Kayak Alki Beach

Saturday, June 8, 2013
We really wanted to get out of the house today even though it was pretty cloudy out. We had lunch at Marination Station by the water taxi dock in West Seattle before putting in the kayak at a local boat ramp. 

The view of downtown Seattle skyline from West Seattle 

The view from the kayak along Alki Beach 

Looking back at me, Joe & the Space Needle 

West Seattle shoreline houses 

Alki Point Lighthouse 

Alki Point Lighthouse & Space Needle beyond 

Heading back toward downtown Seattle 

Paddle break for a photo at Alki Point Lighthouse 

The Space Needle from a completely new view than elsewhere in the city or even on the ferry 

I had to pee so badly on the way back. I paddled so hard to pee back at the boat ramp restrooms.

Some paddleboarders as the clouds begin to decrease a bit 

Downtown Seattle view from the boat ramp 

West Seattle Garage Sale

Saturday May 11, 2013

Last weekend we went to the Mill Creek garage sale and came home with a rusted milk container from Arden Farms in Ellensburg, WA, a Sunkist cooler, and a clear vase. Today we went to the West Seattle garage sale hoping for the same success.

Alki Beach with many sailboats taking to the Puget Sound waters

We went to Cactus for lunch with Jamie & Jason.

I found a scarf I liked for $5 and Joe was extremely ecstatic when he found the sailor brim Goretex hat he had been wanting that was only worn once. I think he about pooped his pants when they said they wanted $2 for it! They go for $60 in the store! My man is still bouncing off the ceilings with that one.

We also got a 2 hinged/ 3 panel mirrored room divider for $12 that just needed a little love to clean up and repair.

Joe’s favorite find was at a house a young couple had recently bought as an estate sale. They had some interesting things inside that house. We bought a Poultry House Time Switch from the 1950/60s still in the Sears, Roebuck & Co box with the original price tag of $6.88. Joe loves it. Not quite sure why but he loves how unique and ‘antique’ it is. 

We then stopped by the Northwest Paddling Festival at Lake Sammamish State Park in Issaquah for Joe to see how he fit in certain kayak designs and how I liked the lighter weight carbon-fiber kayak paddle.

Alki, Fremont & Lake Washington

Friday December 28, 2012

I went into work early today so I could leave early to enjoy the sunny weather with Joe & Nikki. We went to West Seattle to view back at downtown Seattle from Alki Beach.

A sunny December day in Seattle at Alki Beach 

Space Needle 

Joe, Nikki & Jackie 

Ferris Wheel 

Nikki walking the beach park 

Next we went over to look at the Lake Union Houseboats.

Next we took Nikki to Fremont, the ‘center of the universe.’ We got a pick-me-up at Peet’s coffee and then walked around. 

Lenin statue, the controversial communist leader

The Rocket, a 1953 Cold War era rocket

Building architectural art 

Waiting for the Interurban statue 

Only in Seattle are their specialty stoplights for the bike lanes. 

Fremont Troll that lives under the Aurora Bridge, holding a real Volkswagen bug 

Nikki and the Fremont Troll 

Today was just beautiful so we took the scenic way home along Lake Washington with views of the Cascade Mountains.

We gawked at waterfront homes with personal docks. 

Pike Place Market, Underground Tour, Mariners Game, Alki Beach & Dumplings

Sunday, September 11, 2011

We booked tickets to do the Underground Tour of Pioneer Square in Seattle Sunday. Before our tour we stopped at Pike Place Market for breakfast. We had Mee Sum Pastries and Piroshky Piroshky Russian pastries. I love the flowers of the market.

The guys got some smoked salmon. Beautiful fresh vegetables.

The Pioneer Building, where the Underground Tour begins.

The tour begins in Doc Maynard’s Public House, a 1890s saloon.  The city had a chance to remedy the town being founded on soggy tideflats after the Great Seattle Fire of 1889 burned down 25 square blocks of wooden buildings. They raised the roads by building retaining walls 8’ or higher on either side of the old streets, filled in the space between the walls and paved new roads over top. Property owners couldn’t wait for the street to be finished so they rebuilt their structures with their first floor display windows and lobbies in an area that would become basements. The old sidewalks are now hollow tunnels, preserved beneath the streets and sidewalks of Pioneer Square. Discussions of early streets filled with sawdust and toilets becoming backyard flowing fountains made you really appreciate modern convinces.

It was interesting hearing the story of the totem pole in Pioneer Square. It was originally stolen from a Tlingit village in Alaska where the City of Seattle’s prominent citizens claimed it was taken from an adandoned village. When it was subject to arson years later, a costly replica was carved by descendants of the carvers of the original totem.

In addition to the totem pole, a wrought-iron Victorian pergola and a bust of Chief Seattle were added to the park.

There really isn’t that much to see in the abandoned underground, but it was interesting to see and HEAR all about. The coolest part was the glass tiles in the sidewalks in the underground of Seattle. It really makes me what to explore shops in this area to see the spaces that have been utilized as usable space today.

Smith Tower, once the tallest building west of the Mississippi River.

After the tour we head over to Safeco Field for the Mariners vs Royals baseball game. Wes & Lauren were practically skip/speed walking. They could barely keep in their excitement.

Wes got the sea dog, Safeco’s signature hot dog. It’s Ivar’s 10” fillet of cod, battered and fried, then stuffed in a bun served with tartar sauce and lemon.  

We ate garlic fries (and chicken wings) and had some killer breath for the rest of the game.

The grounds crew broke into a dance at 2^nd base.

#51 Ichiro.

Today’s baseball game, America’s pastime was a great way to spend 9-11.

We drove over to West Seattle where we had a great view of downtown Seattle.

We tried to will Mt Rainier out of hiding on a hazy day, but to no avail. We head back to the house of have homemade dumplings for dinner.