We set off on Tuesday for Bellingham to walk a loop trail from the bus station to Fairhaven and back. Our usual Monday had been too wet for an enjoyable walk but the forecast today was for rain later in the day and we hoped it would hold off until we were done. We left the car in an 8-hour parking spot near the bus station and walked to Avenue Bakery on Railroad Avenue for coffee. This a favourite stopping place of ours where the breads, buns and coffee are good. We continued on Railroad Avenue past Farmers' Market and headed up East Maple Street, crossing North Garden Street to continue climbing past the church. We turned right on High Street, left on East Laurel Sreet to a trail going up to Jersey Street, which we followed to the right to its end at a trail going up Sehome Hill. We switchbacked up, turning left at the flat space covering a reservoir and then right where indicated by an old large arrow. This brought us to a viewing tower which we climbed to enjoy the view over Bellingham Bay. 
After a break, we continued along a path leading to a tunnel through a rock and a notice presenting the history of its construction. Going through the tunnel, we crossed the small parking lot and headed down the hill. There had obviously been a number of blowdowns from the recent windstorm but the trail was reasonably clear. We passed an access point from the vehicle road up the mountain and continued down. Buildings of Western Washington University appeared below us before we bore left and reached the vehicle road. We crossed, admiring the curving sweep of branches almost forming an arch over the road, and followed the trail briefly to Bill Macdonald Parkway. 
Going to the nearby crosswalk, we pressed the button and received immediate clearance to cross and go down Ferry Road to the marked trail on the right. Connelly Creek Trail ran between Sehome High School and some houses before dropping down through trees to pass through Joe's Gardens. We continued through lightly-treed fields, turned left where the trail forked and came out to Donovan Street. A sign indicated a short jog to the right to Happy Valley where we went into the park and stopped to enjoy a brief cold snack. Continuing through the park, we crossed Connelly Creek and then Padden Creek to reach Fairhaven Parkway. A noisy journey to the right brought us to an intersection with the entrance to Interurban Trail visible kitty-corner. This well-travelled route took us towards Fairhaven and, after going down the side of Padden Creek under a high overhead bridge carrying Chuckanut Drive, we exited right and walked down into Fairhaven. 
We enjoyed a break in Village Green Park, taking the opportunity to use the washrooms there. We carried on along South Bay Trail, admiring the new structures carrying the route offshore and remembering the old days of scrambling across beaches, over rocky headlands and the rail tracks. Everything is now beautifully managed and the amount of trail use shows it is appreciated. Nearing the end of the trail, three of us stopped off to wait on Boulevard Street while Anke went for the car and drove it back, The long-promised rain arrived while we were waiting. To conclude the day, we headed out along Alabama to enjoy a chips and gravy reward at Grammy's on the east side of Lake Whatcom. We had visited Grammy one Monday on our way back from Lake Whatcom Trail and although she doesn;t open Mondays, she opened for us when we stopped and served us coffee.
