I mentioned in my previous post that Duncan and I have a plethora of differences. One of the main areas we differ is what we prefer to do with our free time. When I have zero responsibilities the first place I want to go is outside. I want to hike, or bike, or explore a new town. Duncan is more of a homebody and he prefers calm and quiet times at home.
This was one of the first areas of our relationship where we were able to practice productive compromise and communication – two fundamental building blocks of a healthy relationship. We spend most of our weekends together and try to spend one day doing an activity for me, and one day doing something chill for him.
So far we have been able to make this work, while also communicating it’s ok if we do things separately.
One of our most recent outdoor adventures was to a very chill, but equally beautiful walking area called Guillemot Cove. I had been here once before, but I hadn’t explored the entirety of it. There are multiple trails that lead into one large cove area, encompassing around 3-4 miles.
It’s like a choose your own ending book.
We pulled up to a surprisingly busy parking area, which shouldn’t have surprised me as it was a sunny Saturday. We don’t have a lot of that bright light in this state. We started in the woods, and took our first right taking us down the steepest part of the trail. From the woods we were thrown into an open area of tall grasses giving the first sneak peak of the cove on the beach.
Despite how many cars we saw in the lot, we didn’t see too many other humans until the second half of our hike. It was as if Zeus himself was smiting me by bringing the humans out at the most inopportune times. More on that later. Our first destination was the beach – to see the cove, and my goodness it did not disappoint.
I certainly have my moments of wanting to travel wide and far, but it’s close to home spots like this that keep me somewhat grounded.
We sat at the beach for a bit while Duncan watched three Osprey hover over the thermal vents and dive for fish. While he was watching a live showing of National Geographic I was admiring the surrounding hills feeling waves of nostalgia for other similar landscapes I have visited throughout my life.
Memories are both beautiful and soul tugging at the same time.
After pining over the views it was time to finish the trails. This is where things got sticky. Right next to the beach is a Ridge Trail that climbs up for maybe 5 minutes, and then climbs back down making a loop. I could have done without this trail because there were no views, and at the top there were SO.MANY.SLUGS. I’m talking big, fat, banana, brown – just vile.
The path was so narrow that I had to walk far too close to them.
Duncan was my knight in green polo shirt on this hike because I nearly had a panic attack. From here on slugs seemed to overtake the trails, live ones, dead ones, tree ones, grass ones, and the people came out of the woodwork making the trails even more narrow to walk on. I can’t tell you how many times I had to walk close to a slimy spawn of satan.
If you’re new round these parts, I have a phobia of slugs. It’s weird, I know.
I wanted to show Duncan the stump house, which is what this hike is known for, so I sucked it up and we pushed on. A quick hello to the stump house (essentially a large stump someone built a little “roof” onto), and we headed back to the car. Away from slug city.
After our hike we drove to a nearby state park for a picnic, enjoying the last bit of sunshine. It was a lovely Brittany day, and I am quite certain Duncan enjoyed himself too. Aside from having to hold my hand like a small child when I couldn’t walk over the fallen trees covered with slugs. But hey, love knows no bounds.
Today we set off for our first weekend getaway since our vacation to Glacier/Sawtooth’s LAST SUMMER. My first mini getaway in over a year. I’ve been a mess of a human for months, and I am so ready to spend some time away from home in a new to me city. Let’s hope we find good coffee, good views, and some good times.
Q: What’s one of your phobias? Please make me feel better about myself by telling me you also have a really weird one.
Blissfulbritt 
24 thoughts on “Guillemot Cove”
shoutyourheadoff
Great location and photos. And your relationship is one to be lauded. Although I’m widowed, my relationship with my wife was flexible to start with and we understood each other’s needs well enough to accept compromise. Of course, all marriages have some ups and downs. Unfortunately, her long term illness meant there was no compromise from my end. Her health always came first. Now, as you’ve probably read in my blog, I’m getting about and doing what’s best for the life I have left. I am very happy to read your stories and see the wonderful pictures. Be kind and courteous to each other. Love conquers all.
Brittany
What a kind message, and thank you for sharing. I hope you are enjoying all that you can.
