Double Bluff - Whidbey Island

At dog camp I was told of a magical place called Double Bluff, reputed to be miles of beach where dogs can run and play off-leash.  I thought it sounded almost too good to be true, so Cedar and I went out in search of Double Bluff this morning.  Double Bluff is located on Whidbey Island near Freeland, and it is everything that it was cracked up to be.
Winding our way down a highway lined with ocean spray as if it was trimmed with antique lace, Whidbey Island instantly pulled us into its peaceful friendly charm.
It may have been the clouds and occasional raindrop or the early Sunday morning, but we had the whole place nearly to ourselves.  Apparently the offleash area was set up at the persistence of a woman named Margaret, who in her 80's was (according to the sign there) "practically arrested" for having her dog offleash there.  She was joined by a fellow dog enthusiast, Patricia and FETCH! was formed, which is the group that maintains the offleash areas on Whidbey.
You have to have your dog onleash when walking past the picnic area, playground and first bit of beach, but a windsock marks the start of paradise.

Cedar met three dogs in the first 1/4 mile and then we had the beach to ourselves (although he might have liked more dogs).  He jumped over driftwood, trotted, galloped, and rolled around to his heart's content.

He checked out a ring of moonsnail eggs.

He also checked out someone's buoy that had washed ashore. 

The beach stretched on and on, with tidepools, open sandy areas, logs to sit on, and the steep bluffs rising up against the gray sky.

This is all we left behind.  If you go, let this be your mark also and bag everything that Rover "leaves" to deposit in the trash on your way out.

Looking up at the bluffs, I noticed that we weren't alone afterall.  There were bald eagles looking out over the water with us, and herons fishing at the waves' edge.

By the end of our 3 mile excursion, I asked Cedar what he thought of this adventure and he gave me a huge doggy smile of approval.

If you have some extra time before heading to the ferry, there is a cute statue in Langley at the First Street Park.  It's right amongst all the fun little shops, and the statue is called Boy and Dog.  You can also walk down the (many) steps to the waterfront there for another walk for your pooch.  Cedar wasn't too sure about that dog, but stretched wayyy out to sniff him.

I have a feeling we just scratched the surface of doggy things to do on Whidbey, but we will definitely be back to Double Bluff.