May Spring in Seattle 2025

 May Spring in Seattle 2025

 Anytime is good in Seattle ( if your into winter sports) but Spring is Great! Our weekly visits to Mercer Island for some physical exercise includes a walk at Luther Burbank Park

I was curious about the water levels on Lake Washington, the last we were here in December of 2024 the water was at least 3-4' lower from the docks. Well evidently the water levels are changed by the Corp of Engineers as needed for projects on the lake. see:  https://www.nws.usace.army.mil/Media/News-Releases/Year/2025/n the lake
' 

We hiked a couple of trails we did not know about.

Looking towards Seattle across Lake Washington.

In the not to distant future all these will fall across the state, that's a lot of pine cones! 

The Tennis Courts were changed over to Pickle ball courts.

This makes me remember of a Cosmic Duck T-shirt that was a favorite of mine back in the 70's

Parents get ready!!

Lots of rabbits in Seattle in every neighborhood, Clara wanted to catch one so we made a rabbit trap next to her lettuce garden.

He got away

Our celebration of the new Pope Leo in front of the Meridian School building known as The Good Shepherd

Shilshole racers returning from an afternoon race.

Big D had two full weeks of soccer tryouts

Even where no one goes to see there are remarkable spring flowers.

Mothers Day on Bainbridge Island

An unusual deer sighting

0ne of our favorite spots on the Island

Very intricate work every step.

Always bring an offering.

The prayer wheel needs some repair, but it worked for us.

Another deer in the parking lot at Island Wood

So many of these Banana Slugs on the trails.

Lots of interesting life at the big pond. Especially the Dragon flies were of interest this year.

The Chipmunks were a hit at the Brunch.

Returning to Seattle on the Ferry

A happy Harbor seal.

Very Low Tides continue in May 

Usually the Breakwater is covered this time of year with Sea Lions

However the Sea Lions have moved to the Transient Docks at Seattle, A woman told us a story about her son who works at the Fuel Dock on the T head of this dock where the sea lions hang out. A transient orca came in the breakwater and directly across from the fuel dock it pulled a sea lion off the rocks! Ever since then the sea lions moved off the breakwater and sought refuge on the transient docks. Now about 140 sea lions  crowed together on 6 fingers along the Transient dock slips. These sea lions come up from California. They go up to Canada for breeding then move to Puget Sound until June when they go back to California.

When these transient boaters docked, the wife jumped off the boat to tie up the dock lines, a sea lion lunged at her and she ran back to the safety of the boat, her husband then completed tying up the dock lines.

On the way to Rock Meadow Equestrian Stables there was this cell tower dressed up like a tree. 

Happy horses make for happy riders.

Rock Meadow Equestrian near Sammamish

We travel across Ballard Bridge most days, sometimes two or more times in a day.
See: https://youtube.com/shorts/Yv4VnSCaVGY

I have posted this before but it never ceases to amaze me. Anytime you are driving West on any street in Seattle, you always have a view of the Brothers Peaks, part of the Olympic Mountain Range.

Another walk we enjoy is along the Magnolia Bluff that is bordered by Puget Sound. On this Day there were two Paragliders, One flew over Downtown Seattle and went extremely high in the sky above Downtown, the other flew right over us along the Magnolia bluff riding the thermals rising along the bluff, I thought he got dangerously low several times but he evidently was very good at it! see:

https://youtube.com/shorts/XS9D71qjYpQ?feature=share

When Mt. Rainier is out it makes Seattle Happy.

First time to see a bulk carrier with what looks like a platform for containers?

I posted about this stainless steel sailboat last month, we just happened to be walking by when she was being lowered after some kind of yard work. Golux is the name of the vessel, Golux is an app for https://www.golux.app/

Golux dropping back into the Sound after a haul out:
https://youtu.be/X3LKWe3BkwI

I identified this ship using the Marine Traffic App, pretty handy. 

A Seattle Tour Boat

Some call this God's Eye

And Meanwhile back in Austin a very strange storm, This picture was taken near our neighborhood, they are clearing nearly two feet of Hail from their driveway!!

My good Friend Martti Benson took this photo from the back porch of his second home on San Juan Island, It was the perfect photo for the Album cover of my 4th album, Next Destination. I still have 5 more tunes I want to add to the album but I have uploaded 7 tunes to date. You can here the playlist here:
https://on.soundcloud.com/8vHz5vBJEEBgIBofsM