In the middle of last week I received an e-mail from an old aquaintance of mine, Steve Roberts. He and a few friends were planning to take their inflatable kayaks on a trip from Portage Bay on Lake Union and end up at Shilshole Marina on Puget Sound. This would mean taking a trip through Lake Union, through the locks and out into Puget Sound. The total distance is about 7 or 8 miles, depending on any side trips taken.
After a few more e-mail exchanges, it was determined that Sunday would be the day most acceptable to everyone. We were to do some sort of impromptu prestaging of some of the cars at the Shilshole marina parking lot, and put in at the Agua Verde restaurant and kayak rental dock at about 11 AM.
This was going to be a pleasure cruise. Since the boats that Steve and his friends were going to use were inflatables that meant that they would travel somewhat slower than typical kayaks. This also meant that I could take my Escapade. In that boat I could haul a couple of kids and lots of extra stuff and still be one of the faster vessels in the flotilla.
On Sunday morning I ended up taking only my daughter, Aria. The other kids were too busy playing video games or doing homework. We ended up at the Sunnyside boat ramp in Seattle about 10:30 AM and were rather surprised to see a large building in the lake slowly moving out of view. What on earth was going on?
It turned out that the Lake Union Crew boat house was being moved from its moorage at the east end of the lake somewhere to the west. As their web site was not updated as of 3/24/04, I have no idea where it was being moved to. Anyway, after launching the Escapade and loading all our gear into it, we headed out into the lake to take a closer look.
We were running a little late, so I poured on the speed and headed to the east end of Lake Union where Portage Bay and Agua Verde were located.
Nearing the restaurant we noticed a cluster of double kayaks near the shore opposite the restaurant. Could this be the group we were trying to meet?
I pedaled closer.
As we neared the group they split up and paddled away to the east. No, if these were the folks we were trying to meet then they were certainly going the wrong way.
Turning around I headed towards the restaurant's docks.
En route I called Jeannie, Steve's friend with a cell phone. She said that they had just finished dropping cars at Shilshole and were on their way to the put-in point.
When I got close to the docks a guy came out and said "You can't come in here. This is private. We have kayaks launching here.".
There was no one else around, let alone people launching kayaks.
When I told him that I was meeting a group of people here he said that I would still have to go over to another dock. He pointed to an area a short distance away. I thanked him and began pedaling in reverse to back out of the narrow inlet.
As I did so the drive belt began slipping. Noticing that the belt appeared to be quite loose I bent over the drive unit pedestal and adjusted the belt tension. Apparently I had loosened it too much after performing maintenance on it the previous month. The stern look of the guy on the dock didn't help too much in the meantime, either.
Soon we were heading over to the other dock.
After tying up we both got out. We met Matt, the only other member of the group so far to have arrived at the designated meeting point.
Eventually they arrived and unloaded their gear. While they did so another guy from the restaurant came over to make sure that we didn't block their dock and that we would not leave any vehicles in the nearly empty parking lot. Ten minutes later another guy came by and said the same thing.
This seemed to dampen our desire to have dinner here after the excursion.
It was noon before everyone was ready to go. The kayakers all were wearing PFD's and various sorts of dry suits or cold water protection gear. Aria was wearing a jacket and her PFD. I was wearing bike shorts, a T shirt and my cool hat. It can be warm pedaling an Escapade with the windshield in place!
The inflatables were launched from the Agua Verde docks regardless, and the hard boats left from the non-restaurant docks. My daughter had been getting pretty antsy and was very happy that we were finally under way!
We were a rather disorderly group. There was no designated leader or sweep, but we generally kept in fairly close proximity to each other. Several of us had cameras, and they were being used quite frequently.
Soon we passed under the University Avenue and I-5 bridges.
After passing and Ivar's Salmon House, both of which are local landmarks, we passed the former resting place of the Kalakala ferry and headed towards Gasworks Park.
The group reconnoitered along the eastern shore of Gasworks Park. There we commented on how, except for the warning signs, the shoreline would be ideal for the launching of hand carried boats. I guess they really don't want people stirring up the toxic soil!
The sun was pretty strong. With Aria's help I put up the bimini top. That gave us both some pretty good protection, though it diminished our view of the scenery. The light breeze helped keep things reasonably cool, too.
Aria decided she had to do some pedaling, so I let her sit in front of me on the seat so she could reach the pedals. She did pretty well, too, and was easily able to keep up with the 3 mph pace of the group.
After pointing out various sights, including the Center for Wooden Boats, downtown Seattle, the Space Needle, etc., we continued towards the Aurora Avenue Bridge and Fremont.
On the way we passed an old army landing craft, the Seattle Harbor Patrol and several dry docks. This is most definitely a working urban waterfront!
There were few other vessels out on the water today. Overhead, however, some sea planes passed at rather low altitudes as they either landed at the Kenmore Air station at the south end of the lake, or as they took off and headed out to points unknown.
There was a new water access dock just east of the Aurora Avenue bridge. I went in to take a closer look. Sure enough, it looked like it would be an excellent place from which to launch a hand carried boat in the future.
Heading back out to the main channel and under the bridge I couldn't quite see the troll. He was located at the far north end and was behind some pillars.
Right beside the Fremont Bridge we regrouped. The Ice Cream Sunday Cruise ship was at its dock. Aria took notice and asked "Where's my ice cream?". I told her that perhaps on another trip we could do that.
After the Fremont Bridge we entered the Ship Canal. There were quite a few people walking, skating or biking on the path along the shoreline. Many of them took notice of our fleet, and several pointed at the Escapade and inquired about it.
