The Fish Ladder

WE heard the sockeye salmon were jumping in the Ballard locks on their way up to their spawning grounds.  But the underwater fish viewing area was closed for renovations.  It’s a lovely spot with a botanic garden and always entertaining to watch boats go from fresh to salt water or the other way around in a large and a small lock. We remember it fondly (well, some nail biting moments) when we had our sailboat.    So we took the girls (more joy!)  and lo and behold, the viewing area was just opened today!   Lucky us!   and more fish than I've seen in a long time here.   This is a space on the upward ladderwhere the fish  hang out a bit to get used to the fresh water mixed in with the salt, and also warmer lake temperatures.   We were told 21,000 had passed so far … declining numbers,,, and I think smaller…then they’ll hang out in Lake Washington for awhile before heading up the Cedar Rive to their spawning grounds.  The lower big one is a chinook (King) a bit early for its run.  After the chinook, the silvers (cohos)  run.

The entire ship canal from here on Puget Sound to Lake Washington was completed in 1917.

Extra:  A few more watching the locks and the fish jump 

Then we tried to have a Fika at the nearby Nordic Museum but that was a bad idea…the cafe was open but they didn’t have a caterer on board…. so nothing great to eat.