This was a pleasant little trip in late January. The weather was reasonable – foggy and cool each morning, then calm and partly sunny in the afternoons. The boat worked fine – no issues at all. The motor now has 1100 hours on it and is overdue for a tune-up. I spent two nights at anchor, and one night tied up at the free public dock in Gig Harbor. I made a clockwise circumnavigation of Vashon Island. I burned about 14 gallons of gas.
I like having one monitor showing the local detail and one showing the overview of where I’m going.
Stopped at Bell Harbor Marina to let the fog near Blake Island burn off. The nice lady in the office let me park for free. I bought apples for the trip at Pike Place Market. (Street View)
There’s a Longshoreman strike or slowdown going on, so there are many big carriers anchored in Elliott Bay and behind Blake Island. I drove too close to some of them to take pictures.
I spent the first night anchored off of Blake Island. It’s always cozy down below with the fireplace on.
I followed this guy from bright sunshine into the fog bank heading down towards Tacoma.
The Talequah ferry from Ruston. I tied up at the boat launch dock and walked around Ruston for a couple hours. (Street View)
Point Defiance boathouse still rents little fishing boats. It must be about the last place around that still does.
I spent a nice evening at the Tides Tavern in Gig Harbor and bought a new hat.
Ghost geese throwing reflections.
Gravel barge moving north with the current up Dalco Passage.
Approaching the locks on the trip home.
Local color on the Ship Canal.
Montlake Cut. (Street View)
I spent one whole day riding my bike from Gig Harbor to downtown Tacoma over the Tacoma Narrows Bridge. There are bike trails almost all the way. These are from the bike ride.
Crossing the bridge. It’s a long way down! (Street View)
Seymore Botanical Conservatory. It was nice and warm inside on this chilly day. (Street View)
North Tacoma is starting to be very tourist-friendly, with nice cafes and coffee shops, and fewer empty buildings like the one above. This is a lemon tart at Corina Bakery.
Washington State Historical Society with Stadium High School in the background. This was designed as a fancy French-style hotel, but it’s been a high school for over 100 years. (Street View)