Something Old – Lake Union, Something New – Lake Washington – 

In our ongoing quest to explore new boating destinations, we scheduled a two-day stop at an anchorage in Lake Washington for our inland lakes diversion trip. We left Puget Sound for a few days before finally ending our Pacific Northwest cruising season with a stay in downtown Seattle.

With this in mind we left Puget Sound and entered the Ballard Locks – time to brush up on our locking skills. Then we transited through Fremont Cut for a quick lunch break in Lake Union. Making our way to the center of the lake, we cut the power to our Volvo Penta engine and free-floated for about an hour. With the backdrop of Seattle to the south of us, we enjoyed a colorful salad as we were entertained by float planes taking off and landing.

Lake Union is a busy waterway, we were surrounded by many kayakers, wakeboarders, and other boaters as they all seemed to be taking a tour, as we were, around Lake Union. This satisfied our need for “Something Old.” We stayed at a marina on Lake Union many years ago, right after we bought our Fathom 40 and were having her electronics installed.

After lunch we moseyed up to Lake Washington, passing by the University of Washington and Husky Stadium. Our “Something New” anchorage was Andrews Bay off Seward Park – the only official anchorage in Lake Washington. Located on the western shore, the 120-acre park is home to hiking/walking trails, picnicking, and beaching. It offers a well-protected cove for boats to anchor in a scenic, protected environment.

The anchorage was rather full when we arrived, it was the weekend and a very nice sunny day. We were able to find a good spot, far up into the cove as we could get. It was a little noisy with the day boaters enjoying music and water toys, but it all died down just before sunset as most of the boats had departed leaving the cove with only a half dozen boats to share the clear midnight sky and almost full moon.

We stayed two nights. Mostly caught up on some work and communications. Nice office space – right on the water.

After two nights, we pulled anchor and headed back to Fishermen’s Terminal for a rendezvous with friends.

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Fishermen’s Terminal – Not Our Usual Marina Experience! –

We had a real treat today, shortly after we arrived and docked at Fishermen’s Terminal. Our good friends, Hsu-Yu, his beautiful wife, Yu-Yen, their son, their daughter, and husband, and a few grandkids, picked us up to take us for a real Chinese lunch, family style, at Din Tai Fung – University District, Seattle, WA.

We first met the Huang family at a B&B in Seattle when we spent a winter in there in 2006/2007 while waiting for our Fathom 40 to be built. Hsu-Yu and Yu-Yen’s daughter, Chien was living there with her mom while Chien attended university. Hsu-Yu commuted from Taiwan. Although there was a little bit of a language barrier, in the beginning, our friendship flourished by the joy we felt getting to know each other. We always try to get together when we are in the Pacific Northwest. One day, in his retirement, Hsu-Yu and You-Yen will visit us in Traverse City.

Hsu-yu ordered all their favorite dishes and we got an excellent sampling of Chinese cuisine. It certainly was a feast and a good way for us all to catch up on the few years since we last met in the Seattle area.

After grabbing ice cream cones near the restaurant we all headed over to Fishermen’s Terminal for a boat ride to Lake Union. The kids loved being on the boat and made themselves right at home.

Other than having a great location in the Seattle area, Fishermen’s Terminal is a fun place to tie up, due to all the unique fishing and work boats, we enjoy all the colorful fishermen who frequent the terminal. Located in freshwater between the Lake Washington Ship Canal and Salmon Bay east of Chittenden Locks, Fishermen’s Terminal is available for recreational, but mostly commercial moorage, and is a home port to the North Pacific Fishing Fleet.

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