Discovery Park Beach and Highlands Loop — Tuesday, Jan. 18, 2022

Not only do I not have to drive here, it's also great in the dark, important this time of year when the nights are long and lowest tides are in the evening.

I haven't driven in 2 months due to high gas prices and few worthwhile hike choices with the low elevation snow.  I put my cars on what USAA calls storage insurance, saving me about 80%, and I still have liability to what the state requires.  We pay insurance every 6 months, but it is actually charged per day, reducing coverage/increasing deductible can be a good way to save money.

I walked from home, down Market Street, to and across the Ballard Locks, up and into Discovery Park.  Made my way on the trails to North Beach and headed south.  The drinking fountain near the Lighthouse is working again after being turned off for the freezing weather.  Really nice night, no wind, warmish right on the water.

I walked the beach heading for Elliott Bay Marina a few miles south.  Lots of new slides from the bluffs above, high beach was nice and dry.  Low tide was to be about -2 at 11:30, it was below +4 and dropping when I was here at 8, needs to be below +5 to do this.

When I got to the blinking green light (you can't miss it) I decided to leave the beach up to Perkins Lane to try and see the house that was flattened by mud last week.  Turns out it is right across from the public access.

I continued south on Perkins to its end and stairs up to Magnolia Boulevard.  This is a good way to mix it up, get some higher views.  Rather than heading for the Marina I cut across Magnolia over to Thorndyke and back toward Ballard.  Total trip 4 hours. so probably 10 miles+.

With the long stretch of clear weather we have coming (and longer days) it may be time to start driving again, lots of trail fixing to do once a little more of the snow is gone.  I browse Reports here nearly every day to see where the snow level is, thanks all!