Fall Cruise 2010: Seattle

16th to 19th September: Tacoma to Seattle

Our visit to Tacoma ended with us departing under low cloud, rain and fog!

Seattle was to be our last stop with our friends Richard & Gwen on MV Northstar. We departed Tacoma an hour earlier than Richard and Gwen. As we cruise at 6.5 kts and the 40' Northstar travels at 7.5 to 8.0 kts the staggered start allows us to both arrive in Seattle at the same time.

Fog with limited visibility!
Two Naval ships at the entrance to Tacoma
These were the boats with the red boat crew escape systems on the stern


Kozad leaving Commencement Bay
Fog covered Brown's Point
Tacoma, Washington


MV Northstar a Willard 40 FBS
Towing their Portland Pudgy
Just off of Brace Point, Washington


Puget Sound Fog
Washington State Ferry from Vashon Island to Fountleroy Cove
South of Seattle

Kozad following Northstar into Elliot Bay
Seattle Space Needle and Skyline


Bell Harbour Marina, Downtown Seattle

We moored below Pike Street Market; downtown Seattle at the Bell Harbour Marina. This is a great location and we were within walking distance to the downtown area.

Kozad at Bell Harbour
Downtown Seattle Sky Line

We had the benefit of being with our tour guides Gwen and Richard, they had lived in Seattle for a number of years and know the city well! They gave us a great tour; took us to see a lot of interesting shops and a superb dinner at Anthony's Restaurant as their guests!

Seattle Waterfront


Pulled Pork & French Fry Truck!



Famous Seattle Public Market at Pike Street


Pike Place Market

Jan and Gwen taking in the market!
Fresh vegetables, meats, fish, flowers.... great shopping!

Hanging Peppers!


Stall after stall of flowers are offered at reasonable prices.
$10.00 for a large bouquet!


Great Seafood!


Shrimp, Halibut Cheeks, Caribeaan Lobster & Scallops
All giant sized; the lobster tails were 12" long!


Fish Market Humour


While we at the market the Canadian Navy and a Cruise Ship docked!



Kozad docked next to HMCS Calgary
Canadian Navy Frigate

The rain started again; it absolutely poured for hours on end! We had taken out chicken from the freezer and were hosting Gwen & Richard for supper; so Craig had to BBQ in the rain. So for our last evening in Seattle we had a great last supper together before we parted paths; we were heading for Port Townsend and Friday Harbour while MV Northstar had a short cruise across Puget Sound to Bainbridge Island.

BBQ time on Kozad!
Craig needs a bigger boat or at least a covered cockpit.
Notice the attractive shoes and apron

Kozad in Seattle

We thoroughly enjoyed our time in Seattle; this fall cruise introduced us to Urban Cruising. Exploring large cities from a boat docked at the waterfront is something we had not experienced before; but one which we will look forward to again!

Victoria, Vancouver, Olympia awaits......

Fall Cruise 2010: South Sound

13th to 16th September, Poulsbo to Tacoma, Washington:

Warning! This blog entry is long with lots of photos! Tacoma offered us so much that we wanted to include here..... sorry!

We spent another enjoyable week cruising with Gwen & Richard (MV Northstar W40); this next leg took us to the City of Tacoma. As relatively novice boaters, having only owned Kozad for four seasons, this was our first time boating into a big city!

We departed Poulbso at 0815 on Monday the 14^th September; working our way 33 miles south to Tacoma! Our day started cool, overcast and dull and changed in the early afternoon providing us with clear skies and a lot of sunshine

We came across a Washington State Ferry escorted by two USCG Enforcement RIBs (Rigid Hull Inflatable Boats). The ferry from Dolphin Point on Vashon Island, was headed to Southworth just south of Blake Island and appeared to be empty except for a White Van and a couple of SUVs! Was this a high risk prisoner transport or an exercise? We were told that there is a jail/penitentiary at McNeil Island.

Washington State Ferry with two USCG RIBs


Machine Gun at the ready?

