In mid-July, we made our annual summer trip to Seattle for James to participate in a multi-week AWS business review. It’s a busy time, with lots of meetings, plus we picked up about 300 pounds (136kg) of spares and supplies to bring back with us. We also found time to have some fun, including attending a Sounders soccer and a Mariners baseball game, visiting with friends, and stopping by our old home port at Bell Harbour Marina.
Below are trip highlights from July 11th through 29th, 2019. Click any image for a larger view, or click the position to view the location on a map. And a live map of our current route and most recent log entries always is available at mvdirona.com/maps.
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Spitfire
Position: 59°19.58’N, 18°5.56’E
We’ll be making a two-week trip to Seattle tommorrow and Spitfire is heading to “the resort” tonight. We hate leaving him behind, but a transatlantic flight in the cargo hold wouldn’t be easy on him either.
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Djurtaxi
Position: 59°19.58’N, 18°5.56’E
Husdjurs Transporter djurtaxi (animal taxi) picking up Spitfire for transport to Ekbackens Kattpensionat. The cattery is a good hour’s drive outside of Stockholm, so we’re using a recommended pet taxi service.
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Ekbackens Kattpensionat
Position: 59°24.99’N, 17°40.78’E
Spitfire in his huge private room and terrace at Ekbackens Kattpensionat. He’s playing it cautious now and staying in his bag, but soon will be out to investigate his new digs and also all those toys they’ve placed out for him. (Photo courtesy of Husdjurs Transporter.)
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ABBA Museum
Position: 59°19.52’N, 18°5.83’E
Waiting for our tram to Stockholm Central station on our way to Stockholm airport for a trip to Seattle. The tram stop is outside the ABBA museum, topped with silver platform boots, dedicated to the famous Swedish pop band. ABBA were one of the best-selling acts of all time, with an estimated 360 million records sold worldwide and hits such as Dancing Queen, Knowing Me, Knowing You and Take a Chance on Me. The museum’s tagline is “Walk in. Dance out.”, so we’re a little afraid to visit. :)
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Stockholm Central Station
Position: 59°19.94’N, 18°3.35’E
Jennifer sporting her new Scania V8 T-shirt at Stockholm Central Station. We will take the Arholma Express to the Stockholm Airport, Arholma, for a trip to Seattle.
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Arholma Express
Position: 59°19.95’N, 18°3.35’E
Riding the Arholma Express to the airport. We could easily have taken a taxi, but we find the trains a part of the adventure and prefer taking them when convenient.
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100 MPH
Position: 59°25.52’N, 17°57.09’E
The Arholma Express trains have a maximum speed of 125 mph (200kph) and make the 24-mile (39km) run to the airport from Stockholm Central station in just under 20 minutes. We have only two bags to check on our outbound trip. The bag closest to Jennifer has two more bags inside—we’ll return with all four packed with spares and supplies.
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Arlanda Station
Position: 59°38.71’N, 17°55.67’E
Huge escalator rising from the Arholma Express station to the airport terminal.
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Thames
Position: 51°31.79’N, 0°0.18’E
The O2 indoor arena to our south as we fly over the Thames shortly before landing in Heathrow for our connection to Seattle.
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Upper Deck
Position: 51°28.25’N, 0°29.33’W
Heading to the upper deck of a British Airways 747-400 for the ten-hour flight from Heathrow to Seattle.
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Whidbey Island
Position: 47°57.06’N, -122°36.61’W
Looking southeast across Whidbey Island, north of Seattle, as we begin the approach to SeaTac airport.
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Seattle
Position: 47°39.70’N, -122°29.38’W
Great view east to Seattle on our approach to SeaTac airport. The large marina at far left is Shilshole Bay Marina and at bottom center is Elliott Bay Marina, where we had a slip for ten years. Downtown Seattle is at the right with Lake Washington beyond. The narrow inlet running southeast from Shilhsole is the Lake Washington Ship Canal that connects Lake Washington to the Puget Sound.
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Commencement Bay
Position: 47°16.62’N, -122°26.14’W
Puyallup River mud clouding Commencement Bay. The Port of Tacoma is on the right and the Marina at Brown’s Point is at the top of the picture to our north.
