Captain wifey and I like to play a little game aboard our sailboat. It involves the water tank. Maybe you play it too!

   As full-time liveaboards, we use freshwater on our boat to do dishes and take occasional showers. Our tank sits under the forward bed, with hoses running back to the galley, head, & cockpit outdoor faucet. At the dock, our 50 gallon water tank lasts us about a week. We're lucky to have water pressure (no foot pumps). The pressure system makes a predictable Chewbacca-like purr every 5 seconds or so when we're running the water.

   If you're using the faucet aboard when the water runs out, the water pressure purr gets a little louder and doesn't stop. With no water left in the tank, it is trying to pressurize water that isn't there. A quick flip of the breaker shuts it down and it's time to go outside and fill the tank.

   Rewind about a day and this is when water tank roulette begins! It's just the two of us aboard Kingsley (2 1/2 if you count the cat), and neither of us are that fond of filling the water tank back up (especially in the cold, dark, windy, dead of a Northwest winter). 

   As the tank indicator displays a low water level, the game begins. With every turn of the faucet, every dish rinsed in the galley, every toothbrush rinse before bed, there's a risk. If the water runs out while you're using the faucet, you lose & have to go out and fill the tank! It's husband vs. Captain Wifey in this risky game of water tank roulette!!!
   
   ~Paul & Amber   ETC
   

   When I dream about cruising the PNW this summer, I often think of the neighborhoods close to the marinas where we often stay. Poulsbo. Port Townsend. Gig Harbor. That got me thinking some more about folks visiting our own little home sweet home here at Shilshole in Seattle. I've written in the past about the coffee shops nearby, two of them being on Sunset Hill, but there's more...
   I wonder if our guest dock visitors know about the other businesses up on the hill? There's a mini-neighborhood up there with all kinds of fun stuff -  Italian food, video rentals, ice cream, a barber, the Green Market grocery…and there's even a secret pedestrian shortcut (Ok, & a hill to walk up).

   First, leave Shilshole marina, cross the street over to the nice bike/walking trail (the Burke-Gilman trail). Follow the trail south, behind Surf Ballard, and cross the railroad tracks. After crossing, look for a gravel path leading to a graffiti bridge. Head under that bridge (the other railroad tracks) and climb the staircase. You'll arrive halfway up the hill and be at the intersection of NW 64th and 37th.

    Make sure to get a good look behind you after the staircase, this will help with the return trip! All you have to do now is head east up the hill (on 64th).

   Once you make it you can check out Rain City Video, get coffee & ice cream at Walter's Cafe (a.k.a. The Scoop at Walter's), get a trim at the Sunset Hill Barber Shop, pick up some groceries at the Green Market, and have a nice breakfast, lunch, or dinner at Picolinos.

   It's not much but it's quaint, a little bit undiscovered by visitors, and it's enough. If you're staying a night at the marina you should definitely head on up.
   ~Paul & Amber   ETC