OTHER STUFF

Sunday, April 19, 2015

DUWAMISH CLEANUP




The Duwamish river has been used as an industrial toilet.  Heavy metals from ship paint, industrial carcinogens from WWII bomber construction, arsenic in cement material, and raw sewage from overflowing sewage pipes.  There are over 42 chemicals in the Duwamish above State environmental and health standards. The most common chemicals include PCBs (polychlorinated biphenyls); mercury, lead and other metals; dioxins; and arsenic.

Where better to spend a day than in this toxic cesspool?

This was the tenth annual ’Duwamish Alive’ event where various non-profits combine talents and solicit volunteers in a variety of capacities to help the clean up effort.  The company I work for had volunteers going but I wanted to try out my kayak on what was predicted to be a very nice Saturday.  Fortunately there were kayaking opportunities to pick up trash on the river, so I hauled the kayak over to a park on the river and met 4 other kayakers, 3 of whom were part of a Boeing Kayak club.




Together we set up and chatted while trying to find trash.  The river was low making getting into the kayak a gooey mess and initially the trash was difficult to find.  We did find various odds and ends, but by far the biggest find was by one of the Boeing kayakers — an abandoned fishing net.  The net had already trapped and killed a cormorant, and it stretched across half the river.

With a few tugs and a kayak tow, the net was dislodged and handed to the Puget Sound River keeper.  The River keeper hauled it aboard and at least that hazard was removed from the Duwamish.





In all we retrieved 85 pounds from the river and made some new friends on the river.




A good day.

Saturday, April 11, 2015

QUICK TRIP



The weekend started with a ferry reservation made from Ohio.  I was there on work and planned to come back and then spend the weekend on the island.  I recall being smug, making the reservation for the 6:20 ferry.

Friday came around and I headed north on 405.  Traffic was heavy as expected, but I had that reservation.  I went to the ferry schedule just to check on the exact time and the schedule said it departs at 6:00pm.  I clearly remembered it being 6 something, not exactly on the hour.  Uh oh.  I checked the reservation.  It was for 6:20AM Friday morning. Oops.

So, what to do with a couple of hours to spare?  Veer off the highway and take in the sights.  In this case, tulips in the Skagit Valley.  Gotta love the northwest.










Saturday morning I sanded and put another coat on the kayak then  went into town to help with the ‘elegant edibles’ set up at the Theater.  Tables had to be moved around for the event.



Minor chores throughout the day, cocktail party down the road in the early evening concluding with a nice brisket mom had made.

Sunday morning’s sunrise was rather nice.
Mt Baker in the distance


Mom was coming down as well, so we took a late morning ferry, stopping by to chat with Dana who had just arrived for her month long stay in Friday Harbor.  For her story, click here
From the ferry ride home

Quick trip to Washelli with island greens for Grandma and Grandpa

Launched the kayak after getting back for a quick spin