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.

December 30, 2015 - Hometown Tourist

The holiday break is the perfect time to play home town tourist.  Often the only occasion to go to the observation deck for people that live in Seattle is if they are entertaining someone from out of town.   From the observation deck of the Space Needle, 520' above the city, you can see plenty of things.  On a clear day you can see....

...maintenance staff replacing the colored gels on the exterior lights of the Needle....

...downtown Seattle and Mount Rainier...

...the Museum of History and Industry (MOHAI) on the shores of Lake Union....

...plenty of construction cranes...

...10,778 foot Mount Baker, ten miles from the Canadian border...

...ferries pulling into Bainbridge Island 10 miles across Puget Sound, the Olympic Mountains...

...the Olympic Sculpture Park...

...a view of Kerry Park, site of the iconic view of the Space Needle and the Seattle skyline...

...the broadcast towers, the former Queen Anne High School and in the distance, Whidbey Island...

...and of course, other folks playing tourists!

April 11, 2015 - Pier Peer

The Seattle skyline and the 750 foot Hong Kong flagged bulk carrier BBG Hope at the Port of Seattle Terminal 86 Grain Facility as seen from Centennial Park on the north end of Elliott Bay.

April 9, 2015 - Changing Form Again

"Changing Form", a sculpture by Doris Chase installed at Seattle's Kerry Park, perfectly captures the city skyline.  Here "Changing Form" framed the efforts of the low clouds from Elliott Bay to dim the skies for the city.  Their efforts were ultimately futile, as the sun prevailed!

The sculpture's top section was originally designed to rotate and frame the skyline in a more dynamic manner.  At this overlook it hasn't been needed.

May 14, 2014 - A Ferry Commute

Three iconic images of Seattle - a ferry, Mount Rainier and the Space Needle, 17 miles away - as seen from the ferry terminal at Kingston. 

The M/V Puyallup approaches the Kingston ferry terminal as one of MSC Cargo Italy's 124 vessels heads north on its way out of Puget Sound.

The M/V Spokane heads to Kingston with Mount Baker in the background.  At 10,781 feet Mount Baker is the third highest mountain in Washington behind Mount Rainier 14,411 and Mount Adams 12,277. 

July 13, 2013 - Suspended Mountain

Mount Rainier appears to hover on a layer of clouds above the Seattle skyline.  The Space Needle and buildings of downtown Seattle are across Puget Sound, 15 miles away from the ferry dock in Kingston where this picture was taken.  The 14,410 foot high active volcano is another 50 miles beyond that, with its base firmly planted in the ground.  The mountain is an icon in the western Washington landscape.  On a clear day, it can be seen from Canada to Oregon.