The West Point Lighthouse, located in Discovery Park, Seattle, began operation in November 1881.  Standing 23 feet high, it was the first manned lighthouse on Puget Sound and cost $25,000 to build.  In 1985, after over 100 years of operation,it was the last light to be automated in Washington State.  The original light was replaced with a modern beacon in 2004.

Another shot of the lighthouse with the old Coast Guard Quarters in the foreground.

Ima.Bee

Now you may be familiar with Ceanothus, the bloom of which is pictured above, but I wasn't.  This particular species is native to Northern California and is growing in my back garden.  It attracts bees like crazy so I was out trying to get a photo the other day.  It isn't easy.  How do bees fly anyway?  The physics are crazy.  This little bee has her wings going so fast you can't even hardly see the blur.  I put out a bird feeder yesterday and I'm starting to see a few birds I'm not familiar with also.  I am going to have to try to photograph them.

Lincoln Park Beach

A picture of the beach today - I like this piece of driftwood.

Rainier

Rainier is a most imposing mountain and my picture doesn't do it justice.  Like Fuji, it is an active volcano that stands apart, especially when seen from it's "good" side.  Here, from the south, it doesn't seem to rise as quickly and as high above the others as it appears to do from the north.  Still, it is a very impressive sight.

Vashon Ferry

The ferry seems to have kept running OK in my absence.

Old Man and a Yellow Boat

This old guy was resting on his boat in the park next to the ferry terminal where I like to take my walks.  I sat down and took a picture of him and waited for a good shot of the ferry.  After a while he walked up to where I was sitting, sat down, and spoke.

Him:  Hi
Me:  Hello, how are you doing?
Him:  OK.  I'm tired.
Me:  Have you been working on the boat?
Him:  Yeah.  Somebody stole the mast.  It was wooden and wasn't attached very well.  He probably did me a favor.  I've got a metal one now.

Silence.

Him:  The snow is low down on the mountains for June.
Me:  Yes, it has been a cool spring.

That was the end of our conversation.  After a minute he got up and walked away.  I wish I would have asked him where he was going to sail the boat when he was finished.  He didn't seem to be in that great of health.

By the way, this is my 1000th blog post.  I posted my first on February 24th, 2004.