August 28, 2012 - Duck Dodge II

Another Tuesday on Lake Union.  If its summer there must be another Duck Dodge.

From the August 17, 2010 blog post:
The Tuesday evening Duck Dodge is a summer tradition on Lake Union that began in the mid 70s. Dozens of boats “race” on a course for two hours, then proceed to converge for a themed party. The rules are pretty simple: Don’t make a duck change its course and don’t run into other boats. The winners get a duck decal for their mast.

The original handbill from that first summer in 1974, when the race was called the “Lake Union Beer Can Regatta or Tenas Chuck Duck Dodge”, proclaims that any skipper, any sailboat, any crew can participate and that same fun spirit survives. Every race has a theme – prom, Mardi Gras, pirates, pajamas – and every week there is a different host Committee Boat.

August 28, 2012 - Fly Me To The Moon

At dusk in Seattle's Gas Works Park a kite makes a run at a waxing gibbous moon.  On Friday, August 31st, the last blue moon until July of 2015 makes its appearance.  By some definitions, a blue moon is the second full moon in a month.

August 23, 2012 - Emerald City Icons

Two of Seattle's iconic images - the Space Needle and a passenger jet - share the sky with a waxing crescent moon.  (In this case I'm not sure the jet was made by the once local company that gave Seattle it's other name - Jet City!)

August 22, 2012 - Piano Time

One of several artistically painted pianos that are available for playing in random public areas of the City of Shoreline located north of Seattle.  The pianos are in place for the month of August and the public is encouraged to pause, play and jot down their thoughts on a nearby notebook.

August 18, 2012 - Waiting for a Winner

At a midway game one prize seems to be standing out a little more than the rest.  Creepy or eager?

August 12, 2012 - Lines

Some of the lines and rigging necessary to utilize the 4,200 square feet of sail in the auxiliary gaff-rigged topsail ketch, "Hawaiian Chieftain".  With names like "clewlines", "belaying pins", "buntlines" "ratlines", "tacks", "sheets", "downhauls", "halyards", "stays" and "shrouds" the nomenclature involved with rigging of multiple sails can be downright bewildering.

The 103' LOA (length overall) sailing vessel is a replica of European merchant traders at the turn of the 19th century built in Hawaii in 1988.  In 2004 it was purchased by the Grays Harbor Historical Seaport Society and joins the tall ship "Lady Washington" in educational, sailing training and ambassadorial visits around the west coast.  The original figurehead was a carving of King Kamehameha , but was lost in a   storm off the Oregon coast.  The replacement was a smaller figurehead, seen in the far right of the bottom picture, still featuring a bust clad in yellow and red feathers represents a member of Hawaiian royalty.

August 11, 2012 - Tools of the Trade

A cheery palette of colors awaits their turn to become a cupcake, a peacock, a giraffe, balloons or even a cute elephant.  The canvas - a cute little cheek or arm!

August 11, 2012 - Rain the Wonderful Pony

On July 26, 2006, the Woodland Park Zoo in Seattle opened this 1918 wooden carousel, one of just 150 vintage carousels still operating.  The carousel was donated by Tom and Linda Allen.  Construction of the pavilion that houses and protects the carousel, and the renovation of the carousel itself, required a fundraising effort of $3.2 million.  Some of the funding came from donors that paid $10,000 - $30,000 and had the privilege of naming a horse.  There are 48 horses and two vintage chariots.  The placard below this horse simply says "Rain the Wonderful Pony - Inga."  

The carousel was originally made by the Philadelphia Toboggan Company on commission for the Cincinnati Zoo.  Their carousels were renowned for their realistic looking horses with sweet expressions.  This is one of three believed to have been completely hand carved by the master John Zalar, an Austrian woodcarver also known for his work carving religious statues.The carousel served the Cincinnati Zoo until sold in 1974 to the new Marriott Great America Amusement Park (now Paramount's Great America)  in Santa Clara, California.  

While you may not have heard of the Philadelphia Toboggan Company, they are still operating today.  If you are a roller coaster fan, chances are you've ridden on one of their roller coasters or in one of their cars.  Their coasters go by names that include "Screamin' Eagle", "Rebel Yell", "Mean Streak", "Great American Scream Machine", "Hellcat", "Fireball" and "Ghostrider".

August 8, 2012 - Rare Rear

With a rare rear like this, rules become mere suggestions, or so it seems with this 1963 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Roadster.  The 300 SL was produced from 1955-1963 and included a coupe and a roadster.  Less than 3300 of the series were built making it truly a collector's car.  When originally introduced in 1955, the 300 SL coupe had unique gull wing doors and with a top speed of 161 mph it was the fastest production car in the world.  The aerodynamic horizontal 'eyebrows' over each of the wheel wells was just one of the unique characteristics of this classic.  
NOTE: A brief internet search found this same year and model priced at $695,000.

August 3, 2012 - Sound of Freedom: Worth the Toll

(Not necessarily great pictures, but worth posting.)

The Blue Angels as taken from the passenger seat while driving across the Evergreen Point Floating Bridge.  The commute happened to coincide with their performance and for once the toll was money well spent:  The sun, blue skies, gorgeous scenery, Mount Rainier AND the Blue Angels!

The US Navy's Demonstration Squadron was performing as part of the Boeing Airshow over Seattle's Lake Washington.  An airshow, visits by naval vessels, hydroplane races and (usually) sun are all traditions of  this weekend, the culmination of summer long festivities in Seattle.

The F/A 18 Hornets are the Blue Angels' ride at the moment. McDonnell Douglas originally designed and produced the aircraft  prior to their merger with Boeing. The maneuvers during the show are as low as 50 feet from the water and at some points during the show they aircraft approach 700 mph, just below mach 1.  At times when flying in the diamond formation above they are as close as 18 inches away from one another. Their rehearsals and performance fill the neighborhoods around Seattle with the "Sound of Freedom".