We were getting pretty hungry. Since the others showed no indication of stopping anywhere for lunch Aria and I decided to start eating our picnic lunch. She got out my toasted bagel with peanut butter and strawberry jam and she had her bagel sandwich. We shared a container of potato chips, and we each had our own cans of soda. Taking pictures was a bit more difficult during this time, with the camera in one hand, the bagel in the other, and trying to steer and pedal simultaneously. It can be done!
I noticed that some of the kayakers were also digging into plastic bags of munchies as well. Perhaps this trip would not actually have a lunch stop after all.
The narrow Ship Canal was the first place we encountered boat wakes. While these were of no significance to the Escapade with its humongous freeboard and ballasted keel the waves were enough to keep the attention of the kayakers. Several times they had to employ bracing maneuvers in order to remain upright. I'm sure that this would not have been much of a problem in a Cadence, either.
Eventually the Canal widened as we entered Salmon Bay and approached the Ballard Bridge. Ships of almost every description lined the shores and piers on either side. I suggested that we make a pit stop at the nearby public boat ramp. Everyone agreed so we headed over and either tied up or dragged our boats up on the docks or ramps.
Just about everyone in the inflatables appeared to be wet or damp in various places. This was caused mainly by their paddles dripping onto them. Both Aria and I were quite happy to not have these problems!
As we waited for everyone to conduct their business another person, Beverly, joined us. She was a friend of one of our group and just happened to be launching at that time for a trip on the water.
Aria finished her lunch and shortly afterwards we were all heading under the Ballard Bridge towards the locks. There were very few boats on the water here today, which is very unlike the scene that summer would bring. Speaking of summer, the sun that had been keeping us so warm up until now was gradually disappearing behind an increasingly gray sky. Hopefully it wouldn't turn to rain!
As we neared the structures separating the locks from the nearby moorages I noticed this rather large pleasure cruiser parked in the distance. While not quite the size of most of Paul Allen's ocean going vessels this still was nothing to sneeze at!
Tentatively we headed towards the larger of the two locks.
At the stop light by the large lock we were greeted by "The Voice". The Voice told us to go over to the small lock and wait there. So we did.
Once we reached the smaller lock we were then told by The Voice to continue on to the broad empty area just above the dam. We were to wait for the Argosy Cruises vessel to enter the lock before doing anything else. So we did.
After the Argosy ship was in the lock I pedaled over to the place where boats are supposed to wait to enter the lock. The Voice told me to wait a bit longer, and then finally said that the kayaks and I could come on in. I waved the group over and we entered the lock.
The lock master told me to go over to the right side of the lock and hang onto the steel I-beam to keep from drifting as the level of the water lowered. I didn't think too much of this, as it meant that my hands would get all slimy, and my boat would get slimed as well. Oh, well.
Most of the kayaks were told to hang onto the floating mooring panel on the left side. Why they were told to go and use that side and not me, I'm not too sure. Perhaps the lock master thought my nice white boat was a bit too clean.
The doors to the lock closed. Slowly the sides of the lock crept upward. The people lining the railings of the lock and the cruise ship were snapping photos. Hmm, perhaps I should, too!
Unfortunately, taking photos meant that I had to let go of the I-beam. This did not seem to be a problem as I could snap a photo and then grab on again. Unfortunately, I waited too long and the darn beam was just outside my reach! Oops!
Steve lent me his paddle and I tried paddling sideways over to the beam. That didn't work. The lock master told me we had to hang onto something, so after the light breeze pushed us over to the south side by the other kayaks we hung onto them instead. No problem!
After only a few minutes we reached sea level. The seaward lock doors opened and the Argosy boat headed out. A few moments later we followed.
There was quite a current helping us along as we exited the lock into Shilshole bay. I remembered the same thing happening on a previous trip through the locks. The speed makes you feel like Superman!
In a short time we reached the Burlington Northern Railroad bridge. Today this tilt bridge was raised high into the air.
The incoming tide was nearing the high level. We could travel quite close to the condos and restaurants lining the northern shore of the bay. Thoughts of tying up and going in for dinner crossed my mind!
By this time Aria was getting tired and a bit chilled by the northwesterly breeze. I gave her a jacket and a thick woolen blanket, and soon she was hiding under them. In fact, after a few minutes she fell asleep. Behind the plastic windshield of the cockpit I hardly felt any breeze whatsoever. Still, I put on my long sleeved shirt as we seemed to be traveling a bit slower than before and the reduced level of exertion was not keeping me as warm.
We decided to head behind the breakwater protecting Shilshole Marina from the waves of Puget Sound.
Ben, the hard shell kayaker, decided to go on ahead. The rest of us pretty much kept together, commenting about the various yachts moored in the marina. Some of them were quite nice cruisers; others ranged from high performance motorboats to multihulled sailboats.
About midway along the breakwater we came upon a relative of the Loch Ness monster.
At the north end of the marina where the boat ramp was located we encountered several tiny sailboats leaving. They moved quite rapidly due to the increasing wind. Suddenly one of the boats capsized. The two men on board seemed to be having troubles righting the vessel, so I headed over and offered assistance. They thanked me but declined. A minute later they were properly oriented and on their way.
I tied up on the outside of the floating dock at the ramp. There we left it until we came back with the car and trailer.
The others deflated their boats and carried their gear to a staging area nearby. With Steve acting as guardian for the gear a group of us departed to get our vehicles. Five of us crammed into a VW Golf along with an inflatable kayak in the trunk and another on the roof. Yes - we were quit cozy!
The Escapade was still there in one piece when we returned. Steve did an admirable job protecting the gear as it, too, appeared to be complete and unharmed.
The rest of the group decided to head over to Charlie's for dinner. Aria decided she would rather have pizza, so we went home.
Thank you, Steve, for suggesting this trip.
Photos I took during the outing can be found
here.
Photos taken by Ben can be found
here.
Photos taken by Jeannie can be found
here.
