Went out late this afternoon to skirt the county, down along the ocean on Chukanut Driveback up around the south end of Lake Whatcom to Mt. Baker highway up near the Canadian border and back home. Was a beutiful warm day, not much traffic that late in the afternoon - coming around the lake I round a LH turn and see a mountain lion by the right side of the road, as I approach he turns toward the center of the road, looks like he's going to stop so I begin to accelerate around him near the center line when he decides to RUN across the road. Tapped the brakes and swerved left, just missing him but I felt the tire hit his tail.............that can't have felt good at 35mph. Kid of weird, first time I've seen one, they aren't usually out in the open like that.

 

Haven't been up Chuckanut for a long time now. Had no idea that there could be a mountain lion lurking around there.

 

It was actually just north of Lake Whatcom park where all the boaters and beach goers are - still on in the daylight though.