Spring

Spring at Last!

In this post:

• Pics taken along waterfront walks
• Bald Eagles soaring above home
• Rocks. Yes, Rocks!
• Ships
• Sky Watch
• 48 Hours Coast to Coast in 1929
• AI Update
• Optional Entertainment & Closing thoughts

Two Pacific Northwest Favorites are in bloom.
Cherry trees and Daffodils.

2 Goslings and (my guess) their moms.
Canada Geese
[Click on images for BETTER view.]

The dads (again, my guess) were nearby and making a lot of noise.

Aren't these little birds cute!

Their feathers look like fur.

It was delightful to see the goslings.

A well-named Goldeneye

Mallards are back too!
Critter lovers check out Saturday's Critters

After 3 years, my hummers now share the feeder.
At one moment I had 4 on the feeder and 1 buzzing
around waiting for an opening.

Definitely not my photo. Screenshot from the web.
This is the Anza Borrego Desert in California in bloom,
some year in the past.
One of my favorite bloggers features amazing desert pics.
I'm hoping he might check out this year's blooms.
After all the rain in California, over the winter,
this year may be amazing. 

Eagles!

On March 23 I noticed Bald Eagles circling above and
stepped out on my deck to see if I could get some
captures.

They flew around and around and I snapped a lot of pics.
These are not great photos, but they do give a sense of
what it is like to watch these majestic birds.

Rocks ... 

I almost missed this item lost among the rocks.
See next photo.

Wish I knew L W R ... that person is an artist.

Some human stacked the rocks to look like a statue.
This was only noticeable from a certain angle.

The powers in charge decided to trim away the old growth.
All done in one day, March 24th

Starting my waterfront walk on a cloudy morning.
March 22nd

A few days later ...
Clear sky to the East promises a sunny morning.
It looks so different ... all trimmed up.
March 29th

Ships ...

Getting Loaded!
Early morning sun brightens up the CL BEIJING
bulk carrier with grain for Asia.

This is the CM BLUEBELL loading up with grain 
for Asia. This shot taken just before sunrise.

FOSS tugs await assignment at their Operations Base

Guided by 2 FOSS tugs, the MSC Katie arrives
in the afternoon, April 1, 2023. In the near
distance West Seattle, further Vashon Island,
and a glimpse of Colvos Passage west of Vashon.

Loaded Container Ship arrives Port of Seattle
MSC CLORINDA
March 10, 2023

ULTRABULK SCRUB ISLAND at anchor.
Probably awaiting a spot at Grain Terminal 86.

Head-on view of a bulk carrier at anchor.

MSC NITYA B departing Seattle
March 22nd

The EXCELLENCE fishing vessel has returned from Alaska
and is docked in its customary spot at Pier 90.
This shot taken from nearby Queen Anne Hill.

Grain ship being loaded at the Grain Terminal

Bicycle enthusiasts enjoy a morning get together
along the waterfront walk.

The fireman said, "Sorry to interrupt your walk."
I just thought it was interesting.
First time I've seen them testing a Ladder Truck.
You never know what you'll see along the waterfront.

Sky Watch ...

Just a beauty of a day.
Note the white-caps ... yes, it was windy!

Along the bike path, looking East.

Unusual colors - early morning sun on the Olympic Mountains.
March 12th

Dark Mode
Ships at night in Elliott Bay.
Pic snapped at Oh-dark-thirty!

Colorful sunset.
March 29th

From the Collection ...

Starting July 7, 1929, 48 hours, Coast to Coast, via Rail and Air

2 Nights by Train, 2 Days by Plane. 

Cost:  $338 in 1929 ... OR, in today's dollars $5,746.

AI Update

In my post, Friday, January 27, 2023, I asked if you were chatting with AI (Artificial Intelligence). Since then AI has become the latest viral topic on the internet. Now, tech leaders are asking for a pause. The screenshot below gives the story as it appeared recently in the media.

Optional Entertainment & Closing thoughts ...

Just as a reminder to myself, if I am lucky enough to look back here in a few years, I wanted to note that I've recently been enjoying YouTube more than ever, and especially the music videos. I found the one below to be a smile producer and reminder of stuff I've enjoyed in the past. I enjoy many kinds of music. The example below just happens to be Country and features The Highwaymen. Enjoy.

Closing thoughts ...

