A view of Port Angeles with Hurricane Ridge in the background, as we sail through the Straits of Juan de Fuca.

The Ocean View pool, now still (it was too cold for swimming), with Washington's Olympic Peninsula in the background.

The harbor pilot closes in on the Veendam as we sail past Port Angeles.

Headed south in Puget Sound, we snapped this picture of the peninsula, somewhere near Port Townsend (I think).

Spent a bit more time in the stateroom, resting and making sure everything was out of the closets and drawers. Attended a packed disembarkation talk in the Rubens. Ducked out of there a bit early to grab a seat in the Crow's Nest so we could watch the ship sail down Puget Sound in comfort (it was too cold to be out on deck without winter attire, which I did not pack). Soon it was obvious that it would be several hours yet before we arrived in Seattle, so decided to go back to the room after all. Unfortunately, the cleaning crew had interpreted our departure from the room as permanent, and they had just finished fogging the place when I got back, and the air was still irritating. So I waited in the Neptune Lounge, where Jill arrived a short time later carrying pizza and fries. Figured by then we were approaching Elliot Bay, so headed up to the Lido, where we found Mom and Dad again. They were having their pizza. I grabbed an ice cream cone, and then Jill and I went topside to the sky deck to take pictures of the docking.

A view of our docking place (the pier in front of the blue and white building) as we swing through Elliot Bay toward the Seattle Waterfront.

South of our docking place, the Bremerton ferry (or is it the Bainbridge ferry?) unloads beneath the familiar silhouette of the Smith Tower.

A wide-angle view of Seattle as the ship heads for our last docking.

A close-in shot of the Space Needle, as seen from Pier 66.

Passengers gather along the rail of the flying bridge to watch the intricate docking maneuver.

I'm gathered along the rail of the Sky Deck (with everyone else) to watch as the Veendam is secured to the pier.

Then it was time to assemble in the Rubens to await our disembarkation call. I didn't mind having to wait a bit for the ship to clear customs and whatnot, but they had CNN on the big viewscreen, which was annoying, preventing anyone from having a conversation, napping, playing cards, or just relaxing. Fortunately, I had my iPod with me, and let the Red Elvises drown out the distractions.

Finally, they cleared the ship, and we headed down the steps and out the gangplank on the main deck, leaving behind what had been our home away from home for three weeks. We collected baggage, and no thanks to the customs people, found a dolly and piled the luggage on that and wound our way to the street where our van awaited. It was a nice day in Seattle, and I enjoyed the view as we pulled away from the pier and into Friday afternoon traffic. We spotted the ship from afar as we pulled off of Alaska St. onto Sitka court, the elegant blue and white lines of the Veendam visible across the sound as we arrived home.

Thus endeth the tale. Hope you enjoyed it.