eagle harbor, winslow
Date: September 17, 2019
Time Start: 10:45 a.m.
Time Finish: 2:35 p.m.
Cruise From: Dock Street Marina, Tacoma
Cruise To: Eagle Harbor, Winslow (Bainbridge Island)
Engine Hours Start: 1117
Engine Hours Finish: 1121
Weather/sea conditions: Rain, upper 50's, showers
Just across the Bridge of Glass and next to the Washington State History Museum is a nice little coffee shop called Anthem, a perfect destination for coffee and pastries on this rainy morning.
Time Start: 10:45 a.m.
Time Finish: 2:35 p.m.
Cruise From: Dock Street Marina, Tacoma
Cruise To: Eagle Harbor, Winslow (Bainbridge Island)
Engine Hours Start: 1117
Engine Hours Finish: 1121
Weather/sea conditions: Rain, upper 50's, showers
Just across the Bridge of Glass and next to the Washington State History Museum is a nice little coffee shop called Anthem, a perfect destination for coffee and pastries on this rainy morning.
Trains and freeways pass under the Bridge of Glass. New condos rise along the waterfront. We like the renovation of the Albers building into trendy lofts. It keeps a bit of history alive here.
We cruise out the Foss Waterway toward Commencement Bay under gray and dripping skies, enjoying the waterfront sights of Tacoma along the way, including the high bridge that Dan crossed on foot yesterday and the Center for Urban Waters building. The skyline of a reviving city and the workings of a thriving waterfront are evident all along the way as we pass pleasure boats of all kinds as well as working vessels, including tugs to tend to the oil barges that come and go on the industrial side of the waterway. The Lady Washington rests alongside one of the docks, and an old ferry converted to social uses is tied to another dock.
We're headed north today, passing first the lighthouse at Browns Point and then the Robinson Point Lighthouse on Maury Island as we cruise along the east side of Vashon instead of our usual route through Colvos Passage.
We enter Eagle Harbor and find plenty of available space on the docks of the waterfront park. One long stretch at the outer end is reserved for the historic sailing vessel Adventuress. We're excited to be near her! We love the setting inside the harbor where there is a shoreside park. We have views out to docks filled with ferries, some idle and others coming and going. It's just a short walk to the shops of town, too, and shoreside trails provide more places for walking. Water sports abound in this vibrant setting.
And here she comes, the Adventuress, ready to dock for the night. What a beautiful vessel!
Meanwhile, there is a lot of afternoon and evening activity as groups of students as well as adults arrive for opportunities to row, kayak, and sail. Lessons, as well as access to equipment, make participation pretty easy!
Even on gray rainy days, evenings on the water are lovely.
Date: September 18, 2019
Eagle Harbor layover day
Weather: Calm morning, breezy afternoon, mid 60's with sun
Our focus is on the Adventuress as the crew prepares for the arrival of students and a day of sailing and learning about our marine environment. She carries a crew of 15, sleeps 36, and can take up to 50 students out for a day of learning.
Eagle Harbor layover day
Weather: Calm morning, breezy afternoon, mid 60's with sun
Our focus is on the Adventuress as the crew prepares for the arrival of students and a day of sailing and learning about our marine environment. She carries a crew of 15, sleeps 36, and can take up to 50 students out for a day of learning.
Students from the Bainbridge Waldorf school arrive, the older ones are getting a day on the boat, while the younger ones are having a day in the park. They are an energetic bunch, all ages engaged in their chance to learn. The younger ones are really fun, not a bit sad not to be on the boat, instead having a great time discovering what is in the water along the dock. Outreach programs with hands on activities are so great!
And off they all go, headed for a day of adventures and learning at its best!
We take a walk into town to check out the shops. There are plenty of trendy boutiques, restaurants and coffee shops, and galleries, as well as a very good grocery store, all within an easy walk of the marina and park.
Afternoon is windy, and students are getting sailing lessons. Rowing shells are out, too.
We join new friends Toni and Don on the "lido" deck of their American Tug "Peregrine" for happy hour on what turns out to be a really nice evening.