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Spitfire
Position: 17°27.35’N, 59°25.64’E
Spitfire taking in the view from his private terrace at Ekbackens Kattpensionat.
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Fog Room
Position: 47°36.66’N, -122°20.53’W
Lunch with a great view to Elliott Bay from the Fog Room on the 16th floor of the Charter Hotel.
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Shore Power Out
Position: 59°19.58’N, 18°5.55’E
Here’s another advantage of our new dual shorepower system. We’re plugged into two separate pedestals at Wasahamnen marina. Each only supplies 10 amps, but together they provide enough power to run Dirona comfortably. The power is out fairly frequently at this marina, so James ran one oft he power plugs a little further away to a separate branch circuit. The day after we arrived in Seattle, the power went out twice, once for 18.3 minutes and again for 50.8 minutes. Each power failure only took out one pedestal, so Dirona never lost power completely.
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Seattle Sounders
Position: 47°35.71’N, -122°19.85’W
We went to a Seattle Sounders soccer game today and had a great time. The Sounders fans are incredibly enthusiastic.
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Alaskan Way Viaduct
Position: 47°36.58’N, -122°20.61’W
What’s left of the Alaskan Way Viaduct, as it’s slowly being torn down. It sure looks strange to see pieces of it missing like that after its been such a fixture in the city for decades. Our friend Filo D’Souza pointed us to this excellent video showing how the Dept. of Transportation is “reverse engineering” the viaduct.
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Packages
Position: 59°19.58’N, 18°5.55’E
While James is attending work meetings, Jennifer went to our UPS box to pickup all our mail and packages we ordered. Here it is. It seems unlikely that will fit into four suitcases.
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Packing
Position: 47°36.22’N, -122°20.13’W
Three hours later, all the boxes have been opened and the process of packing the goods into suitcases is underway.
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Luggage
Position: 47°36.96’N, -122°19.92’W
Five hours later, everything from the mailbox is back at the hotel and mostly in the four suitcases, plus some carry-on bags.
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Hatton Marine
Position: 47°39.83’N, -122°22.92’W
At Hatton Marine to pickup some Northern Lights spares, including a raw water pump a coolant circulation pump.
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Don Kohlman
Position: 47°37.84’N, -122°23.40’W
A visit with Don Kolhman at the Nordhavn Northwest office. We’ve known Don for years and he’s no less enthusiastic than a decade ago when he dove into the cold Puget Sound waters to cut a crane strap free from our stabilizer as Dirona was offloaded from a cargo ship on a cold November day in Tacoma.
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Emerald Harbor Marine
Position: 47°37.81’N, -122°23.50’W
At Emerald Harbor Marine in Elliott Bay Marine to pickup a new scanner unit for our main radar. Radar magnetrons usually last 6,000-10,000 hours, so it’s effectively a wear item, and that’s why we’re changing it.
The Emerald Harbour Marine team did the commissioning work on Dirona for PAE and also did all the original installation work for us. That equipment is still running strong, 10,000 hours and 9 years later. What’s more amazing is they continue to help us to this day. Difficult-to-find parts or getting things to us in remote locations is Kelly Maxson’s specialty at Emerald Harbor Marine. EHM also installed the furnace on our first boat back in 1999. They’ve been helping us for nearly 20 years and we really appreciate it. |
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Scanner Unit
Position: 47°36.96’N, -122°19.92’W
The new scanner unit for our main radar definitely will not fit in any of our suitcases, but does at least fall below the 70lb (32kg) weight limit for our airline. So we can bring it back as an extra piece of luggage.
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Amazon Spheres
Position: 47°36.97’N, -122°20.36’W
James’ team just moved to a new building across the street from the Amazon Spheres, part of the company’s headquarters campus in downtown Seattle.
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Northern Lights
Position: 47°39.65’N, -122°22.41’W
As part of our around-the-world tour, we love visiting leading engineering firms and touring their products. In the Dirona Technology Series we have covered a visit to Metal Shark Boats, mining truck manufacturer Bell Equipment, the 5,000 hp harbor assist tractor tug SL Herbert, the containership Hanjin Oslo, the Holland America cruise ship Westerdam, and a tour of diesel engine, truck, and bus manufacturer Scania.
