We have had a series of sunny days here in Western Washington, so yesterday I went on a photo-hunting expedition down to the new Waterfront Place development on Marine Drive (aptly named, don’t you think?). The channel divides the long Jetty Island from the new park, which has a walking/running trail (there were lots of runners out in the sunshine); picnic tables, and benches on which to sit and admire the view.

These little Adirondack chairs are perfect to sit a spell and watch the boats. Behind it is the Fisherman sculpture that has been there for a while. Behind there is a new shopping area with some restaurants, a distillery, and marine businesses. The development has apartments, a hotel, and numerous boat slips at the Everett Marina. I was especially attracted to the rippling water, and its reflections of the boats.

First, however, I took the walkway to the channel west of the big breakwater.

The foreground is Jetty Island, where you can take a little passenger ferry to the beach. It will start running again in the Spring, and I certainly intend to go. The background is Hat Island, and across Possession Sound is Whidbey Island. Across Puget Sound is the Kitsap Peninsula, a popular tourist destination and home of a naval shipyard and submarine base.

Turning back looking north, you see Mount Baker in all its glory, the Weyerhaeuser House (which has been moved multiple times in its history), and a picnic area (it has canvas covers, which are removed in the winter).

Walk to the end, and you find the Marina. This big catamaran says it’s from Annapolis, Maryland. I’m thinking it was bought used, and hasn’t had its name badge changed. Obviously, our area is big on boating!

I was quite impressed by this big, well-maintained fishing boat, and its shimmering reflection.

Just a small sampling of the many different kinds and sizes of boats at the marina. In the background, you can see some of the homes on the bluff overlooking the water. Some of those homes are quite large and sumptuous. That’s where the “old money” of Everett lives. Much of that old money was made in the timber and shipping businesses.

I was particularly taken with the colorful kayaks, just waiting for their owners to take them out for a paddle. The temperature was in the low forties, with significant wind, so not the best for paddling on open water. However, the protected channels in the marina would have post little risk, and some benefits.

This is the guest dock, with the sailboats all lined up.

This is the view back north, from the end of the breakwater. Mount Baker in the distance.

Now, for the fun stuff. As I walked back toward the rest of the marina, I enjoyed the reflections of the boats in the water, and some of the little amenities of the park.

Some driftwood along the breakwater.

That old boat has seen a lot of action in its life.

That’s a sundial. It was about 2:30PM when I took this photo.

East-west channel along the marina. Note the boats lined up in the slips.

The following photos are my “having fun with reflections” group. They all look like impressionist paintings. I took the photos of the reflections, and not the boats.

Finally, as I ended my walk, I noticed, in one of the big planters along the walkway, definite signs of spring approaching.

Thanks for coming with me on my waterfront excursion.