Yost Park

Yost Park is a small (48 acres) park in the heart of Edmonds, not far from our place. It has about 1 1/2 miles of trails and is not busy at this time of year. When I was there, there were three cars in the large parking lot. That day I took a walk in the park.

Nearest the road that leads to the large parking lot there is a tennis/pickle ball court. The day I was there, there were two players just getting organized.

Moving down the hill from the courts there is a small playground for children.

The pool is closed this time of year but in the summer months it enjoys good crowds. It is the only outdoor pool in Edmonds so is popular during the warm season.

 The trails range from a wide abandoned street that runs from the parking lot to the east. It is great for wheelchair and stroller users. Other trails seem to be pretty well maintained but some are steep and most are narrow.

 Shell Creek runs through the park down the hill from the east. One trail (Shell Creek Trail) wanders along and back and forth across the creek. Others circumnavigate the park or crisscross it at various points.

 There are several good bridges, although I noticed some with handrails that had been smashed by falling limbs or small trees. There is also a boardwalk that comprises part of the Shell Creek Trail.

In the early part (1902?) of the last century the Yost family dammed the creek and ran a pipe down to Edmonds, furnishing clean fresh water to the new town. Several times I saw remnants of the concrete dams and pools left over from the old water works.

It was interesting to explore the park in the fall. I'll go back to observe the changes brought by the other seasons.

Edmonds Kingston Ferry

Please join me on a sunny day, riding the ferry from Edmonds to Kingston.  

As you come down the hill toward the ferry terminal, the ferry traffic lines up on the right. There is one lane on the shoulder until it splits into two lanes about a quarter mile from Dayton Ave, just in front of the toll booths. Usually there is only one lane open but when traffic is heavy they open the curb lane (where I'm standing to take this photo) as well. During heavy travel days I've seen the line backed up all the way to West Gate, a little over two miles.

Here the two lanes feed across Dayton Avenue to the toll booths and parking lot. 

During busy times all the toll booths are usually open. The parking lot behind the booths (where
the white car is) holds enough cars to fill one of the two super ferries that serve this route.

This is the ticket booth for motorcycles and bicycles. The cycles load first and debark first.

Entrance for foot passengers.

These two ticket machines are on the right just inside the passenger entrance door. Most people use ORCA
Cards so these don't get much use.

This enclosed ramp leads from the ticket office to the drawbridge onto the ferry. You can just see the drawbridge
raised in the distance to the left of the ferry berth.

These turnstiles allow passengers using ORCA Cards or other digital fare holders to pass through.

Here the drawbridge is lowered onto the ferry upper deck.

Wheelhouse of the Walla Walla. The Spokane is the other Jumbo Class ferry on the Edmonds route. Each of them
can carry approx 2,000 passengers. The Walla Walla carries 188 vehicles, the Spokane 206.

Passenger seating areas like this are on both ends. Along the windows there are booths, many with tables.

The galley serves finger food, drinks, etc.

Mt Baker off to the north just before we sailed.

Temperature was about 42 degrees but the north wind plus apparent wind from our forward motion
made it cold out on the forward decks.

Approaching the Kingston terminal, our trip is almost finished, about 20 minutes after departing Edmonds.

Colors Around Town

When we returned from Japan last Friday, the difference in latitude really hit home. I first noticed the cold, then the short days and long nights. Guess I shouldn't have been surprised since Tokyo is on latitude 35.67, about midway between San Francisco and Los Angeles. Edmonds is on latitude 47.81, or 838 miles farther north than Tokyo.

With the dark and cold days here in Edmonds, I thought I'd walk around town and see what color I could find. Pleasantly surprised to find quite a few bright spots, I took too many photos and decided to share some with you. I'll test my blogging platform and see if they will publish all of them. If you don't like fall colors and flowers, better tune out now. ;-)

There were small trees and tall trees, green trees and multi-hued trees and even a cedar (family) tree with cones.

Many houses had nice flowers in their yards.

Some flowers were continuing to bloom even after their plant set seed pods.

I saw chrysanthemums and roses.

Roses with hips soon ready to make tea.

This hydrangea looked a little tired.

There were dahlias in a few yards.

Saw a couple of hardy fuchsias.

This lonely camellia bloom is a little out of season.

Prime dahlia specimens.

California poppies decorating our Washington grounds.

This eager Azalea seems to be anticipating its normal season by a few months.

Snapdragon begging to have a photo taken.