NW Tulip Trekkers Whidbey Walking Festival
September 10-12, 2010
Three DAYS - FIVE WALKS - Salmon BBQ and Free Concert in the Park.
Everyone is welcome to walk
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 Mix salt air with the sweet scent of wild berries, dry grass, and warm fir trees and you have a perfume that is the essence of Whidbey Island in summer. It's a seductive aroma, and one that must have impressed Joseph Whidbey, master of the HMS Discovery, when he charted this 48-mile-long island at the entrance to Puget Sound for Captain George Vancouver in June of 1792. Skagit Indians greeted Whidbey with gifts of roasted roots, dried fish, and venison. Sandy beaches and bluffs dotted the island's shoreline, forests of Douglas fir cloaked either end, and verdant prairies blanketed the middle-just as they do today. One early settler called it a "paradise of nature." (Sunset Magazine, August, 1997)
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Sanction Numbers: 86222, 86220, 86221, 86764, 86219
Download the Event Registration Form (pdf)
A multi-event, three-day festival of walks. A meet 'n' greet Friday, a bratwurst BBQ Saturday afternoon, a salmon BBQ and a free concert Sunday afternoon. Five walk routes plus three seasonal events available for those who want even more walking, Visit beautiful Whidbey Island for a Volkswalking Extravaganza! See Washington's second oldest town with its Victorian homes and small town stores. Walk across farm fields and to the beach. Fabulous Puget Sound and Mountain views on all walks. And we haven't forgotten the fourth F in Volkswalking-Food! After the special Mayor's walk on Friday, join us for a free walkers' meet 'n' greet. On Saturday walk to Jenne Farm for a free Bratwurst BBQ and listen to the Feral Cats Bluegrass band jam session. Sunday the Town of Coupeville invites you to a free concert in the park and a Salmon BBQ.
Walk Routes
Whidbey Coast-to-Coast 11 km rated 2 (2B), Sanction Number: 86222
Friday and Saturday mornings. Walk on paved and dirt paths and along country roads, across Ebey's Landing Historical Reserve to Ebey's Landing beach. Watch for eagles, whales, otters. Views overlook the Puget Sound to Port Townsend and the Olympic Mountains. Not suitable for strollers or wheelchairs. Special Programs: Islands, Firehouses, Hooray for Hollywood; Washington Challenges: Island County; Mountains, Farmland
This walk sponsored by Prairie Center Red Apple.
Historic Town of Coupeville 5/10 km rated 2+ (2B), Sanction Number: 86220
Friday afternoon and Saturday Morning. Walk around Coupeville seeing many Victorian homes and along Main street to the much photo'd Penn Cove Dock. Views of Mount Baker and the Cascade Mountains. Look for artists in the Plein Air Painters' US Open around town and the Reserve. Join Mayor Conard on Friday evening for a special walk on this route. Not suitable for strollers or wheelchairs. Special Programs: Islands, Honoring Law Enforcement, Hooray for Hollywood, Museums, Artistic Heritage, Washington Challenges: Island County; Galleries, Mountains
This walk sponsored by Walking Adventures International and Whidbey Island Bank.
Farm Heritage One-Way Walk 5/10 km rated 2 (2C), Sanction Number: 86221
Saturday afternoon. Walk along rural roads and across farm fields to Jenne Farm. Visit our agricultural heritage past and present. See historic Jenne Farm and pause for views across farmland to the Puget Sound, Cascades and Olympics. Take your time and enjoy a bratwurst while you are at the farm. Catch a special bus back to Coupeville Recreation Hall. Not suitable for strollers or wheelchairs. Special Programs: Islands, Firehouses, Hooray for Hollywood; Washington Challenges: Mountains, Farmland
This walk sponsored by Walking Adventures International.
Fort Ebey One-Way walk 10 km rated 2+ (2B), Sanction Number: 86764
Sunday Morning. Ride the bus to a special drop-off point at the edge of the woods in Fort Ebey State Park. The first five km is through the woods and along the bluff to the Artillery Bunkers. Return along the paved trail to Coupeville. Views of the Puget Sound and Olympic Mountains. Not suitable for strollers or wheelchairs. Special Programs: Islands, Firehouses, Hooray for Hollywood, Forts of the United States; Washington Challenges: Island County; Mountains, Farmland
This walk sponsored by Whidbey-Seatac Shuttle.
Penn Cove One-Way Walk 5/10 km rated 1+ (1B), Sanction Number: 86219
Sunday Morning. Jump on the bus at the Coupeville Recreation Hall and ride it 6.2 miles to the start of this walk which will take you all along Penn Cove. Fabulous water and mountain views the entire walk. Look for wildlife and Penn Cove Mussel beds. Not suitable for strollers or wheelchairs. Special Programs: Islands, Hooray for Hollywood; Washington Challenges: Island County; Mountains
This walk sponsored by Coupeville Inn.
