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Since the kids have "grown" we've tried to get away for our anniversary.  Usually it has been a day trip, a hike on Mt. Rainier or a walk through some regional park or beach.  Since I no longer hike, the days' events have usually been on a bicycle or a boat.  This year, since we got a late start, we drove to Seattle and boarded our bikes for a cruise on the Bert Gillman Trail.  We fortunately chose to park at the Gasworks Park on Lake Union.  The weather was in the cool low 70's as we wound through the commercial district to the U of W and beyond.  The picture above is taken on the bridge over "the cut", the human made channel that runs from Lake Washington to Lake Union.

After a 90 minute ride which was fairly level throughout, we made our way back to Gasworks Park and sat lakeside for some hors d'oeuvres which Barb has packed.

As we sat and watched around 100 sailboats lining up across the lake, something magical happened.  A horn blew in the distance and suddenly all the boats turned, heading north toward us.  What followed (we learned it is called "Duck Dodge",  duckdodge.org,  and it happens every Tues eve during the summer, wind determined) was that the flotilla passed by us in all directions, around the lake, sometimes coming within inches of each other as each took on its own tack and direction.  The event occurred in complete silence, with only an occasion flapping of the sail. Each was on their own merry way enjoying the setting, aided by the light breeze, and the thrill of maneuvering through the myriad of boats.  Very entertaining and another event that Barb and I unwittingly walked into.  Fun.

We finished the eve with a dinner at Ray's Boathouse which, compared to 30 years ago when we first ate there, has lost a lot of its charm.