Ballard Locks

June 16th

Lovely wooden cabin cruiser entering the lock

This is one of many wooden boats which were passing through the locks today. There is a wooden boat festival here in Seattle; perhaps these have been participating.

Modern yachts and powered craft moving into lock

More of the vessels passing through the locks. From the sailing boat to a luxury power boat. Mostly it seems the sailing boat people appear less stressed when traversing the locks.

Ocean going fishing vessel

This vessel is one of the Seattle based fishing boats heading to the Bering Sea for the summer fishing season. You can judge the size from the person standing at the bow. This vessel is in the larger of the two locks. Commercial traffic has priority over pleasure craft.

Lifting bridge on train line in closed position

The bridge is closed for a freight train coming into Seattle from the North. It may be from Canada, or may have come from the east, crossing under Stevens Pass. Trains seem to have priority over boats, as the bridge closes when needd, and tall ships, such as Arica, have to wait. This train has 4 locomotives.

Locks on left, and dam retainging Lake Union to the right

This is a view over the locks. The interesting gizmo (technical term) on the right is something to detect/mark/classify fish swiimming through it.

A smallish tour boat powering towards the lock entrance from downstream

Meanwhile, this Argosy vessel (part of a Puget Sound and Lake Union/Lake Washington cruise) has priority over the pleasure craft waiting behind it. It actually "jumped the queue".

Tourist vessel entering small lock, which Arica waits in large lock next to it

Here, the Argosy vessel is heading into the small lock, while the large lock vessels are waiting for the rail bridge to open.

Pleasure craft in the large lock wait behind Arica to exit the lock as the Puget Sound end gates open

At last, the bridge is open, the large lock has been emptied, and the boats are on their way. Just shows how popular boating is as a hobby around here. Especially on one of our rare sunny days.

A dog on the water's edge trying to heard some ducks

Even this dog was enjoying the water, although he was busily occupied controlling some ducks, who effectively ignored him.