Section of Beach Drive added to Seattle’s Stay Healthy Streets Program

May 10, 2020 by 3 Comments

Mayor Durkin has formally announced that 1/3 mile of Beach Drive is being added to the Stay Healthy Streets Program. The section runs from Alki Avenue  and 63rd Avenue to along Constellation Park to Beach Drive and 63rd and will be closed to vehicles. This stretch of Beach Drive has seen a lot of traffic from cruisers and I’m sure the residence will appreciate not having to deal with the steady stream of traffic in their views.

I do wonder how much this, combined with the failure of the West Seattle Bridge, will impact the rest of Beach Drive and how it will impact homes just off the newly closed Beach Drive. I think we will see increased traffic and will it be more challenging to find parking near our homes. It’s already quite a challenge to cross Beach Drive along Emma Schmitz View Point or Me Kwa Mooks Park. Perhaps with the Stay Healthy Streets Program, the City should be adding crosswalks along Beach Drive and zoned parking for residents?

Stay safe and enjoy this sunny Mothers Day!

NOTE: Post has been updated to correct the area the road is closed.

Filed Under: Parks, Politics, Traffic

Fishing Season is re-opened

May 5, 2020 by Leave a Comment


Fishing is officially reopened today… perhaps some lucky fishermen and their household will enjoy some ling cod tacos for dinner tonight. Happy Cinco de Mayo!

Filed Under: Puget Sound Tagged With: ,

Ceremony at Emma Schmitz Memorial View Point

May 4, 2020 by Leave a Comment


There appears to be a wedding ceremony taking place at Emma Schmitz Memorial View Point right now.

Beach Drive Blog wishes the couple happiness and health!

Filed Under: Events, Parks

Eggcellent Biomass

April 22, 2020 by Leave a Comment
A Fish & Wildlife worker was seen wading into Beach Drive waters yesterday following the movements from the huge flock of Bonaparte’s gulls. He was using a small rake to sample the extent of the rare herring spawn we experienced along the shoreline a few days back. According to an excellent article from the Kitsap Sun, this type of sampling is used to measure the metric tons of biomass (herring eggs) left behind.
Some long term Beach Drive residents that have fished these local water for over 40 years could not recall ever seeing a herring spawn here. From a wider Puget Sound perspective, 2020 may prove to be the largest spawning season on record. Observers north of Bainbridge in Agate Passage spoke to some old timers for their insights
Oleyar said he’s spoken to tribal members who haven’t seen an event of this size: “Some of them have lived here for 60 years or more and they haven’t seen this before. This is pretty historic.”
For the remaining eggs that survive, let’s cross our fingers for a return visit in about 3 years or so.
Scupper, reporting for the BDB
Filed Under: Puget Sound, Scupper, Wildlife Tagged With: , , , ,

Flock of Seagulls

April 21, 2020 by 1 Comment

Right now there are hundreds (well, a lot) of small seagulls off the shores of Emma Schmitz Viewpoint Memorial Park. One of our friends tells us they are Bonaparte’s gulls. They kind of look like a cross between a tern and a gull. Apparently they like herring eggs too!

Hat tip to Michele!

 

Filed Under: Wildlife

What’s with all the Seals and Sea Lions?

April 19, 2020 by 2 Comments

Did you get an early wake up call from the barking seals and sea lions this morning? There is a massive herring spawn taking place right now causing the light, milky patches in the sound and attracting a lot of wildlife, including seals, sea lions and eagles.


We captured this photo at Emma Schmitz Memorial Viewpoint where onlookers watched the packs of seals and sea lions take breaks from their feast. The lighter colored water is not typical. The PT Leader has a great description of what’s taking place:

“The CWI’s Anne Shaffer explained that “white water” is the colloquial term for the milt sprayed by males to fertilize the newly laid eggs.

“Scores of marine mammals and thousands of birds congregate to feed on the thick carpets of eggs laid on eelgrass and Sargassum seaweed along the shore,” Shaffer said. “The eggs are still developing but will soon hatch, marking the beginning the 2020 spring plankton season that, in turn, supports the rest of our Salish Sea food chain.”


It’s an amazing sight and I WISH my better camera was working right now.

We’ve noticed a few paddle boarders trying to get a close look at the sea lions and seals.

