Yesterday, I packed up my kayak and gear and headed to the Northwest Outdoor Center (NWOC-kayak store and rental center) on Lake Union in Seattle. My plan was to buy a new wet suit and sprayskirt, then try them out with a paddle across Lake Union, past the University of Washington, and into Lake Washington.

The NWOC is located on a floating dock a under a two story office building that sits on large metal pilings above the lake. While I left the parking lot and headed down the stairs to the dock, two double kayaks left the rental area paddling out onto the lake. As I walked past the store out onto the dock to watch the kayakers, I heard a grinding sound like someone pulling a heavy load across the floor above. The dock wasn't moving, but the sound got louder, the support pilings for the building above started moving, and debrie from above fell down on the dock. When employees of NWOC started running out of the store it dawned on me what was happening and I sprinted across the dock up the stairs to terra firma. The parking lot, which sits on a fill, wasn't real firm, more like jello, but at least by this time it was slow dancing.

As I stood in the parking lot, with both the ground and my knees shaking I looked out to see how the kayakers were doing. They were paddling away on a sunny calm lake seemingly unaware of what was going on. The NWOC didn't fare as well. An overhead water pipe broke and flooded the store. One emplyee I talked to didn't seem too concerned. While putting on a brand new pair of neoprene booties, he stated that he thought the merchandise should all be water proof.

I decided to postpone my paddle and head home as my house is about 15 miles from rhe epicenter.

Ron