Gig Harbor, Bremerton, Seattle

Mark and Henry Having Fun with Sculpture


Jellyfish Passing By, Bell Street Marina, Seattle


Tacoma Narrows Bridge with New Span

To Gig Harbor, a very fast ride under "Galloping Gertie" Tacoma Narrows Bridge. We hit 11.4 knots just north of the two spans, tying up at Arabella's Marina by 11am. We heard a rare VHF Coast Guard radio weather warning and rode out high winds and seas at dock, not on the water, thank goodness. Henry's burger and my oysters at the Tides Tavern were up to snuff.

About 10:30 am Thursday, we headed north through Colvos Passage, usually a sleepy slog to Blake Island. However, the current was running unusually high again and we rode the tidal stream at 8-9 knots all the way north. When we reached the marina at Blake Island, a state park, the docks were full up with huge yachts. They installed power on the docks last fall and so it is a more desirable destination. Gone are the small family boats with kids and fishing poles. The new order is white fiberglass walls on all sides. We met our friends outside the marina and continued on with them to Bremerton for the night.

Bremerton is famous for its naval shipyard. The waterfront has undergone quite a bit of development in recent years but the blue collar essence of the place remains. The new marina is lovely and it has bargain docking rates. However, our friends, Phil and Ann, were assigned a slip close in and ran aground as they tried to dock. We stood off for awhile and then docked several slips farther out. The afternoon and evening were spent catching up with them. Their two adventures--sailing from Palau to Australia, and boating with friends in Alaska (with a medical emergency, to boot) provided most of the entertainment. Stories became more exciting in the telling, and retelling with more details and expression.

Friday morning was an easy, motoring to Seattle. No wind, no current, so no sailing. We spent some time trying to solve a water problem, but it remains a mystery. We met another friend, Mark, yesterday for a long walk on the waterfront north of Bell Harbor and through the Seattle Art Museam outdoor sculpture park. We had Avignon sausages from the Pike Place Market for dinner aboard Jules last night. Here at Bell Harbor Marina is the embarkation point for cruise ships of the Norwegian fleet. The Norwegian Star left yesterday afternoon, and the Norwegian Pearl is here this morning. Today, it's off to Kingston and crepes for breakfast in the morning.