Seattle, Washington USA 2025

Take a cruise of Seattle’s Elliot bay, Or ride a ferry to nearby bays. Watch the Ballard Locks in action, And enjoy the botanical garden attraction. Seattle, a city of endless possibilities, With so much to offer, it’s hard to leave with ease. From boat tours to coffee shops and beer gardens, Seattle is a city that never stops giving.

Panama Canal and Ballard Locks

From Panama’s tropics to Seattle’s bay, Two locks stand proud, in their own unique way. One spans oceans, a global trade key, The other links lakes to the Pacific’s spree.

Panama’s grandeur, a feat of its time, Gatun and Miraflores, engineering sublime. A pathway for giants, through jungle and heat, Connecting two worlds where oceans meet.

Ballard’s charm lies in a smaller scale, Freshwater to salt, boats set their sail. Fish ladders climb as salmon persist, Nature and man in a delicate tryst.

Both locks rely on gravity’s might, Raising and lowering vessels in flight. Water flows forth from reservoirs vast, A testament to progress that continues to last.

The Ring Cycle Operas

In Seattle’s halls, where Wagner once did reign, Frank and Lisa yearned for Ring’s refrain. From Rheingold’s depths to Walküre’s might,
Siegfried’s tale and Götterdämmerung’s light.

To Neuschwanstein they journeyed far, Where Ludwig’s dream touched every star. Wotan’s wisdom, Fricka’s grace, In stone and paint, each found its place.

Donner’s thunder, Freia’s youth, Loge’s cunning, Erda’s truth. Through arches round and towers high, Wagner’s world did touch the sky. In halls where Parsifal once sung, And Lohengrin’s sweet tale was spun, Our couple walked, their hearts aflame, With Ring’s grand vision all the same.

Now back in Seattle, hope burns bright, That opera’s stage will soon ignite. With sets as grand
as Ludwig’s dream, May Wagner’s Ring once more gleam. In this decade, let it be, The cycle whole for all to see. From Neuschwanstein’s lofty height,
To Seattle’s stage, Ring’s pure delight.

Amtrak Coast Starlight

The train is a journey, a romantic way to travel. To see the West Coast, and all its beauty unravel. The train is a memory, that should be experienced once. Even if you live at home, and don’t have to take the chance. The train stops at universities, where students can board. And travel home for the break, with memories to be stored.

Vancouver Island Circumnavigation

We shall not cease from exploration And the end of all our exploring Will be to arrive where we started Through the unknown, unremembered gate When the last of earth left to discover Is that which was the beginning; Not known, because not looked for But heard, half-heard, in the stillness Between two waves of the sea. Seattle stillness between two waves of exploration one on the Alaska Inside Passage and one on the Wild Side of Vancouver Canada.

Washington State Ferry System

The Washington State Ferries (WSF) system began operations on June 1, 1951. Before the state’s involvement, ferry services in the region were primarily managed by private companies, notably the Puget Sound Navigation Company (PSNC), also known as the Black Ball Line, led by Captain Alexander Peabody. The state took over the ferry operations due to…

Summer Solstice at Center of the Universe

Why is Fremont Considered the Center of the Universe? The designation of Fremont as the “Center of the Universe” is a playful and symbolic title that reflects the neighborhood’s unique character and vibrant community. Here are some key points that explain this designation: Importance of the Fremont Bridge The Fremont Bridge is a significant landmark…

WTO Palm Oil Standoff

The United States defines the term “renewable fuel” in its mandatory biofuel program, the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS), as fuel that is made from renewable biomass, including plant-based materials like corn, soybeans, sugarcane, and oil palm trees as well as waste materials like used cooking oil and animal fats. The RFS program requires a certain…

Snoqualmie Twin Peaks Day

rolling, roaring pouring plunging, tumbling rumbling crashing, gushing, rushing sparkling breathtaking twirling swirling whirling ebb ripple eddy ruffle backwater misting soaking splashing current Just 30 miles east of Seattle sits a little hamlet surrounded by mountains, tall Douglas Fir, and raging rivers. Fans of the 1980s cult classic “Twin Peaks” know all about North Bend and Snoqualmie, two…