Looking good for Paddle Kitsap

I'm planning to spend the next few days on the water following the PaddleKitsap.com organized paddle from Port Gamble to Kingston to Poulsbo. I'm planning to take pictures and I'm sure Jim will be dropping a few crab pots along the way.
We'll have dinner Friday night with the paddlers and basically be around if there is anything we can do to help.

So, it was great to go out this morning and see the start of a spectacular day. Some rain is predicted but the water is calm, the mountains absolutely crisp and the temperature very pleasant.

This is a first time event so if you have a chance to get out and wave to the participants check out the route on www.PaddleKitsap.com and head to a nearby beach to watch them pass by. Point No Point on Friday would be an excellent place to see the more than 50 hardy paddlers.

NEW Suquamish Dock Under Construction

If you haven't been to Suquamish recently you might remember the old pier (above). If you've never been to Suquamish, the old pier has been standing a long time and for several years has been unsafe to use and is no longer connected to the shore. It stands as a reminder of what it once was.


The new pier has been under construction for over a week now and you can now get a sense of how BIG it is going to be. There is some controversy over building the pier and how it will, or won't, be used but from my point of view it is going to be a wonderful asset for Suquamish. Just walking out on the pier is fun and I'm sure it will become a place for kids to crab or go swimming.

It will enable people to drop off or pick up passengers on their recreational boats and it will be a place of constant activity.


Just to get a sense of size, check out the small boat in the middle of the picture with several men being shuttled to work on the pier from shore. This is going to be one long pier, with a float at the end.

The Suquamish Foundation describes the project this way:

Suquamish elders remember when visitors and trades people were welcomed at the old Mosquito Fleet Ferry Dock in downtown Suquamish. In the 1930s, a community dock took the place of the pier, but is has since deteriorated and is now unusable. The Tribe will restore this historical water access by building a new community dock, available to all, for recreation and to promote economic development and tourism. The new dock also has an important cultural function, making participation in canoe outings accessible to elderly and disabled tribal members.

Check out the Suquamish Foundation website for information on other projects including the Community House also under construction in "downtown" Suquamish.

Point Wilson Lighthouse on an overcast summer day

I have a lot of pictures of the Point Wilson Lighthouse in Port Townsend (http://www.kitsapimages.com/ -> Gallery: Washington - Olympic Peninsula -> Port Townsend). Most were taken on those beautiful days with Mount Baker showing in the background.

Today I was with the travel writers mentioned below and only took a couple pictures. It was overcast with no mountains showing and I really didn't think much about the pictures. When I got back and looked at this one I was very pleased - the grass is beautiful and it has a simple clean look, except of course, the roof where the seagulls have been hanging out! Now I want to go back and spend some more time with the beautiful golden grass.

A Crabbing they did go - Writers get the NW experience

I had an opportunity to have breakfast yesterday with a group of travel writers being hosted at The Resort at Port Ludlow. While there I offered to help shuttle them this morning to their crabbing outing.

Miriam Villiard, Project Manager for Port Ludlow Associates, and her family took the group, most from out of the area, out crabbing in two groups.
After taking group #2 to Port Townsend for a quick tour and breakfast we met group #1 returning from the early morning outing.
Group #2 boarded the boat and headed out as I took group #1 for a longer tour of the Port Townsend area including Fort Worden and then returned them to The Inn at Port Ludlow.

"But, Port Townsend isn't part of Kitsap!" Well, no, but we play well together. I love the entire Pacific Northwest and as I helped shuttle the writers (The Resort at Port Ludlow brought to the area) I had the opportunity to learn more about what they are interested in and I was able to talk a little about all that surrounds the resort, including the Kitsap Peninsula.

Worth my time? Personally: always fun to meet and greet and show off the area. Professionally: sure, Kitsap has already shown up on http://www.funtravels.com/, a result of meeting the group.

What we have in this area is so beautiful and wonderful but no one community has it all. It's what we all have together that makes each of us so special.

Naval Undersea Museum - Keyport

I visited the Naval Undersea Museum today on business. I am always impressed at how well this museum is maintained. It is large, has a variety of exhibits and is well worth the time to visit.
Because the museum is maintained by the Navy there is no admission so it is a great deal for anyone, but especially families. Besides the exhibits you might expect about the history of naval warfare, there is a wide range of exhibits about all things dealing with the world under the sea.
The are many interactive exhibits that do a great job of explaining Density, Bouyancy, Salinity and other concepts dealing with the sea. These are great for kids and adults enjoy them as well. There are also lots of things to touch - periscopes for one with views of the parking lot.
A new exhibit is an area specifically for children where they can try on various Navy uniforms, play with puzzles, read books and generally have a good time.

