Peddle. Paddle. Repeat.

I’m not ashamed to admit the glorious “second summer” weeks that abruptly came to an end had sent me on a somewhat desperate little frenzy of outdoor outings. Each day was as perfect as the last and they called to me like sirens.

I basically crammed as many close-to-home-and-office bike rides, kayak trips and walks into them, mornings throwing my bike in the car for a ride after work, then unloading it back in the house and loading my kayak on top of the car for the next outing, all carefully timed to conclude just after sundown before the temperature dropped — which at this time of year is dramatic. It would be in the mid-60s when I set out and low 40s by the time I was heading home.

It was the same all over again on weekends; I just didn’t have to race against the ever-so-rapidly fading daylight.

The week before we left for vacation was a lively, mad dash of recreating, washing clothes and packing. But it paid off as my husband and I headed for the coast and a week of relaxation.

We stayed on Puget Sound off the coast of Seattle. It’s been several years since I’ve been there. What I love about Seattle is that it’s surrounded by water. Everywhere you go almost, you see either the ocean, Puget Sound or the area lakes. I grew up in the Midwest and spent most of my adult life in the Rocky Mountain West. I’ve never lived on the coast, but every time I make it out to one — and that’s not often — I fall in love all over again.

On this trip we were only in the city long enough to swing into Pike Place Market for a few hours, watch the fishmongers throw fish over the counter and head home with enough fresh seafood to cook our own feasts — two and a half days worth — while staying a couple days on the mainland overlooking the Sound, and then a few days in a cottage on Vashon Island right on the beach and within sight one of the Washington ferry terminals; so close we knew without even looking whenever a ferry had pulled up from the gentle whoosh of the waves on the shore.

We scheduled our days by the tides, lingering over a second cup of coffee after breakfast until low tide, then heading out for sightseeing, hiking and plucking wild blackberries from copious overhead arbors along the trail, or beachcombing for shells and beach glass. The days were golden, the breeze barely lifting the hair from our heads, the beaches either sparsely populated or with us as their sole human occupants. Although we didn’t see any orcas — the J pod frequents the inland waters of Puget Sound — we did spy a pod of harbor seals swimming by.

Vashon is generously dotted with small family farms. Although I’m sure there are million dollar estates on the island, the homes we saw were primarily older farmhouses or small cottages. The roads are winding but in good condition. The island’s small downtown district is quaint, peaceful and friendly. In fact, at this time of year, most businesses’ hours of operation were reduced. It was just as well. Hours aren’t difficult to fill on a coastal island. And even though, in total, our itinerary included a short road trip, flight, car rental and online quests for three different places to stay, we came home rested and relaxed.

Even the quite dead battery in the long-term parking lot didn’t rattle us. We’re grateful to the parking lot attendant who lent us her remote battery charger.

As luck would have it the weather was still hanging in there in the Flathead the week after we got home. You guessed it. Pedal. Paddle. Repeat.

Community editor Carol Marino may be reached at 406-758-4440 or community@dailyinterlake.com.