fall days at dock street
Date: November 16, 2022
Time Start: 10 a.m.
Time Finish: 2:50 p.m.
Cruise From: Swantown Marina, Olympia
Cruise To: Dock Street Marina, Tacoma
Engine Hours Start: 1484
Engine Hours Finish: 1489
Weather/Sea conditions: Light fog, clearing to a beautiful day, temperature in 40's
It looks and feels more like winter than fall as we leave Swantown, passing a gathering of swimming gulls at the end of our finger pier and cormorants huddled on the channel markers. A ship loaded with logs, the Global Discovery, is also leaving from the Port of Olympia docks. We will steer clear of the shipping channel.
Time Start: 10 a.m.
Time Finish: 2:50 p.m.
Cruise From: Swantown Marina, Olympia
Cruise To: Dock Street Marina, Tacoma
Engine Hours Start: 1484
Engine Hours Finish: 1489
Weather/Sea conditions: Light fog, clearing to a beautiful day, temperature in 40's
It looks and feels more like winter than fall as we leave Swantown, passing a gathering of swimming gulls at the end of our finger pier and cormorants huddled on the channel markers. A ship loaded with logs, the Global Discovery, is also leaving from the Port of Olympia docks. We will steer clear of the shipping channel.
The sun is shining and skies are blue by the time we reach Johnson Point where we pass five vessels that have divers in the water to harvest geoducks. And looking back on our wake, we see the Global Discovery not far behind us. It is turning into a beautiful cruising day!
And there is little Eagle Island, looking inviting today. And again cormorants are filling the channel markers.
The Global Discovery is ahead of us in the Narrows. It's our first time to see a vessel this large pass under the bridges.
It's our turn to go under the bridges.
Point Defiance, Mount Rainier, and boaters out to catch some fish (that seal is probably having the best luck!):
What a stunning day to head into Tacoma's Foss Waterway! "THE MOUNTAIN" is in full glory, and we get views of the city's maritime and lumber industries all along the way. The red buildiing is Urban Waters, and Dan has been on the board for this research facility since before it was constructed.
We have our choice of slips on G dock at the Dock Street Marina in front of the Museum of Glass. H dock is closed for repairs. What a scenic spot this is! We never get tired of coming here.
It's time for a walk, and we head toward and past the hanging suspension bridge, getting glimpses of the trains that continually pass through the city and of some of the city's industry.
Signage along the walk highlights the workers who have contributed to the success of the city.
And then evening light sets in. Time for us to tuck into the warmth of NORTH STAR and enjoy the lights around us.
Date: November 17, 2022
Dock Street Tacoma layover day
Weather: Frost on dock in morning (32 degrees!), warming to low 50's, clear blue skies, N.E. wind
We are treated to another spectacular November day! It's a day to walk and soak up late fall scenery. All is quiet around the glass museum, and the outdoor spaces are all ours until a group of students arrive.
Dock Street Tacoma layover day
Weather: Frost on dock in morning (32 degrees!), warming to low 50's, clear blue skies, N.E. wind
We are treated to another spectacular November day! It's a day to walk and soak up late fall scenery. All is quiet around the glass museum, and the outdoor spaces are all ours until a group of students arrive.
School colors for the University of Washington are purple and gold, and those colors really pop on the Tacoma campus today.
A river runs through this inviting campus. It is a river of rivers, an artistic installation that names rivers from around the world and flows along the base of campus buildings, connecting outdoor spaces and connecting those who pass by to the world. Clever piece of art!
Fall is definitely at its best today and we are lucky to be here!
Students from Annie Wright Academy are getting a whirlwind tour of buildings and museums today. We see them outside the glass museum, the art museum, in the history museum, and here on the Chihully Bridge of Glass. I bet the girls are a bit chilly with their bare legs!
Several Tacoma museums are open for free to the public on evenings of the third Thursday of the month, and that happens to be today. The Museum of Glass is having a special event with musicians playing while a special piece of glass is made in the hot shop. The evening is cold and beautiful for the event.
There is an exhibit of glass from an Italian artist and his followers that we really enjoy. Aquariums are made with blocks of glass, the glass fish and their bubbles encased in the glass, looking so real. We love them!
The glass artists in the hot shop are making a large vase that will have music notes wrapped around it. Three groups are busy making the components - the vase, notes, clef sign, etc. As they work, an ensemble of musicians play from the balcony over them. The screen alternates between showing the artists and showing the musicians.
Warmed up from the hot shop, we head back to NORTH STAR for a late supper on a beautiful but cold night. Our heater has been keeping the cabin nice and warm for us.
Date: November 18, 2022
Time Start: 10:15 a.m.
Time Finish: 4 p.m.
Cruise From: Dock Street Marina, Tacoma
Cruise To: Swantown Marina, Olympia
Engine Hours Start: 1489
Engine Hours Finish: 1494
Weather/sea conditions: Cold morning! 26 degrees with ice! Clear, calm, and warming.
We have frost on the dock this morning, and there is a bit of ice forming on the Foss Waterway that is barely visible. Ashore, the ponds with "Fluent Steps" glass sculptures outside the glass museum are covered with ice. And the skies are so blue, a stunning morning!
Date: November 18, 2022
Time Start: 10:15 a.m.
Time Finish: 4 p.m.
Cruise From: Dock Street Marina, Tacoma
Cruise To: Swantown Marina, Olympia
Engine Hours Start: 1489
Engine Hours Finish: 1494
Weather/sea conditions: Cold morning! 26 degrees with ice! Clear, calm, and warming.
We have frost on the dock this morning, and there is a bit of ice forming on the Foss Waterway that is barely visible. Ashore, the ponds with "Fluent Steps" glass sculptures outside the glass museum are covered with ice. And the skies are so blue, a stunning morning!
It's time to head for home, and once again the sights along the Foss Waterway shine. We often walk along this waterway to see the sights but did other adventures on this visit. No worry, we will be returning!
We're into Commencement Bay and then the Narrows, cruising home.
With sun shining on us, we can't resist a lunch stop by Eagle Island. We note that there is no longer a mooring buoy on the east side of the island, and only one on the west side.
The final leg of our November cruise is highlighted by views of Mt.Rainier, the snowy Olympics, and the final display of golden leaves ashore. It's been a fun time, and a reminder to get out and boat!