If you're one of those people who see the sign on the highway but haven't gotten around to stopping in - make sure to get it on your list to places to visit.

The Naval Undersea Museum combines naval history, undersea technology, and marine science to create an exciting and educational experience for visitors. More

1 Garnett WAY
Keyport, WA 98345
360.396.4148

July is Spring at Hurricane Ridge

Spring is long gone at home. My Spring garden is looking tired but Spring is in full swing at Hurricane Ridge in the Olympic National Park.

A 17 mile drive from Port Angeles, Hurricane Ridge is an easy way to get into the mountains for spectacular views, hiking, picnicing and a total change of pace.


Wildflowers abound in July at Hurricane Ridge.

There are several trailheads at Hurricane Ridge with something for everyone. You can set out on a wilderness adventure or take a casual stroll on a paved walkway.

Indian Paintbrush (below)has long been one of my favorite wild flowers .
Warning: There is some construction on the road to Hurricane Ridge this summer but I found the delays reasonable and the final destination well worth the wait.

So far . . .so close . . .Blake Island State Park

One of Puget Sound's greatest treasures is Blake Island.

Within view of Seattle, Bainbridge Island, Vashon Island and other area communities this small island belongs to the public. The entire island is Blake Island State Park.

It is only accessible by boat; either private or one of the regularly scheduled trips from Seattle or Bremerton. There is a small marina at the north end and you'll also find Tillicum Village there, the long time attraction serving traditional alder smoked salmon along with a native dance show.

The rest of the island is less developed; 16 miles of trails, primitive camp sites, buoys for boats, an abundance of deer and racoons and views.

It's not easy to get there, but that is what makes it so special. Whether you go by charter and take part in the entire Tillicum Village experience, or kayak across to one of the more secluded camp sites, Blake Island is a special experience.

Geoducks by the bag full

What sea animal lives an average of 100 years, weighs approximately 10 pounds at maturity, is plentiful here in Kitsap and sells as a delicacy for $10 or more per pound in China? Actually I found several sources for prices and they vary BUT geoducks do bring a good price.

Geoducks! If you're not sure what a geoduck is Wikipedia pretty much covers it.

The three Suquamish geoduck boats are working the area in front of my house.

Recently, looking east on our sunny mornings, it was hard to get much of a picture but today with the overcast morning skies, I got some nice ones including this one of one of the boats pulling up a big net full of geoducks.

Cruising at 25 MPH in a GEM

Have you seen the GEM in Kingston?

Olympic Property Group is loaning the Port of Kingston their GEM, a small electric car, for the summer.

Visitors to the Kingston Marina can borrow the car to run errands, grocery shop or just check out town. The car has been so popular, marina guests need to sign up on weekends to get a time slot.

The car goes 25 mph, the speed limit in downtown Kingston, and has a range of 30 miles.

KC, my co-worker and Office Manager at the Kitsap Peninsula Visitor & Convention Bureau, and I took it for a spin today to check it out.

What did we think? It took a bit to get the feel of it and the peddles were a bit difficult with my long legs but overall it was great!

The two of us fit easily in the car and we took a spin around Kingston. Mike Bookey, the Port Manager, says that marina visitors are loving it and taking advantage of it to run a variety of errands.

I'm hoping that at the end of this experiment the Port of Kingston and other ports will seriously look at buying some of these electric cars and make them a permanent amenity for port visitors. What a great way to get our boating visitors out and about in our communities, and perhaps keep them here a day or so longer because they can restock their groceries and enjoy more of what our area has to offer.

That's KC in the driver's seat

Nothing says Summer like a day at the beach

Summer sunshine, sand and water - the beach is a great way to entertain the kids, relax and enjoy our Northwest summer days.
Too much sun? Just let your friends bury you in the sand.
Or you can catch some rays and pretend to fish!

Kitsap Lavender ready to harvest!

Kitsap Lavender is in bloom and ready to harvest.

