George Meredith, owner of s/v Caranda, stands proudly beside his boat and his dogs. Based in Seattle, he and his wife often volunteer during the high demand boating season to help marshall marina traffic at Tilicum Village, on Blake Island in central Puget Sound.

The photo of the Meredith’s dogs evidences a happy crew. The dogs are dock dogs, which (new to me) is a dog that is trained for competition in which the animals perform amazing physical feats. On command, they leap from docks, being judged for form and distance.

Tilicum Village has a small harbor that is part of Blake Island State Park, a short reach away from downtown Seattle distance-wise, but a long way away culturally speaking. The village features an authentic Native American longhouse and totems, and offers a cultural show that includes a salmon dinner cooked around an open pit fire, native style. Tour boats from Seattle and many boaters stop here to walk the beautiful grounds and experience the cultural and culinary events.

9Sept2009