April 10, 2021 - Scenic Start

 

The sights from a ferry crossing Puget Sound - the Great Wheel, the Space Needle, the changing skyline, the mountains, the ships and boats - can be at least as scenic as your destination.  The excursion this day started aboard the M/V Walla Walla for the 35 minute crossing to Bainbridge Island.

The M/V Sealth heads west to Bremerton, a route that takes it around the southern end of Bainbridge Island.

The skyline  continues to evolve  between the bookends of downtown, the Smith Tower, built in 1914, and the Space Needle, built in 1961.  At the time each of those structures was built they became the tallest building west of the Mississippi.  Currently there are about 43 cranes in Seattle, tied with LA for the second most in the country.  (The crane at the Climate Pledge Arena, due to open this fall, just recently came down.)  

The demolition of the double-decker Alaskan Way Viaduct was completed in November of 2019.  This has accelerated the opportunities for development to connect downtown with the waterfront.  (For reference, the photo of the skyline and waterfront was taken in 2009.)   

    

Two 35,000 ton Panama-flagged bulk carriers were anchored in Elliott Bay.  The Omishima Island, recently arrived from San Marcos, Mexico and the brand new Juno Avenir, recently arrived from Niigata, Japan.  

 

The Marshall Foss, one of 90 tugboats in Foss Maritime fleet, heads to another job.  Thea Foss started the business in 1889 in Tacoma with one rowboat she painted a sharp green and white.  Before expanding into powered tugboats, the company fleet was made up of rowboats, many built by her husband.  Today the Foss name can be seen in ports throughout North America.

The M/V Suquamish heads to Seattle, passing her partner on the Seattle-Bainbridge run.

Retired ferries, including the M/V Klahowya and M/V Hyak, at the Bainbridge ferry terminal.

March 19, 2019 - Flower Time!

It's flower time at Pike Place!

Following an atypically snowy month, Seattleites and their flowers embraced the record high temperatures on back-to-back days - 76 degrees yesterday and 80 degrees at the time of this post.  The previous high temperature for this date was 63.  The previous high temperature for March was 78.

August 3, 2016 - Seattle Waterfront

A visit to the Seattle Aquarium turns into more than viewing fish, octopi and seals when it happens during Seafair Fleet Week.

On this day, at a pier near the aquarium, a US Coast Guard HH-65 Dolphin from Port Angeles put on a demonstration with their rescue swimmer deploying from the aircraft as it hovers next to the USS Gridley, an Arleigh Burke-class destroyer stationed in Everett.  A restored 1937 Douglas DC3A flies across Elliott Bay towards Boeing Field.

The Seattle waterfront is a busy place during the summer.  Tourists, both the home town and out of town variety, jam the sidewalks to take in the views, or visit the Seattle Aquarium or the Great Wheel.  These days navigating the waterfont is a little challenging as the 80 year old seawall is being replaced.  The seawall is part of the project that will replace the the Alaskan Way Viaduct with an underground tunnel and completely redevelop the city's waterfront.   

December 19, 2015 - Admiral View Two

Looking across Elliott Bay, the Seattle skyline, including the Great Wheel, Pike Place Market, the Alaskan Way viaduct, ferries, the Space Needle and a USCG HH-65 Dolphin based in Port Angeles were visible this morning from the Admiral Way viewpoint in West Seattle.

A service technician was visiting the  viewpoint's lone telescope.  The frequency of his visits depends on the time of the year.  During the winter months when fewer eyeballs are using the 50 cent view he'll visit every few weeks or so to ensure it is working and to collect the quarters.

August 22, 2013 - A Sunset on Elliott Bay Means...

A sunset on Elliott Bay means...

...the ninth trip for the M/V Wenatchee from Bainbridge Island this day.

...one more recreational vessel tying up at the Bell Harbor Marina.

...it's nearly bed time for a heron and gull.

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...a pleasant sendoff for a container ship heading for far off ports.



























...a warm good night kiss to the Seattle waterfront.