Shilshole Blog

One of the most remote outposts of Ballard, in terms of public transportation, may soon be much easier to reach thanks to a group of engaged neighbors. The Seaview Avenue Transit Coalition is a small but effective gang, comprised of business owners, employees, Shilshole Marina liveaboards, Sunset West condo and other Seaview Ave residents, determined to improve service to their area. Seaview Ave NW is currently served by Metro route 46, with a small number of runs a day, and only on weekdays. This means that Golden Gardens, a weekend and summer evening mecca, is completely unreachable by public transit. Also, elderly residents who can not drive anymore have a hard time making the trip to downtown Ballard and beyond, and the employees of the restaurants and businesses along Seaview have very limited options for going to work and returning home without a car. If you look at a map it is surprising to see how close Seaview actually is to the rest of the neighborhood, but due to the Sunset Hill cliff, the whole area has only two access points: from the South via Market St or NW 60th St, and from the north via Golden Gardens park. That’s a long walk, or a steep climb!

As some of you might recall, back in January 2007, Metro proposed adding a detour to some of the route 17 runs in order to add more service. At an Open House meeting, a large crowd showed up to voice their opinions, and Metro ended up scrapping the idea. Now, the Seaview Avenue Transit Coalition is proposing a much better idea: to add a loop toward Seaview to the end of the route 75 run. The final stop of the 75 is in Ballard already, so adding an extra leg would not inconvenience the current riders, and would incur very little cost.

The proposal is in a very early stage, and we will keep you updated on its progress. Meanwhile, don’t hesitate to let Metro know what you think about this idea!

I made the mistake of leaving something visible in my car. It cost me $250 to fix the broken window so that some jerk could take the $20 yard sale item I bought earlier in the week.

Don’t leave visible items inside your car regardless of the value. The drug addicts think they can sell anything for the next fix. 

This happened early Sunday at the head of G dock and was discovered by SBM security staff and reported to POS PD. 

The bulletin boards at Shilshole, as well as local blogs, are a treasure trove of interesting offers:

Hoping to meet some single adventurous, spiritual, attractive, fit, non-smoking women from age 35 to 45. for short local sails in and around Puget Sound, during the weekday evenings and on the weekends. Also would like to find one women to join me for a two week or, one month trip to Canadian Gulf Islands. and Vancouver Island.
If interested, give me a call.
Paul (206) 297-0022

I kiss you! (sorry, couldn’t resist thinking of the humorous turkish video)

No, seriously, best of luck, Paul!

According the signs posted on the entry to my dock there’s a meeting coming up 16 September from 6-8pm at the Corinthian Yacht Club.

Not sure, but I assume this is open to all. If you know otherwise drop a note.

Here’s the posted agenda:

• Welcome and Introductions
• Security Matters – Giuseppi Alvarado from Port of Seattle Police
• Safety Inspections – USCG Outreach program  Lyn McClelland
• 2008 Customer Survey

• What questions should we ask?
• Dock Captain Program, what needs to be improved?

Deep Playa will be moving from our sublet on D Dock to our new permanent home on K Dock this weekend. Dawn and I are excited to have our home all figured out, we were getting a little nervous about finding a new sublet.

If you’re a K-Docker stop by K39 while I’m making a mess on the boat this weekend.

Ballard Gossip Girl has the scoop that Paseo will be opening on Tuesday next week. Paseo is taking over the space formerly occupied by Gordo’s. I can’t wait to be able to walk over from D Dock and grab a sandwich. I have always heard their Fremont location is awesome but have never been able to check it out. This will be VERY handy indeed!

I knew the government had cheese, but I didn’t know they also had cake! Turns out they do and they’re going to be giving it away at the Locks this Saturday. The event is to celebrating belatedly the 100 years for the the Army Reserve  (PI Story). cake cutting ceremony is at 3pm and goes till 5pm or I assume until the run out of cake. If that happens, I think they should give out MREs (yes a whole site dedicated to MREs) or some of that space ice cream.

Also on hand will be the 70th Army Band out of Seattle and the 104th Division Band out of Vancouver, WA who will be performing from Noon to 5pm.

I have a lot of chores, the Swap and the Boat Show to go to Saturday, but I’ll try to stop in and take pics and get some cake of course!

I noticed a sign on way down to the dock. This wedekend is National Marina Day which is a Marina Industry event celebrated at member marinas, but along with that event there will be a swap meet 0900-1400 Saturday just south of the main offices. For more information contact gail at mvInfiniti.com by email.

I will definitely be stopping in before I head down to the Summer Sale put on the by Seattle Boat show this weekend as well.

As both the Ballard News Tribune and the My Ballard blog report today, route 46 is going to change in September:

Metro Transit service approved a September 2008 transit program that contained only one change inside the City of Seattle, Route 46 would be changed during midday hours to wend its way from Golden Gardens, to Shilshole via Seaview Avenue to 54th and onto Market Street. It then would travel Leary Way and end up making a loop in downtown Fremont and back to Ballard and Golden Gardens.

Seaview folks have complained about a lack of service since a route was eliminated after a massive cut in Metro revenue was brought on by a tax-cutting Initiative 695 by Tim Eyman in 2000.

The Golden Gardens to Fremont route change, adding 1,785 hours of service, will operate generally from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Route 46 now provides peat-period service from Golden Gardens and the University of Washington campus via Ballard and Wallingford.

What the hell is that new building being built next to Ray’s Boathouse?

It’s been driving me crazy. Everyday I drive by there, but there is never anyone there after work to stop and ask what is going in there?

Anyone here have any clue??

CB…