We love seeing great engineering applied to real- world products and services. While in Seattle, we had an opportunity to visit Northern Lights, the renowned maker of reliable and long-lasting diesel generators. This visit was with the engineering team focusing on yet-to-be-released products so we can’t take pictures and cover it as part of the technology series. But, as with every visit to Northern Lights, it was super-interesting. They always have great projects underway and this visit was a particularly interesting one. |
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Northwest Fishing History
Position: 47°39.66’N, -122°22.40’W
The placard above this engine reads “This four-cylinder, 108-cubic inch gas engine is an example of the first engines used in Alaska’s Bristol Bay salmon fisheries.
In 1952, engine-powered vessels were legalized in the Bay. At first power boats were used to pull the existing sailboats back and forth to the fishing grounds. Later engines, such as this Gray Marine 4108, were part of a power kit that companies like Bryant’s Marine shipped to Alaska to install in sailboats. The engines worked so hard and reliably that the Bay fisherman called them “Luggers”. When Alaska Diesel Electric (later Northern Lights, Inc.) set out to build engines for the Northwest fisherman, the Lugger name personified this design philosophy. Today, Lugger by Northern Lights diesel engines range from 40 to 475 horsepower. Although we no longer make them, the existing Luggers are at work in fishing boats, trawlers, tugs, yachts, battlewagons and workboats throughout the world. Every one carries a little Northwest history, and a lot of Northwest work ethic, with it.” |
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M844DW3 Generator
Position: 47°39.65’N, -122°22.41’W
An M844DW3 16kw diesel generator on display at the Northern Lights head office in Ballard.
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Alaskan Way Viaduct
Position: 47°36.60’N, -122°20.60’W
Looking west across the remains of the Alaskan Way Viaduct, in the process of being torn down.
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Skyline
Position: 47°36.52’N, -122°20.60’W
Some of the Seattle skyline, once blocked by the Alaskan Way Viaduct, viewed from the ground below.
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Bell Harbor Marina
Position: 47°36.64’N, -122°20.88’W
Kayaker paddling through Bell Harbor Marina, our home port for our last four years in Seattle. During the summer, we moored at the end slip in the foreground.
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Anthony’s Pier 66
Position: 47°36.65’N, -122°20.91’W
Dinner on the terrace with a view to Elliott Bay at Anthony’s Pier 66 restaurant. The view year-round is fabulous and we frequented the restaurant often when we lived aboard in adjacent Bell Harbor Marina.
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Downtown Seattle
Position: 47°36.66’N, -122°20.93’W
View across Bell Harbor Marina to Elliott Bay and the downtown Seattle skyline from the Bell Street Pier Rooftop Deck. We just had dinner on the terrace at Anthony’s Pier 66 at bottom left.
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Herban Legends
Position: 47°36.74’N, -122°20.87’W
Marijuana for sale in downtown Seattle.
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UPS Waterfall Garden Park
Position: 47°36.01’N, -122°19.91’W
We passed the UPS Waterfall Garden Park in downtown Seattle while walking to the Mariners baseball game. The park marks the location where the American Messenger Company, now the United Parcel Service (UPS), was founded in 1907.
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Seattle Mariners
Position: 47°35.45’N, -122°19.97’W
A great time taking in a Seattle Mariners baseball game on a sunny Sunday afternoon.
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Cactus
Position: 47°37.31’N, -122°20.22’W
A great meal on the terrace at Cactus in Seattle after James finished up some work meetings nearby.
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Amazon Spheres
Position: 47°36.98’N, -122°20.34’W
The Amazon Spheres at dusk, viewed from the 7th floor of the office building James’ team recently moved to.
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Chakra
Position: 47°40.26’N, -122°6.92’W
Jennifer having lunch at the Malt and Vine in Redmond with her past teammates from Chakra, the codename for the Javascript runtime team she last worked on at Microsoft.
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Spitfire
Position: 59°24.99’N, 17°40.78’E
Spitfire relaxing on the outdoor bed in his private patio at Ekbackens Kattpensionat. They did an extraordinary job of taking care of him. Spitfire has stayed in many catteries over his 16-year life but he’s never come back looking so healthy and happy.