Rosie
Fellow slug-hater here! Can’t even begin to describe how much they gross me out, and can empathise with narrow path problems. Had a similar experience last summer on a walk, and the path through a field was overgrown and absolutely crawling with the things.
Brittany
The overgrown fields make me feel like I’m walking in land mines. Absolutely terrifying!
Rootchopper
My phobia is heights. Gets worse every year. We stayed in a hostel with a long flight of stairs with narrow treads. Eek.
Brittany
Ooofff I hate sketchy stairs, and I think as I get older I too become more fearful of heights.
Rootchopper
The pic of Duncan and you makes him look like a giant. Is this the camera angle? Are you shrinking?
Brittany
Well I did learn the awful truth at a recent doctors appointment that I am a full half inch shorter than I once was! Degenerating discs. What a life.
He is also 6’1 so that helps with the towering look. I am a measly 5’5.5. Yes, I’m hanging onto that .5.
Arctic Hare!
I have a weird phobia! I have a phobia of ants. It is a funny feeling wanting to cry if I walk into a kitchen and see a line of them, be unable to touch a surface that has them, and feel paralyzed by such tiny creatures. One, I can do. Two, okay. They just at home in their mound? All right. Anywhere else? 😨 I used to live in a place where they came in the cars every summer and… I cried a lot. 😅🥺
I sympathize with feeling weird about your phobia. I am so glad Duncan was gracious with you. That is perfect. 😊
Brittany
Ohh my goodness. I can related all too well to the paralyzed feeling and just wanting to or just actually crying. In fact today I went for ANOTHER hike/walk where there was so much tall grass I about died because of all the snails (they are no different to me than a slug.)
I definitely had a melt down by the end when I came to the end and there was a stretch where they were literally covering every step.
I am sorry you had to live somewhere they invaded the cars, I can’t even imagine!
Pree
Yessss to compromise and open communication! Love the balance and awesome pics
Brittany
Thank you friend! Compromise isn’t always easy, but it’s almost always worth it! (For the right people.) 🙂
Allie Zottola
I hope you have a nice getaway! I love that you and Duncan can communicate and compromise on things to do where you’re both happy. So sorry about the slugs! Glad you had a knight in a green polo shirt, though 😎
Brittany
Bahaha I’m glad you noticed the knight in green polo shirt comment.
Atheria
I had never heard of or seen banana slugs until I moved to Lake Oswego, OR in 2008. I was HORRIFIED by them! Blech! As a vegan, I normally think all animals are beautiful…but…nope! (That being said, I feel they have a right to life. Just keep away from me. LOL)
Brittany
I am the most bizarre human because I loathe them, they absolutely terrify me, yet I don’t want them dead. My mom recently salted one and I cried.
Atheria
I would have been upset too. I saw the snail comment and have fallen in love with my nerite snail, Lambo. He’s a character and fascinating to watch clean the aquarium.
Amy
Cats!! I’m terrified of cats. They’re really cute in pictures, videos, and when they’re not physically in the same room as me. But as soon as they are… I have a very similar reaction to you and slugs. Yes, I’m super weird. Oh well — but weird can be wonderful, right?? 😉
I hope you had a wonderful weekend getaway!! ♡
Brittany
DID I KNOW THIS?! I feel like maybe I should have known this, but perhaps not to this extent. I cannot imagine being afraid of cats! But fear has no filter so a fear is a fear! No judgement at all. Cats are mischievous haha.
Weird is absolutely wonderful, and the weekend was so great.
Atheria
Okay, I have to prove that my nerite snail, Lambo (short for Lamborghini) is downright adorable. He is cuter than a banana slug. In all seriousness, the little guy fascinates me and has outlived a bunch of fish. https://photos.app.goo.gl/QuD6ndqv8AG6GRf97 (one video and some pictures from yesterday)
Brittany
As much as I’d love to look at this, I cannot. I can’t even do photos. 😅😅😅
Atheria
He’s so cute! Seriously…his little mouth sucking up algae is great! He could model.
gpavants
Phobias? Not having enough to sat in a conversation and thus embarrassing myself. Not sure if that is phobia but it is a problem for sure. Oh, here is a word for you dinomania . It means “pertaining to slugs.”
Brittany
I cannot believe there is an actual word existing in the English language of this manner. What the heck. 😂