The legend goes that in the 50's a little boy propped his bicycle up on a tree, then went off to do something and forgot about it and never returned. Over the years, the tree trunk grew around the bike, swallowing parts of it up and lifting it off the ground. And it exists, on Vashon Island!!
The other weekend it was beautiful weather and I was taking one of the au pair girls out on a surprise day trip to Alki beach in west Seattle for her last weekend in Seattle (she didn't get along with her host family and is relocating to the East side of America). On the spur of the moment I suggested that we take the car ferry across and check out this fabled tree! We left from Fauntleroy in West Seattle and after a short ride we arrived on Vashon Island!
It was like being in another world, it was so buzzy! The island community was vibrant and full of life. There was a bustling farmers market and a quaint little village with little shops. We continued through the town and stopped on the fringes to find the bike, although it was in the woods, it was not hard to find, internet instructions helped us locate it, and in the end it was literally just a few steps away from a car park. When I saw it I was so shocked because the bike was so high up on the trunk, it really was floating in the air! The tree had swallowed it big time! The pressure of the tree growth had bent the wheel rim and spokes, even the bike's seat had been bent and crushed from the trunk's power. It was definitely all natural, no special effects here, just plain tree growth!
"I'm sad because my bike was eaten by a tree"
I later found a newspaper article about the bike, saying that the little boy who left the bike lived only 200 yards away. It was his bike, a present after the family's house had been damaged by fire and all their possessions lost. However, the little boy hated the bike, it was not big enough for his liking, so he was glad to lose it, and never went looking for it after forgetting it at the tree.
It was spectacular, so worth the visit. After the bike-tree we enjoyed a glimpse of island life, strolling through the farmer's market and grabbing a sandwich from the grocery store.
On our way back to the car ferry we stopped at a sign for a labyrinth, we were both very excited to walk through it and see what it was like! (especially after we heard that it was free!). So, we parked and went to the entrance of the labyrinth, I even warned Teddy about our time restriction because of the ferry, we would have to be quick in the labyrinth!
Gee, I'm so glad we didn't get lost in this labyrinth!
me, bravely walking the labyrinth
We drove straight on the car ferry and headed back to Seattle, but what a wonderful day it was!
No comments:
Post a Comment