘sun-bathing’, most likely storing up for milk production later in the day. They are part of the Edelweiss Dairy Farm. Well, Koody once again impresses us with his knowledge of flora as he tells us Edelweiss is a white flower. We have now replaced Lady Gaga’s ‘Alejandro’ in our brain with ‘Edelweiss’ – yes, nearby Mt. Baker and its’ foothills are alive with the Sound of Music and Koody’s singing.

And then, Ole Dutch, who is way ahead of the pack, stops suddenly in his tracks and waits for the slow pokes to catch up. He is eying a ‘thing-a-ma-jig’ with utmost curiosity. We join him and watch this in fascination. We are trying to figure out what this piece of farm machinery is picking. Ole Dutch and Koody guess raspberries while Hoody is skeptical, thinking a machine would crush those delicate berries. Turns out the guys are correct. Next thing we know, the lady is motioning for Hoody to climb up on the equipment. She is a migrant worker from Canada and, even though their work is noisy and monotonous, she and her partner have the most wonderful warm and inviting smiles. It would be interesting to have lunch with them and hear their stories. However, it is not meant to be. Instead, the lady gives Hoody a handful of raspberries to share with her friends. We all agree that these berries are the best – having been picked and sorted only 15 minutes ago.

Gaining renewed strength from our snack and short break, we continue down the road, coming across a barn full of cows poking their heads out of their stalls. With our noses firmly plugged, we greet them. The closer we get, the shyer they become – hiding in their cubbies. Around the back are the milking machines and no, they didn’t offer us a free sample although in retrospect, maybe we should have tried for one.

Next stop is a field of blueberries. The owners are selling crates to passerby’s. Although we can’t fit a crate on our bikes – let me rephrase that – Ole Dutch and Hoody are convinced we could fit a crate on our bikes like the Chinese do – Canadian customs just wouldn’t go for it. We offer to buy a baggie of fruit to supplement our snack and they wash them up and give them to us for free. We engage in conversation learning more about the art of blueberry growing and picking. Our knowledge of farming has just increased two-fold.

Off we go again, around a bend to Riverside Park where we do enjoy our snack alongside the Nooksack River. Koody turns it into a gourmet feast. The water looks inviting but alas, we left our bathing suits at home.

Eventually we hit the trail again. It’s either that or Ole Dutch is headed for a nap. We’ve now reached about the half way point of our journey and begin to head west. We come across a lawn ornament, Koody insisting this is the perfect photo-op for Ole Dutch and his Duchess. He’s right of course and we comply. Then further along it’s an odd assortment of a few cows/steers. A different setting and we’d be ‘running with the bulls’. Just not sure how the black and white one is part of this mix – some farm experiment in the making?

We will continue biking along the country roads, past more fields and fields of blueberries and raspberries – so many raspberries that you can smell the fruit in the air. Koody’s olfactory system is on the fritz as he can’t smell a thing – probably still plugged from the barn. But Koody does try to connect with nature, especially the horses. I must say, Koody’s ‘neighing’ is quite respectable but there are no takers here – maybe next go around.

There are beautiful views of Mt. Baker and the foothills with glimpses of the Nooksack River every now and then. By this time we are all in our own little worlds, taking in the fresh air and scenery. Eventually ahead we pass under a canopy of trees which seems to signal our passage back to a busy street and civilization.


We are back in Lynden, and parking our bikes, we once again take in De Dutch culture along main street. There is De Dutch hotel where you can stay overnight in a windmill, De Dutch post office and De Dutch café where we order lunch, pie and De Dutch treats. Ole Dutch is in De Dutch heaven with De Dutch almond tart. Koody picks up a gift of edible chocolate rocks for a friend and then we bike back to the parking lot to end our day. A mere 27km ride that we stretched into a 5 hour leisurely adventure. The summer’s not over so stay tuned for more.

And for those of you who might wonder about the name Hoody – it’s famous for its’ nuts! We’re now on the lookout for Koody.