Friday, September 10
- Coast to Coast - Start: 10am - 1pm (10 km) Finish: 4pm
- Official opening of the Weekend: 3:45pm
- Mayor's Walk, Coupeville Town. Group walk (5 or 10 km)
Registration Time: 3pm - 4pm Start: 4pm Finish: 7pm
- Meet 'n' Greet - 6pm after the Mayor's walk, Finger foods provided. BYOB
Saturday, September 11
- Coast to Coast — Start:8am — 11am Finish: 2pm
- Coupeville Town — Start: 8am — 11am Finish: 2pm
- Nordic Walking Group Walk — 9am conducted by members of Volkssport USA, Washington’s newest volkssport club.
- Farm Heritage — Start: 11:30am — 2pm Finish: 5pm
Walk begins at the Recreation Center and ends at Jenne Farm. After enjoying bratwurst and bluegrass, take the free bus back to the Recreation Hall. If you have non-walking friends with you, they can ride the bus out and back. Ask for details.
- Informal Nordic Walking Workshop at Jenne Farm 2:00pm. Hosted by Volkssport USA. Bring your Nordic walking poles.
- Bluegrass and Bratwurst at Jenne Farm 1:00pm — 4:00pm, Feral Cats Bluegrass Jam Session
Sunday, September 12
- Penn Cove — Start: 8:30am — Noon, Finish: 3pm
- Fort Ebey — Start: 8:30am - Noon, Finish: 3 pm
- Afternoon Activities: Town of Coupeville presents: Salmon BBQ in the Park $15 and Free Concert in the Park!
Everyone is welcome to walk
Registration Location: Coupeville Recreation Hall, Corner of Alexander and Coveland in Coupeville
Remember—we are in the Olympic Mountain Rain Shadow. Rain in Seattle doesn’t mean it’s raining in Coupeville!
Door prizes throughout the weekend, all registered walkers eligible.
Accommodations:
Coupeville has a few small hotels and lots of B&Bs. Some B&Bs are in Victorian Homes, some overlook the water. Oak Harbor has larger hotels. For more information: Central Whidbey Chamber of Commerce website at www.centralwhidbeychamber.com
Sponsors:
You might want to contact some of the sponsors in advance:
Coupeville:
"Where the land and the sky and the sea come together, you can slip through a crack and see the past and the future," according to the Native Americans who first lived on Ebey's Prairie. The plain is now part of Ebey's Landing National Historical Reserve, a 17,400-acre national park encompassing prairies, woodlands, uplands, Penn Cove, Coupeville, and a western coastal strip along Admiralty Inlet. Created by Congress in 1978 "to preserve and protect a rural community," the reserve is the first of its kind in the country. It's home to some of the oldest farms in Washington.
Ebey's Landing National Historical Reserve:
The Town of Coupeville was founded in 1852 by Captain Thomas Coupe, making it the second oldest town in Washington. Over 100 of Coupeville's buildings are listed in the National Historic Register with Coupeville. The town's shopping areas and historic waterfront reflect the charm of bygone days. Situated on Scenic Penn Cove, Coupeville is a lovely backdrop for the Walking Whidbey VolksFest. Coupeville's historic inns, friendly pubs, fine restaurants and intimate B&B's beckon visitors to stay and relax.
Ebey's Landing National Historical Reserve:
The Town of Coupeville was founded in 1852 by Captain Thomas Coupe, making it the second oldest town in Washington. Over 100 of Coupeville's buildings are listed in the National Historic Register with Coupeville. The town's shopping areas and historic waterfront reflect the charm of bygone days. Situated on Scenic Penn Cove, Coupeville is a lovely backdrop for the Walking Whidbey VolksFest. Coupeville's historic inns, friendly pubs, fine restaurants and intimate B&B's beckon visitors to stay and relax.
Award:
This award stands alone or you can build onto it at every Whidbey Walking Festival. The first year award (pictured actual size on front) is cast metal with a 6" red, white and blue ribbon. $3 pre-registered until August 27. $4 purchased on-site. The second year (and future years) is a cast metal foot with "2" or "3" engraved and can be attached to the ribbon from the first year. $3 if ordered by August 20. $4 at event. How many feet will you get? If you have participated before and didn’t buy the first year medal, you may buy both medals this year.
Shirts:
Rapid-dry T-shirts ($18) and polo shirts ($30) and hats ($9) make a great reminder of this fun weekend. Receive a $1 discount on site if you pre-register for the event. Sizes M-XL, Quantities limited.
Door Prizes:
Door prizes are awarded throughout the weekend. All registered walkers are eligible. PRE-Registered walkers receive special goodie bags and are eligible for special door prizes (Largest pre-registered Group and Farthest Traveled) as well as several specially selected, randomly drawn prizes.
Year Round/Seasonals:
There are three year-round/seasonals on Whidbey during this weekend. Deception Pass State Park (6/10/20 km) Fort Casey State Park (5/10 km) and Langley (5/10 km). Special driving directions from Coupeville are available at the Recreation Hall.