We encountered heavy pleasure boat traffic traveling north up Colvos Passage! At least 20 power and sail boats; there were more boats in this one passage than we saw our entire time cruising the South Sound last year.

We rounded the south end of Vashon Island, passing Quartermaster Harbour and had our first sight of Tacoma.

Tacoma, Washington

The entrance to Tacoma is very industrial in appearance; we passed two interesting freighter style boats which looked like US Military. The interesting thing was the evacuation systems they had on the stern of the ships.

The red boats on the stern are for crew escape in case of emergency!

Tacoma has but an abundance of marinas which await you along the Thea Foss Waterway. This “inlet” lead us under the 11^th street bridge and takes you into old downtown, revealing the flavors offered by this city!

Victorian Buildings abound in Tacoma

We arrived at the Dock Street Marina (voted 2009 Best Marina) which is situated in a great location; the only negative we experienced was the loud whistles from passing trains; ambiance! The marina has new docks, free showers and easy access to explore Tacoma’s unique downtown core.

Dock Street Marina

Kozad at Tacoma

We had just tied up when a Tacoma Fire Boat/Barge went passed us; not doubt those firemen were just wanting to check out the sights! Jan was wondering which one of them was Firefighter September on the Tacoma FD Calender!

Tacoma Fire Department: Fire Boat Commencement

MV Northstar passing the 11th Street Bridge

Kozad and Northstar at Dock Street Marina

The City of Tacoma dates back to the last half of the 1800’s; and is an interesting collection of Victorian buildings intertwined with structures of modern architectural design.

Flatiron Victorian

Free Trolley Service in the Downtown Area

There is a new Federal Court House within the rebuilt Union Railway Terminal, the Museum of Glass is located above the marina; restored Victorian buildings are seen while walking along the local streets, including a unique Flatiron building on a narrow wedge of property! The amazing Chihuly Bridge of Glass, a free trolley service and the Washington State History Museum are just a few more attractions this city of two hundred thousand offered us!

Funnel at the Museum of Glass

Union Station now the Federal Court House

Front of the Court House

Notice the glass sculptures hanging from the cieling

Glass Bridge from Museum of Glass to Downtown Tacoma

Notice the left side of the bridge, this wall houses Glass Art Work!

These are some of the pieces in that wall!

Heading to the glass bridge area with a covered ceiling of glass sculptures.

This is the ceiling along this bridge!

Photo from Chihuly Bridge of Glass site

Glass sculptures abound!

Tacoma is also the home of Almond Roca Candy which was started in 1923!

During our 2010 spring cruise at Princess Louisa Inlet, we were told of a local Washington State beer called Mac & Jack’s African Amber! Craig finally had the opportunity to taste this brew while in Tacoma!

Craig with his Mac & Jack's African Amber Ale

As always, we walk the docks wherever we are! Craig, as usual, found another boat he would like to have; only problem is it costs more than our Coldstream town home and Kozad both put together!

MV Burnaby; a beautiful 52' Sunfjord Trawler only $619K

MV Night Watch, a Willard 36 which has solid side walls enclosing part of the cockpit!

MV Double Trouble, reported to one of the last Willard 30 PH built!

MV Kozad and big brother MV Northstar

Our friends Warren and Darlene from Red Deer, Alberta were in Seattle visiting their daughter and her family. They dropped down for a visit, lunch and a tour of the Museum of Glass.

Warren & Darlene. Warren was the Best Man at our Wedding!

Craig & Warren were best friends growing up

They have a 42' sailboat, SV Mahi Mahi in Trinidad

Hot Shots demonstration at the Museum of Glass; they are making a large vase!

The inside of the funnel, where all the fumes & furnace gases escape!

Night shot of the funnel.

We had a great view from our boat; especially at night when the bridge was lighted!

Tacoma is a great city to visit by boat! We thoroughly enjoyed being docked in an urban environment; lots to do and see and this is definitely a place we will visit again on Kozad.