From West Seattle, I paddled across Elliott Bay and under the Seattle Aquarium. The downtown piers in Elliott Bay formed dark, mysterious mazes that were great fun to explore.
Route map. This route is a great way to get to know Seattle’s waterfront.
Seattle skyline from Elliott Bay. Fall is the prettiest time of year in Seattle because of the lovely clouds.
Paddling under the Seattle Great Wheel. People in the Ferris wheel gawked at me while I gawked at them.
Fish ladder at Seattle Aquarium. The aquarium has a working fish ladder and salmon hatchery. Visitors watched me through the window, waving.
Paddling under the Seattle Aquarium. Mysterious pipes and beams serried in all directions.
Underground water passage. A secret passage way under skylights, with pedestrians walking overhead.
Hidden bay near aquarium main entrance. Emerging again under the sky in a hidden bay surrounded by buildings.
I do this trip every couple of years. My favorite part was the delighted gasps of children when they saw my boat pop out of unexpected places. Many were on vacation with their families from landlocked places and had never seen a kayak, much less a kayak that could sneak around “underground” on the waterfront!
This was the highest tide I’d ever gone under the aquarium during, and headspace was a little low in some places. The high water added to the cozy, secretive feeling.
—Alex Sidles