All clear on a Kitsap trail

While the crowd’s numbers were smaller than last year, Celebrate Clear Creek Day was still a success.

“We has a nice session up at the Petersen Farm,” said Clear Creek trail supporter Tex Lewis on Saturday afternoon.

About 70 people came to the second annual event held 11 a.m.- 6 p.m. Oct. 4.

The weather, cool, cloudy and blustery could have been a factor at keeping the crowd thin.

Gerry Petersen gave tours, hayrides and old hay baler demos at the farm. It is one of the original Clear Creek Valley homesteads and former dairy farm.

He said he hoped the tours and demonstrations got people thinking about preserving a piece of Silverdale’s history.

“We love history and wanted to see the Petersen Farm,” said Claudia Hunt of Poulsbo. She brought along, her daughter Melissa Warren and granddaughter Natasha, 10. Natasha particularly liked the hayride she said.

Dan Engelhard portrayed early homesteader John Levin in front of the original Levin homestead.

“I’ve seen (the Petersen Farm) my whole life and never had the opportunity to go there,” Hunt, a Port Orchard native said.

The event also featured a salmon dinner and salmon art auction.

Eric Forsythe, of Shelton, portrayed Lt. Charles Wilkes of the U.S. Navy Exploration Expedition. The Wilkes Expedition visited Dyes Inlet, naming it in 1841.

Ivan Summers of Kitsap Audubon Society spoke about bird watching.

Lee Blackwell, mayor of Moses Lakes, Wash., also traveled to Kitsap County and spoke on trails and their value to a community’s overall health.

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