 

Filed Under: Puget Sound, Wildlife Tagged With: , , ,

Friday Night Lights with the Seattle Fire Department

April 17, 2020 by Leave a Comment

The Seattle Fire Department will be cruising neighborhoods from 7:00 – 8:00 pm tonight and next Friday. In a tweet, the Seattle Fire Department says they are doing this to let us know they are here to serve and that they’ll be touring the north end of districts this week and next week, the south end will be toured.

We are invited to come out to the sidewalk and “make some noise”. I know our dog, Hitch, will certainly chime in if he hears any sirens!

Here is the full the map showing the divided districts.

 

Filed Under: Just for fun Tagged With: ,

FOUND! Missing Cat: Have You Seen Casey?

April 16, 2020 by Leave a Comment

UPDATE: Casey is back home with his human. 🙂

Casey is a 6 year old male Bengal cat that has been missing since Saturday from his Beach Drive home. He is neutered and micro-chipped. Please call 206-937-8009 if you’ve seen Casey. His humans miss him terribly.

 

Filed Under: Lost and Found, Pets

Lincoln Park and Alki Beach Closed this weekend

April 9, 2020 by Leave a Comment

Mayor Durkin has announced Seattle’s 15 largest parks will be closed this weekend in an effort to assist with social distancing, including Lincoln Park, Alki Beach and West Seattle Stadium. The closure begins on Friday, April 10, 2020 at 11:00 pm and the parks will reopen on Monday, April 12, 2020 at 4:30 am.

From the Mayor’s statement:

“These are the beautiful weather days we crave all winter, but we are living in unprecedented times and the Governor’s order isn’t stay out – it’s stay home. Seattle’s frontline medical workers,  vulnerable residents, and displaced workers need you to stay home. While Seattle is expecting near perfect weather, friends and families should not have family or friend outings, picnics or gatherings in parks. Stay home unless you need to go to an essential job or business.  If you need to take a walk in your neighborhood, be smart and don’t help create a crowded place. Too many friends, residents and families are continuing to gathering for picnics, BBQs, basketball games, and group walks.  Because we still are in danger of a spike in infections, hospitalizations and deaths we have to keep doing out part. Easing up on social distancing too early will put more people at risk, could overwhelm our health care system, and could delay the reopening of businesses. Stay home, and if you must leave your home, be smart, follow social distancing guidelines by stay at lease six feet from everyone and wear a mask” said Mayor Jenny Durkan. “Our collective effort has made an impact flattening the curve, but we must continue or face even greater and longer term consequences.”

I’m concerned that the closure of these popular parks are only going to push more people to Beach Drive, which already seems more crowded with runners, walkers, bicyclist and walkers… and according to this study, 6 feet may not be enough distance from people who are walking, running or biking.

And while I’m at it… can folks please stop spitting and emptying their noses (aka snot rockets) in public areas? We walk Beach Drive and local parks and have seen all sorts of people doing this. I personally think even if we were not in the middle of a pandemic that this is a disgusting practice – but we definitely should be doing this right now. Rant over! 🙂

We hope you have a happy and healthy weekend!

Filed Under: Parks, Rants and Raves, Safety Tagged With: , ,

No Vaccine for West Seattle Commute

March 30, 2020 by Leave a Comment

After we all successfully flatten the curve on the covid virus, KEEPING the curve on the West Seattle Bridge will be the next hurdle to deal with.

Photo credit to Westside Seattle

SDOT has been busy with mapping out major detour routes funneling drivers to the 1st Avenue South bridge and beyond as the lower bridge is reserved for emergency, port and busing (not sure how strong the argument is gong to be for car owners to opt for cramming into buses on the heals of a pandemic i.e. more cars). Among other routes they’re missing will be the inevitable morning migrations south along Beach Drive and Alki Avenue. I can see traffic cops pulling double shifts at Endolyne Joe’s as Beach Drivers and ferry traffic tangle to get south via Barton & Marine View Drive.

Beach Drive Blog has taken the liberty to amend SDOT’s detour map to highlight what we envision.

With no timeline being offered on bridge repairs, I’d be begging my employer for the night shift!

 

Scupper, reporting for Beach Drive Blog

Filed Under: Alki, Traffic Tagged With:
« Previous Page
Next Page »