The water taxi from downtown to West Seattle, about a fifteen minute ride, leaves downtown Seattle hourly on the half hour. It's kind of like riding the bus-- you just show up at the dock and pay your fare with correct change when you get on. They also take the new ORCA pass which is like a debit card that can be used on all of our regional mass transit carriers: bus, light-rail, water taxi, and state ferries. Unfortunately my pass had a glitch and didn't work right.
Upon arriving in West Seattle on the water taxi I rode along Alki Beach and on around Alki Point heading for the Vashon ferry dock at Fauntleroy. I lucked out and arrived just as they were boarding bikes and other walk-on passengers for the twenty minute trip to Vashon.
From the ferry dock on Vashon Island to the hostel is a six or seven mile mostly up-hill ride-- plus a bit of a detour to the town of Vashon for groceries. Then it was on to the hostel which is a mile and a half from town.
The hostel has a choice of accommodations: private rooms, dorms, tee-pees, camping, and covered wagons.
... I chose a covered wagon.
I always find one of the best parts of staying at a hostel to be the people I meet. Since every everyone is using the same kitchen, dining space, and living room/lounge there are lots of chances to get to know each other.
A young woman named Avril was staying in the other covered wagon at the hostel. She is most recently from Perth, Australia but was born in Ireland. She had been traveling for four months through New Zeland, South and Central America before arriving in the US. It sounded like she planned to travel for at least another six months through North America, Europe, Scandinavia, and Russia.
I also met a couple, Mike and Clair with their dogs Buddy and Tuesday, who are on a three month bicycle trip down the west coast while pulling their dogs behind them on trailers. You can read more about them at: http://www.buddymike.com/
On Tuesday I took a ride to Dockton Park which is on Maury Island which is actually now connected to Vashon Island thanks to the Army Corps of Engineers. On the way I passed the Tramp Harbor Athletic Club-- shown above.
Pictured above, and taken from the road on the man-made isthmus between the islands, is Quartemaster Harbor which lies between Vashon and Maury Islands.
On Wednesday morning I headed for the Vashon ferry and retraced my rout back to Seattle and arrived back home in the middle of the afternoon feeling like I'd accomplished something-- though not sure quite what. 
Discovery Park South Beach trail