From the LavenderKitsap.com website:

"Offering robust plants, beautiful fresh and dried bundles, fragrant buds, for crafts, and lavender-based products, the members of the Kitsap Lavender Growers represent an emerging cottage industry increasingly noted for its high quality lavender products.

Most Kitsap lavender is grown in relatively small “patches.” Growers provide “hands-on” attention to their plants year-round to assure the highest quality possible for landscape plants, bouquets, crafts and other products.

Superior soil conditions and a moderate maritime climate (aided by the famous “rain shadow” of the Olympic Mountains), give Kitsap growers flexibility to grow a wide variety of lavender plants that produce long-lasting fragrance as well as wonderful eye-appeal for home and commercial landscape designs.

Harvest season generally falls during the month of July when many of the Kitsap Peninsula’s farmers markets offer glorious purple bundles of fresh-cut lavender. The rest of the year, many growers sell dried lavender buds for a variety of handcrafted products.

Photos from Purple Scent Lavender in Chico.

Go to www.KitsapLavender.com for a listing of Kitsap lavender growers and their products and services.

Purple, Pink and Geoduckers

Morning magic in the sky - bits of purple and pink. Thanks Jim for getting me up early to catch it!

The geoduckers have been moving around Port Madison and are now in front of our neighborhood. I love the boats: one red, one blue and this one white in front of Mount Rainier. Since I was already up I took a beach walk and watched the divers suiting up for their first dive of the day.

Sunshine Kitsap

Just a few views of our beautiful are from yesterday. If you know these people forward the blog to them so I can send them a copy of the photo.
Bremerton with the new condos, new marina open, USS Turner Joy and sailboats.
The water lillies at Elandan Gardens are at their peak - beautiful and a variety of colors. This is a software enhanced photo of one small group.

Posing for Pictures - Bald Eagle

One of "my" eagles was posing again. This is new this year, to perch in this cedar that at the top is below our deck.

Port Orchard Perfect Evening

Just as we were considering "Amy's on the Bay" as a dinner destination their e-mail Friday special arrived. That did it, we headed to Port Orchard and managed to secure a table on the deck and had a nice dinner enjoying the warm and very sunny weather (forgot the sun glasses!).
We heard music coming from the docks during dinner and decided to walk the docks and take a few pictures after dinner. I had forgotten that this is the 19th Chris Craft Rendezvous in Port Orchard. I do the newsletter for the Kitsap Peninsula Visitor & Convention Bureau but since I am always working a month in advance I often forget events by the time they actualy happen.
We found the source of the music at the end of one of the docks - a live band surrounded by a lot of happy Chris Crafters on a perfect Northwest evening. It looked like a good start on a great party.
As always, the Port Orchard marina gardens were beautiful. The garden along the waterfront is well cared for and is a constant revolving display. Daisies are at their peak right now.

Looking for an outing this weekend? Head for Port Orchard, lunch or dinner at Amy's By The Bay, check out the Chris Craft Rendezvous and enjoy downtown Port Orchard. Take the Kitsap Transit foot ferry to Port Orchard or from Port Orchard to continue exploring the Bremerton waterfront.

Bremerton's Fountain Park

One of my favorite things about the Fountain Park in Bremerton are the colors. The copper fountains sparkle in the sun and the plantings throughout the park carry out the theme of reds, oranges, yellows and of course green. The picture above was taken July 9th - definitely summer and the park still have the warm colors of fall. Just wait for September!

Horse in pasture

Just a nice colorful summer picture - taken along Big Valley Road

Views from the NEW Bremerton Marina

Yesterday was a beautiful day to walk around the NEW Bremerton marina. I'm working on a story about all the new activity on the Bremerton waterfront and went down there to get a couple pictures. Above: The USS Turner Joy. You can tour this Viet Nam era destroyer, above and below deck.

View from the far outside of the marina back to Bremerton Harborside.
This is one of the transcient docks. Puget Sound boaters really need to make a trip to this wonderful new, clean marina within walking distance of all of downtown Bremerton with a variety of restaurants, galleries and entertainment. Check the Admiral Theatre schedule and coordinate your visit with one of their performances.

Washington State Ferry up close.

No boat? This is a great place to take a walk; great views and afterwards there is a Cold Stone Creamery and Starbucks, along with other options for refreshment, right at Bremerton Harborside.

Bald Eagle Fishing

This eagle is on a rather small branch keeping a very close watch on the water below. Minutes later it took off and swooped to the water, catching a fish.