Seattle by Chopper

The  helicopter departed from Boeing Field just south of Seattle.  The pilot headed north east towards Mercer Island.  He followed the Eastern shore of Lake Washington and we got an aerial view of the house of Bill Gates.  According to the pilot 60 to 70% of the house is below ground.  He then turned West and followed Route 520 back across Lake Washington where we could see the new construction of the 520 floating bridge.

The pilot flew north along Phinney Ridge for a few miles and then turned west towards the Puget Sound and turned left again heading south back towards Seattle. Passing Shileshole we had a birds eye view of the Ballard Locks and surroundings.

The locks opened in 1917 providing a link for ships between fresh waters of Lake Union and salt waters of the Sound. To the north are the Carl S. English, Jr. Botanical Gardens, and on the south side of the lock is a Salmon run with amazing underwater views of fish preparing to jump to the next higher level.