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Checked Bags
Position: 47°26.54’N, -122°18.03’W
At the Seattle airport checking in our 300 pounds of luggage. We had three large bags at just under 70 lbs (32kg) each, the radar motor box at around 60 lbs (27kg) and one smaller bag at just under 50 lbs (23kg). Plus we each had two carry-ons full of gear. We were pretty much at our limit, but got it all checked through no problem.
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Missing Bags
Position: 59°38.69’N, 17°55.67’E
Jennifer at the British Airways missing luggage counter in Stockholm airport. Only three of our five bags arrived into Stockholm with us. Fortunately the other two don’t appear to be lost, but went on a later flight from Heathrow to Stockholm. We eventually got them back the next day.
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Click the travel log icon on the left to see these locations on a map, with the complete log of our cruise.
On the map page, clicking on a camera or text icon will display a picture and/or log entry for that location, and clicking on the smaller icons along the route will display latitude, longitude and other navigation data for that location. And a live map of our current route and most recent log entries always is available at mvdirona.com/maps. |
Ok. Based in your recommendation, I am getting that Shark vacuum.
It’s a winner and hard to beat at the current $115 on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00JH98GR4.
How come I totally missed you had a “Spitfire” onboard???
Having two cats and a dog myself, I’m curious how has Spitfire adjusted to life at sea, how has the issues been with quarantine – or “restrictions to keep him only onboard, etc?
Sweden had until not that long ago very restrictive requirements and animals brought in from far away had to spend 6 months to a year in quarantine.
It was so bad so when I sort of planned to return to Sweden back in 1998, I had plans to give up on my beloved cat. Now that never needed to happen as I ended up in Seattle.
Yes, Spitfire has been on board his whole 16 years and does fine with it. He seems comfortable and, up until recently, has been really good about staying on the boat. When he was a kitten he got off the boat a couple of times in marinas but he learned over time he was not allowed off the boat. If he started to wander off and he saw me watching, he would run back on board. We would typically go a year or two between him deciding to get off the boat as long as we kept a reasonably close eye on him. Recently, if if can get off, he does. He just loves to go ashore and eat grass. And, now he’s decided he really doesn’t care if he’s allowed off the boat or not. If he feels like leaving, he will. If I see him, he doesn’t care. If I walk out to get him, he doesn’t care. I think he’s just decided the grass is worth it and he doesn’t really care about the silly “stay on the boat” rule. So we have to watch him even more closely these days.
In our travels around the world, it’s mostly not been a hassle. During that trip, we only have had to endure one quarantine. He stayed at a government certified facility for 10 days in New Zealand. But, other than the New Zealand quarantine, there have been no others. We have only elected to not visit one country due to quarantine requirements. We didn’t go to New Caledonia because they would have required Spitfire to be locked up for 2 weeks. Some countries require that the pet not leave the boat and Fiji required that a bond be posted to prove he was still on the boat when we left. Some countries simply don’t allow a cat to come in on boat. Britain is an example of one of those countries but, there is an exception. If you are entering Britain from Ireland you can bring a pet in by boat.
With an EU pet passport, Sweden is now fine with a pet entering with the only additional requirement that he be reported by phone on entry to the country. The coast guard will check the paperwork so they do take these restrictions seriously but they are easy to comply with. We’re glad no quarantine time is required these days.
Overall having Spitfire on board has led to a lot of paper work but it hasn’t really caused us many problems or constrained us much in our travels.
James, I have a 3′ x 6′ PVC deck, with a under body that has a drain, that you overlay “washed sod”. I thought I have it for my dog, but probably have it for me, too. Nice to have a grassy place to lay down and look up at the sky…you could easily fabricate or buy this from Amazon https://www.amazon.com/Fresh-Patch-Disposable-Potty-Grass/dp/B005G7S6UI/ref=asc_df_B005G7S6UI/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=309763115430&hvpos=1o3&hvnetw=g&hvrand=10733834805447349788&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9003999&hvtargid=aud-801381245258:pla-568582223506&psc=1 Spitfire deserves this!
Cool idea. Spitfire would love it.