"Dogs come when they're called; cats take a message and get back to you later."

          Mary Bly

I wrestle with cardboard, I struggle with foil,

I pluck at tiny tabs until my blood begins to boil.

And when I'm all for giving up, and I'm at my wits end,

I see those nasty, spiteful words OPEN OTHER END.

          Mark Adjan

Cusp of Spring

 Pictures from John's walks and more ...

Most of my daily walks are along The Elliott Bay Trail which is along Seattle's waterfront. At the start of every walk, I snap a photo like the ones above to record the sky conditions. Then, as I'm walking along, I snap pics of scenes I like. Click on images for better view.

Critter pics ...

A Common Merganser
Haven't seen them for months, so I'm guessing they
are back from wherever they spend their winter.

A Red-faced Cormorant drying its wings.
Not a great capture, but does seem majestic.
To see more blogs featuring critters,
check out Saturday's Critters

The Canada Goose is one I see often.
Sometimes, I like to stop and say Hello a few times.
Most do not seem afraid of humans.

Last year's nest may be under consideration for 
these two crows. Same tree, but different days.

Really got a stare from this black crow.

Recent photos of one of my hummer visitors at home.
This is the same bird, a male Anna's hummingbird.
Movement of feathers changes appearance dramatically.

A two legged critter taking photographs.
I like the use of a tripod but it's just too much
to carry along on my walks.

Three two legged critters rolling along on the trail.
Note the young lady in brown is capturing the fun
with her smartphone.

A two legged critter on a Jet Ski.
I see this critter often, early in the mornings, coming
into downtown from the north, so
I'm guessing this might be his method of 
avoiding traffic on the roads.

Not to be missed critters ...

Although definitely not something I saw on my walks, I had to share a YouTube I happened to see online. Passengers aboard the National Geographic Endurance encountered a pod of hundreds of whales. It's pretty amazing.

Massive Pod of Several Hundred Fin Whales

When a massive "superpod" of several hundred fin whales surrounds the ship, guests get close enough to get a whiff of the whales' exhalations. Video by Eric Wehrmeister aboard the National Geographic Endurance in Coronation Island, South Orkney Islands. If you're not familiar with where Coronation Island is, I placed a map for you below.

I love ships. Lots to see here in Seattle ...

3 Container ships and a Ro-Ro
A Ro-Ro is a Roll On, Roll Off ship that carries vehicles.
The Container ship in the lower right has a very light load.

Garth Foss Tug
Foss Tug Company has a large fleet of tugs.
Maybe the largest fleet in the Port, but I am not sure.
The Garth Foss is one of the largest tugs in the fleet.

Three passenger vessels and
 a refrigerated cargo ship at Pier 90

Skies ...

Looking across Puget Sound, late afternoon.
March 2nd

Sunset, February 17th 5:21PM

Sunset, February 23rd 5:38PM

Just after sunset
February 23rd 5:39PM

About an hour after sunset.
The Moon, Jupiter, and Mars aligned
 in the western sky.
February 23, 2023 6:31PM  

Just before sunset
February 24th, 5:34PM

From the walk, looking East, at dawn.
March 9th 6:29AM

There are a couple of spots on the walk where I get 
a good look at the Space Needle.
Of course, the view varies with the weather.

Can't resist adding the way Mt Rainier looked on
March 7th about 7AM
It is 14,410 feet tall (4,392 meters) — 
the tallest singular peak in the lower 48 states.

Iditarod 2023 ...

The Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race, more commonly known as The Iditarod, is an annual long-distance sled dog race run in early March.

The "Last Great Race" started last weekend.
The "Official" race started Sunday, March 5, at 2PM Alaska Time.
As of Friday, March 10, about 2PM Alaska Time
most of the mushers are around the halfway mark.
The race is 1000 miles (1,600 km) from Willow to Nome, Alaska.
The photo above is a screenshot from the Iditarod GPS page.
All of the mushers are equipped with tracking devices.
Leaderboard is on the left side of the screen.

There are 33 mushers in this year's race.
Iditarod Website

David Poyzer is the Official Race Photographer
His photos are wonderful.
Check out his website.

This is how they get around at Rainy Pass Lodge in winter.
Rainy Pass is one of the check points on the Iditarod Trail.
Rainy Pass Lodge

Closing thought ...

     Failure is the mother of success.

          Ancient Chinese proverb.