Tag: puget sound

Where is Admiralty Inlet?

Carl Setzer

When I was checking the weather earlier I noticed the wind advisory.

Wind Advisory Notice
Wind Advisory Notice

When you clicked on the link, it stated that we were watching for high-winds through Admiralty Inlet. I didn’t think much of it, but as the day progressed wondered how many people knew where that is. Well, let’s have a look shall we?

Admiralty Inlet

Named by George Vancouver after his bosses, the Board of Admiralty, Admiralty Inlet stretches from Edmonds to the south up to Picnic Point, then west across the Sound to Port Gamble, continuing west along the Kitsap and Olympic Peninsulas to Pt. Wilson (Port Townsend), and bounded on the north by Whidbey Island. And important nautical thoroughfare for the region as all ships heading from the ocean to Seattle or Tacoma need to pass through.

As a boy, one of my best friends and I thought kayaking this would be good. His father was in the Coast Guard and put the kibosh on that hard. We were NOT going to be allowed to be one of his rescues! I still think it would be fun to have a motor yacht and sail up to Port Townsend. However, my propensity towards seasickness will probably always make that a bad idea, especially since I’ve seen many storms whip through, buffeting the shores of Edmonds. For a protected body of water, the waves can get rather fierce.

A rather important piece of northwest geography in my own little neighborhood.

 

 

 

A Photographic Look At My Trip To Port Townsend

Carl Setzer

I posted this photo montage on my Facebook page. I like the way Facebook organizes them, how I can label the individual photos, and other elements.

As I’ve explore other options to create montages focused on my site, I’ve overlooked this obvious tool. I think I’ll continue to explore Facebook in the near-term, however, part of me isn’t keen on directing folks to Facebook too often. Mainly, if you don’t have a Facebook account (yes, there are people who don’t), you’re out of luck. Also there are all the elements the Facebook detractors bring up.

Housing market concerns for greater Seattle 

Carl Setzer

I’ve read several articles the past few days that give me pause. The rise of housing prices is the center. And the fact they’re outpacing wage growth deeply concerns me. 

There’s a significant population who’s losing their ability to afford basic subsistence in this region I love. Many friends of mine, who’ve lived here their whole lives, and some for generations, who are getting priced out. 

I know the many see very few basic entitlements: life, liberty, and perpetual servitude. 

In seriousness, I wonder what we can do. Market forces are hard to resist. We’ve tried things like rent control and minimum wage increases, to varying degrees of success. Our ability to game the system are limited. We tend to end up with unintended consequences countering our efforts. 

I firmly believe there are solutions out there which will provide stability for the less highly compensated, without spiking home price inflation somewhere else. 

I work to not be a cynical free market catalyst. Tis often a challenge. I shall grab a hold of hope and embrace optimism. 

Edmonds Area Podcast: AquaCast

Carl Setzer
Brackett's Landing - Edmonds

I met the “Bald Fish Guy“, aka Ryan at the Visitor Station at Edmonds’ Olympic Beach during a recent visit. He’s a docent there, and knows his Puget Sound marine life. So I found it fantastic to talk with him.

He hosts a podcast, Aquacast, focusing on Puget Sound marine life, systems and the eco-system we live in. Sadly, he has only sporadically posted, and it’s been quite some time since his last update, but I find the casts interesting and well researched. And, even the ones a few years old, still relevant and, thus, worthwhile listening. I’m working my way through his library and will keep on digging through them.

Of particular note is his post about Sea Star Wasting Syndrome. Though most of my life has been spent along these shores, I’d not heard of this. His intro to this is a good start into understanding this disease impacting many different species of our region’s sea stars. {UC Santa Clara’s website on this is a great resource for learning more}.

I hope Ryan is able to get more podcasts up. In the meantime, I’ll make my way through what’s there. And, dear friends, I recommend you do the same.

Cheers!