April 22, 2023 - When a Dual is a Duel

 

It was a fantastic morning for a pair of traditional rowing powers to square off on Lake Washington's Montlake Cut.  The rowing teams of the University of Washington and the University of California, Berkeley have the oldest rowing rivalry in the Western US.  The UW-Cal Dual was first contested by the men's teams in 1903.  Washington leads the series 76-33-1. The women's teams first competed in 1977.  

'Dual' is short for 'Dual Meet'.  If you ask anyone in either program what 'Dual' is they'll let you know it is simply UW vs Cal.  

For the 111th UW-Cal Dual, the Cal Men's Varsity 8 came in ranked #1, Washington #3. The top ranked team crossed the finish line just two seats ahead of Washington.  The Washington Women's Varsity 8 (above) were ranked #6 with the Cal Women's Varsity 8 ranked #7.  They held off Cal, winning by a boat length.

In the closest race of the morning was the Women's Second Varsity, with Cal crossing the finish line just six tenths of a second ahead of the Washington boat. Initially it was ruled a 'dead heat' as the Washington boat hit two geese on the course.  At the conclusion of the regatta the coaches amicably agreed to award Cal the race by the original margin. 

March 19, 2023 - Gorge Us Vista

 

The Crown Point Vista House, 733' above the river, offers an unbeatable view of the Columbia River Gorge.  Opened in 1918 as part of the nation's first planned scenic byway, the Vista House is a 55' high octagonal rotunda made of gray sandstone.  

The 74 mile Historic Columbia River Highway, built on the Oregon side of the Columbia River between 1913 and 1922, was laid out to maximize the beauty of the gorge, especially the numerous waterfalls.  

The Bridge of the Gods, while not a part of the scenic byway, is a great way to get to it from the Washington side of the river.

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January 22, 2023 - A Trail Above A Trail

A weekend closure of the 520 Floating Bridge made for a peaceful stroll along the pedestrian / bicycle portion of the typically busy bridge.  The west end of the pedestrian bicycle path on the bridge looks down on the Arboretum Waterfront Trail that connects Foster Island, Marsh Island and the Montlake neighborhood.  

A pair of Great Blue Herons didn't seem to miss the usual road noise.

The empty lanes of 520.

A view looking west towards I5 and the Montlake lid where an additional 13 girders were being placed across the freeway this weekend.