The show over Ruston Way hasn’t ended yet.

Two F-16s are flying over Commencement Bay – likely a tune-up flight for tomorrow’s Freedom Fair demonstration.

They’re loud, but they’re cool to look at.

The USCG Eagle is making its way down Ruston Way, and there’s a sense of disappointment.

This has been the ship everyone was excited to see. It has an entourage of probably 50 other ships and a helicopter following it. But most of the spectators kept asking one question: “Why aren’t its sails up?”

“I think it would have been a lot more beautiful with the sails up,” Lakewood’s Charlene Baez said.

It was a common sentiment. Motoring in is likely much more efficient, but thousands didn’t pack Ruston Way to witness efficiency. They wanted looks.

“They should have had the sails up, even if they were still motoring,” Kent’s Mel Davis said. “Maybe get some fans out on board and blow wind into them.”

But, Davis and others said, seeing America’s Tall Ship cutting through the waters of Commencement Bay is still an amazing sight.

“It seems like an anticlimax,” he said, “but, really, how cool is it to see the Eagle here?”

Brian Everstine was walking east on Ruston Way. I was heading west. It wasn’t quite driving the golden spike, but we’re both happy to report we’ve canvassed the entire street.

(But don’t worry – we’re still going to bring more coverage.)

We’ve found the last open table at Katie Downs. This place is absolutely packed. Said the woman behind the bar: “It’s been an absolute madhouse in here today.”

I took pity on her (and the six people behind me in line) and didn’t interrogate her further.

A group of about 40 ducks just swam up to the area between The Ram and C.I. Shenanigan’s. Half stayed in the water and half played in the mud.

For a few minutes, these things were a bigger attraction than the Tall Ships. The ducks would honk, and the kids sitting in the area giggled. They waddled around, and the kids clapped.

Ten minutes later, the children grew bored. And soon, the ducks quietly swam away.

Apparently fame doesn’t even last 15 minutes anymore.

There are pros and cons of simulated cannon blasts echoing across Ruston Way.

Pros: It sounds really cool. Gives the whole atmosphere an old-timey feel. Faithful readers of The News Tribune know the secret behind the white smoke.

Cons: If you’re standing where I just was – a little west of the Silver Cloud Inn on Ruston Way – the blasts makes one kid cry. And then another. And another. And soon, about 25 kids are all screaming and crying.

The crowd outside the Silver Cloud Inn is now measuring two people deep -- and this is the quieter side of Ruston Way.

As some of the larger ships begin sailing in, plenty of folks are clamoring for a good spot. Lots of people have binoculars, and others brought cameras with huge zoom lenses.

Plenty of families are out, like Jeremy Redding and his 9-year-old son, Nate. They drove from Auburn for today’s Parade of Sail and plan to attend the festival every day this week.

“We left at 6 a.m.,” he said. “In retrospect, maybe we didn’t need to come this early.”

Others epitomized time management. Gig Harbor’s Kiel Marvik dropped two crab traps in the water as he awaited the ships’ arrival. He had only caught a starfish during his first 20 minutes of trying.

“It’s something fun to do now,” said Marvik, a 14-year-old who volunteers at the Foss Waterway Seaport.

A yell from 10 feet away cut Marvik off.

“They’re coming right now!” screamed a woman, pointing toward a few of the larger vessels sailing into town.

The happiest days in a boat owners’ life, the old adage goes, are the day you purchase it and the day you sell it.

Today must be a close third place.

Hundreds of boats are already out on the water of Commencement Bay to catch a view of the Parade of Sail. More seem to appear every minute.

The marina near the Tacoma Yacht Club (above in photo) was still about half full, but dozens of people were preparing to launch. And if you think you can still snag a parking spot near a boat launch, think again.

It was a great view, but he won’t be able to tell his family about it.

One of my fellow passengers on the Vashon-Point Defiance ferry stood on the deck and admired the dozens of boats that are floating in Commencement Bay.

There’s one problem. He was supposed to be on the ferry a few hours ago. He overslept. And he doesn’t want to tell his wife.

“Oh well,” he laughed, “I guess I’ll just keep this to myself.”

A little bit of drizzle wasn’t going to keep David Derrer from bringing his two children, 10-year-old Simon and 8-year-old Grace, to catch one last glimpse of the Tall Ships.

“The Lady Washington is my favorite,” Grace said. “I really wanted to see it again.”

The family was in Dockton Park on Maury Island last night to view the ships, most of which anchored in Quartermaster Harbor. The Derrers about to leave town for a camping trip and won’t be able to attend Tall Ships Tacoma, so the three joined about 50 others in viewing the ships shortly before they began their sail southward.

About another 50 lined Vashon Highway south of Burton to snap photos or watch the ships through binoculars.

The weather wasn’t ideal for a proper sendoff. Light rain pelted the spectators, most of whom wore raincoats or carried umbrellas. The ships were especially tough to follow at times when they unfurled white sails that blended in with the fog.

That didn’t stop a few hardcore amateur photographers. About a dozen people stood on the shoulder of Vashon Highway to snap some shots as the ships left Quartermaster Harbor. Many had cameras with zoom lenses mounted atop tripods.

“It’s a hobby of mine,” Vashon’s Rob Chawkins said. “I’ll be able to get closer, get better shots here on the island than battling the crowds on Ruston Way.”

The desire to beat the Tacoma crowds – which are expected to number in the hundreds of thousands – drew SeaTac’s Lisa Freeney. She brought her 4-year-old daughter, Marie, with her to see the ships.

She was able to let Marie run around a bit near the playground on Dockton Park – something she said she wouldn’t be able to do on Ruston Way.

“Since I have a child with me,” she said, “this is the best place for me.”

I'll be back on Vashon Island this morning for -- what else? -- Tall Ships Tacoma. And later this afternoon, I'll be on Ruston Way for the Parade of Sail.