much delayed - San Juan Islands

Having meant to go my first Summer in Seattle finally at the end of June I organised myself to go to the San Juan Islands. This is a collection of islands, or archipelago, between Seattle and Vancouver.I only went for a day, a bit of fleeting visit. I left from Pier 69 at 7:45am on a Clipper ferry so it was an early morning. The Clipper to Victoria was leaving at 7:30 so it was a long cue for Breakfast before the ferry set off! 

Setting off to Victoria

As is my usual MO for water craft I stayed on the top deck in the wind, luckily it was a beautiful day and I was wrapped up against the 'breeze'. 

The journey was gorgeous with boats, islands and wildlife to see but it did take 3.5 hours to get to Friday Harbour, my destination, on San Juan Island. Here is a selection of shots...

Once at Friday harbour I had five and a quarter hours to look around whilst they conducted a whale watching tour (which I wasn't paying for) before the ferry home again. 

Whilst at Friday harbour I had a little walk around the town and popped in some shops. I had a look at the whale museum which had some really nice murals,information about different types of whales, and a few skeletons. It also told you about the pods in the area which was interesting. After that I ate some battered seafood and chips and then walked around to the local beach. This was great except that I had to root march back in order to catch the ferry in time!

The journey back was equally charming. With the sun shining brightly. I was particularly enamoured with the sparkling sunlight on the water. 

Sun sparkling. 

Of course the cherry on the cake was seeing whales. This did make the top deck a bit crowded and there were a few excited screamy girls which was a bit of a shame. There was a pod of 5-7 between us and Whitby Island so we had a really good show. 

Whales, whales where are you? 

I arrived back in Seattle at 7:30pm. A long day but worth it. I took over 900 photographs so be glad I edited them for you!

Much delayed - Seward Park June 2015

Lake Washington over the roof tops

After my trip to Kubota Gardens I took a little walk to Seward Park which sticks out into Lake Washington near Mercer Island. On the way I stopped at a few other small public parks on the way. First stop Beer Sheva Park with a lovely stream running through it but otherwise is just a car park/dock on the edge of the lake. Next stop Pritchard Park which was over run by geese but generally quite cheerful!

Stream at Beer Sheva park

Geese and Pritchard Beach

After that I had to walk along the road with some beautiful houses including this one. Notice the street sign for South Wildwood Lane on the left hand side. It is for a tiny footpath lane which I think would be an amazing address to have. I also stopped off at Martha Washington Park home of some of the last white Oaks in Seattle and some lovely fruit trees that were feeding the birds. 

Beautiful houses

S Wildwood Lane

Beautiful Oaks at Martha Washington Park

Beautiful fruit trees also at Mary Washington Park. 

Woods on one side of park

Finally three miles later I was at Seward park and very de-hydrated. Thankfully I was able to find a drinking fountain straight away. Then for a little 2.5 mile stroll around the park. The woods on the left and the lake on the right. I spent about 15 mins trying to take a picture of an eagle then walked around to the tip of the peninsula where there is a beach where I spent more time trying to photograph the eagle again and then a heron. I also had a little paddle. 

Eagle photo attempt #1

Eagle photo attempt # 2

Eagle photo attempt # 3

Heron coming into land

Heron almost at touch down

Looking across to Mercer Island

Towards Mt. Rainier

Those stones were quite painful especially on lake cooled feet

Towards Downtown Seattle

Geese (again)

 Walking further around the shore were a number of boats including a little flotilla of boats being used by partying students (it being graduation day for "u-dub"). I went a little of  route to walk through the trees and see the remnants of the salmon fishery that used to run in the park. Unfortunately there were so many trees it was a bit hard to see and green moss on green shrubs doesn't make for good photos! 

Lovely green woods

Old tree uprooted

Some amazing twisty roots

Small rock boarder

The day ended with another mile of walking to the the first bus then an hour long wait for the second bus with multiple buses parked up so the drivers could have a break. The reason? Graduation Day at the University which I live on the other side of. We're talking an entire graduating year at once, 5500 student and 40,000 adoring fans, good job they have a 70,000 seater football stadium! Hence the 'slight' problem with traffic. Udub graduation a stark contrast to my graduation in Bath Abbey on a very rainy day with a limit of two guests per person and graduating with a hundred course mates or so. I guess it's hard to split up a graduating class when people are able to choose a mixture of subjects as oppose to the British system of specific course including a limited choice between course specific modules. All in all a good but tiring day!

Obligatory selfie under the trees at Martha Washington Park