I’m posting out of order because we had this adventure yesterday, and I just wrote about our walk today….

Yesterday we had plans with my son Brian and his wife Sharon,and their nephews Trent and Trevor, to meet them in Edmonds at the dog park. We had a great time at that same dog park last year because it’s right on Puget Sound and the area that is fenced goes clear to the water so the dogs can swim.

To get there from Port Ludlow on the Olympic Peninsula we need to cross two large bodies of water. First is the Hood Canal. The Hood Canal is not really a canal, but a fjord…an arm of the sea. It’s 55 miles long, has tides, heavy currents, and giant waves at times. Still, they decided to build a floating bridge over it. The bridge is 1 and 1/5 miles long and floats on 23 floating hollow concrete pontoons. (I don’t get it, but it does float). (Well, it usually floats, except once during a storm in 1979 when half of it sank.) These days if winds are 40mph or more for at least 15 minutes they close the bridge. It is also a draw bridge. I didn’t get pictures but if you Google “Hood Canal Bridge” you can see it.

When we arrive in Kingston, we need to catch the ferry to cross over to Edmonds, which is north of Seattle by about 30 or so miles. The ferry boat holds about 188 vehicles, and the ride across the Puget Sound takes about 20 minutes and is about 5 miles.That doesn’t include the time we wait for the ferry and then the time it takes to load 188 vehicles and then unload them on the other side. With my old person discount and driving my 18 ft long truck, it costs me slightly over $15 each way.

I have no pictures of the ferry either, but I did take pictures while on it.

This was taken on the way back so we are looking back at the little city of Edmonds. Not that you can see it.

We were just in time to catch this ferry so we were very near the back with just one car and a motorcycle behind us.

We drive to the dog park and I notice there are only a few dogs there. Upon approaching the water I see why…the water level is low and rocks and green mush cover the area between the beach and the water.

The green that you see in this picture is actually a combo of algae and seaweed.

No matter, Joy and Shiloh had fun playing with the other dogs that came and went, and oh happy day, they didn’t even roll in the slimy stuff.

Brian and Sharon and the boys arrived. It was so nice to spend time with them.

Thats Sharon holding an umbrella for the sun. Joy and Shiloh were practicing being king of the castle on one of the agility toys.

Brian and the boys.

After spending time at the dog park we go to lunch. I find a shady spot to park, (I always leave the windows open when the dogs are in the truck) and the dogs take naps while we eat.

After lunch and visiting, Joy, Shiloh and I make our way back across the big waters.

Brian and Sharon are holding a picture that my mom painted. I brought it to give to them.

We will visit with Brian and Sharon again in early September, when we are off the peninsula.