Ballard Locks — Seattle Washington

I like boats, what can I say? I have always liked to watch boats and airplanes. Unfortunately, I cannot afford to own or fly a plane, I can afford a boat. Granted, the boats I currently own are small, yes I mean small, but they allow me to get out on the water and enjoy myself.

Now, two of my boats are kayaks and the other is a small Livingston fishing boat I enjoy being on the water. I have friends with bigger boats and do get invited on them once in a while.

Every since I first saw the Ballard Locks (officially known as the "Hiram M. Chittenden Locks" I have enjoyed watching the boats come and go. Boats of all sizes, kayaks to large ocean going ships, can be seen going through the locks.

Besides the locks the visitor can wander the grounds and visit the Carl S. English. Jr Botanical Gardens. I like to photograph flowers and my wife can find a secluded corner where she can play her music. She plays the soprano recorder and loves to play Irish music, Swedish music, and really almost any type of music. Her love is music. Every once in a while she meets musicians from other parts of the world like our new friend Paulo from Brazil. He has met us at the Locks to play his guitar with my wife.

OK, back to the locks.

The locks draw visitors from far and wide. They raise and lower boats up and down (up to 22 feet) between Lake Union and Lake Washington to Elliott Bay and Puget Sound. There are actually two sets of locks - the large locks and the small locks - which handle boats small to large, and a few to many at once.

The fish ladder allow for the migration of salmon and steel head from the river and streams that feed Lake Washington to the salt water. It is fun to watch the salmon jump in the water, to see the salmon go upstream through the fish ladder, and even to watch the sea lions try to catch the salmon as they swim around in the waters below the fish ladder and dam getting ready to head upstream.

You can often talk to the sailors and passengers on the boats as they wait in the locks to go up or down. Those I have talked with include:

• a couple on their way to Hawaii for the winter,
• the crew of a tug boat,
• one of the police boats the city has,
• the crew of large luxury lots who maintain the secrecy of the owners of their boats (or ships in some cases)
• the crew of one of the boats belonging to the fishing fleet
• a family out for a day of enjoyment on the water.

They all are usually willing to talk with you. You never know who you will talk to or what you will talk about.

If you are a visiting the City of Seattle for the 1st time or live here, the Ballard Locks are a must to see and experience.

You can learn more at their official web site or just Google "Ballard Locks Seattle":

http://www.nws.usace.army.mil/PublicMenu/Menu.cfm?sitename=lwsc&pagename=mainpage