A Blustery Day (photo essay)

The weather along the Strait of Juan de Fuca and Puget Sound is often windy, and can be quite intense and blustery in the winter. Friday was one of those days. I happened to have my camera when I went downtown, and captured some high seas and weather. I enjoy the drama of the howling gales--well, up to a point. I think you will, too...

Here I am heading downhill at the end of town toward the water...

A close-up. You can see the whitecaps, the high tide and a bit of a whited-out island in the background (barely)...

I stopped at the little park by the sea for a look....

Then I drove down to the shopping plaza and parked....those clouds and waves are moving fast and the water splashes up and over into the parking lot...

A view of the ferry dock from the same place, with two other onlookers. I was afraid to get too close to the water and get salt spray on my camera. I had to edit the top of my car out of the photo.

A similar view in sepia....

And a shot into the sun....

Turning and looking along the waterfront...though there is no real waterfront here, as the businesses front onto the main street.

A view of City Dock

Before heading home, I head to the opposite end of the plaza to get closer to the ferry dock.

Here you can see the ferry approaching the dock from the far left.....since the steel-hulled ferries were condemned,  we now have a borrowed ferry from the south end of Puget Sound. It was not engineered for these waters and doesn't usually cross in rough water. It's a little dicey sometimes. We await a new ferry, to be completed in 2010.

Getting ready to dock...

Looks like it's going to make it, and I am tired of standing in the blasting wind, so off I go before it finally docks. I finally succeeded in capturing the spray without getting doused myself.

Don't forget your insulated raincoat and hood or hat when you come to the Olympic Peninsula!