Tuesday, May 27, 2014

The Entertainers -- 5/25/2014

From the salon of Navigator we enjoy entertainment by Neal and Lynn's kitties.  Sierra owns the territory as she walks across the controls to sit on the keys of the laptop for a vantage view of Dr. Jake on the dock.


















We miss so many good shots because they are fast, but I manage to catch Winslow under the table and Sierra again peeking from the chair.


















Tango escapes, but -- hmmm.....I wonder if Sierra injoys her fame?
















 Herb adds more photos taken from Willie's Tug's cockpit, as they check out the scenery from Navigator's bow.















We have so much fun watching and photographing -- we have had cats in the past -- does Dr. Jake need some sisters and brothers?

Kitties enjoy a view of Salmon Bay.
Willie of Willie's Tug,
   and of Walldog, Willie and Jake
   Sunday, May 25, 2014



Sunday Morning -- 5/25/2014



In the Ballard neighborhood of Seattle - 

St. Luke Episcopal Church



Willie of Willie's Tug,
   and of Walldog, Willie and Jake
   Sunday, May 25, 2014

Monday, May 26, 2014

Another fabulous day on the water -- 5/24/2014

Lyman comes to Stimson Marina, Ballard WA, to exercise the new Zuma, a 53 ft. Selene, and invites Herb and me to ride along. As he leaves his dock, we think fondly of Hayden Bay, tied behind.



Herb and I assist with the lines -- not that he needs us -- and he casts off, turning southeast, continuing down Salmon Bay, under the Ballard bridge and into Lake Washington Ship Canal.




















The bridge ahead is opening ....


....for these sailboats with tall masts.
















He invites Herb to take the helm -- what a wheel!  We cruise at a courteous 4 knots for a time.  We don't see a lot of traffic on this Memorial Day Weekend; perhaps everyone from here has gone outside to the Sound or islands.















We gaze in wonderment at the superyacht, Vava, docked so near us.  At 314 feet long, Jorge shared that a recent fuel bill was $400,000, and it would cost another $100,000 to fill it up all the way.  This is just so amazing to me.  I would like to have watched her being built.  Note she is a little longer than the dock....






Looks good on this side, too!


How many times have I said, "I love Seattle?"  How many photos of the skyline and Space Needle have I taken?  

Not enough...















As we pass Gas Works Park in Lake Union, Herb turns slightly to port, then starboard as we follow the channel toward Lake Washington.














We think fondly of Ivar's Salmon House, where before we had Willie's Tug, we stopped in for the best Clam Chowder ever and enjoyed watching the boats go by.


Montlake Bridge

Husky Stadium















And a nice view of the beautiful Hayden Bay enjoying a cruise!


Lyman knows this area like the back of his hand, and I think I am a little more oriented now.

What a fabulous day!


Willie of Willie's Tug,
   and of Walldog, Willie and Jake
   Saturday, May 24, 2014

Saturday, May 24, 2014

It's beginning to be a village! -- 5/23/2014

Our neighbors across the dock, Lynn and Neal of Navigator, a 48 ft. Kadey Krogen, have been provisioning for days for a long trip.  I can't resist taking the photo of the cases of cat food-- OK, they do need a lot because they have two large Maine Coon cats -- "No" Lynn says; "there are three --  a five year old and two two-year olds."  I ask if they are going to Alaska, and they reply, "We don't know.  We will go to Shilshole Marina and turn right!"  That would point them north.

How much cat food could a cat eat?
Jake and the felines have not taken the time to bond yet, but they enjoy looking at each other from safe distances.  Shown here in the window is Tango, a male.  Hiding inside are Sierra, female, and Winslow, another male.

Do you see what I see?

It's Tango, looking at me!

Would you like to come out and play?













We hear from Bob and Nita that they are bringing Nellie Too to Fishermen's Terminal and will come by for a visit.  We can see the exit to the Locks from our dock, so we watch for them to come out.

Find Nellie Too.















They come bearing gifts -- snacks, wine and flowers.  It can't get any better!



Ah, Malbec!































We are delighted to have late afternoon visitors, Marcus and Jorge of Hayden Bay, and Lyman of Zuma.  

Old Home Week

Willie of Willie's Tug,
   and Walldog, Willie and Jake
   Friday, May 23, 2014 

Thursday, May 22, 2014

Spectator Sport -- 5/21/2014


The photo below shows the dotted lines of ferry routes.  Just above is a narrow waterway leading from Puget Sound through the Locks and into Salmon Bay, then Lake Union and finally Lake Washington.  Stimson Marina is in the ship channel of Salmon Bay, which is one of the first enlarged areas shown in the waterway. The lakes are fresh water and boats must come through the Locks at the beginning of the channel.   The Locks also serve to separate the salt from the fresh water.

We have been through many times and it is always exciting.  You don't know until you are signaled by a green traffic light as to which you are directed to enter -- the big Locks or the small Locks.   While going through, we always see several people sight seeing on the viewing platform above us and watching the action.











Today we walk Jake to the Locks as spectators and observe from the viewing platform above us.













As a boat comes in, Locks employees stand ready to assist with lines, if necessary.


Skipper ties his line to his cleat, loops around the yellow bollard (mostly hidden), then ties off back to his cleat.


Spectator cross walk and flood gate is shown as it closes.  It rotates to the right.













 The employees tell you what number to loop around.   Lock is shown at a high water level.














Water behind the gates is at the higher level.  Lower level in front of the gates.
















Now a lower level.

















Gate will open.  Skipper is ready.
















Almost completely open.  Skipper is on the bow preparing to release the line.  (Line toward salt water is released first.)












Gate is open and flush with the wall, and skipper takes his stern line off the bollard. Single handed through the Locks!  Congratulations.


Off she goes.  Too small to be seen are two sailboats waiting in the distance to come in as the boat exits.  They wait at a red traffic light, until the Locks employee turns on the green light at one Lock or the other.

The sailboats proceed into the small Lock. 

Note the water level is down. 














The second sailboat comes in and ties up.  Employees stand ready with boat hooks and/or lines for assistance. 

It is always a learning process the first time or so that you go through.  This person first wanted to simply hold the bitter end of the line, then was told to tie it, so tied to her rail, then was told not to tie to rail but to loop it around the bollard and cleat off.



As some students would say, "See one, do one, teach one."  Maybe this person can teach someone how to go through the Locks!

As a bonus, we get to see how the salmon return to the salt water.  The female adult swims from the salt up to the fresh to spawn, then dies.  When the hatched fish become large enough, as smolts, they swim backward with the water flowing out these pipes toward the sea.  This protects them as they pass and lines barely seen across the waterway deter birds from swooping down and having a feed!


 Willie of Willie's Tug
   and of Walldog, Willie and Jake
   Wednesday, May 21, 2014