Ballard Locks

Sam and I stopped at the Ballard Locks on our way up to Everett for a wedding. We were really hoping that there would be some big ol' salmon making their way up the fish ladder, but unfortunately there weren't any making their run upriver at the time. These locks are a chokepoint for the salmon of these waters, and because of that seals and sea lions will congregate for an easy catch. We had fun watching several seals swimming around, I had to run back to the car to get my telephoto lens for those last two seal photos. We crossed over the locks to the other side and were able to see them open and close for a set of boaters coming through. Watching huge metal machinery move really slowly activates something in my little boy brain that is so satisfying. All in all it was a perfect little road trip pit stop on a beautiful July day.