The Completion of a completed section, completely

Yesterday I finished off an entire section of neighborhood! I have come really close with the entire southern end of the hill but there are about three tiny streets that I just haven't gotten to yet (maybe today!). But, yesterday was the entire northwestern part of Queen Anne! Check!

Started on Daravus and went all the way down to Emerson (which we walked about 12 times in various directions to and fro). Along the way we saw this great mailbox.

There was not a whole heck of a lot to report other than that entire section feels good to check off. It was a cool section but also had its nasty bits near Nickerson. It did contain one of my favorite walkways of this whole expedition, 42, 175 and 43 up from Nickerson it cuts across the hill and dumps you at Ruffner, which coincidentally was one of my favorite staircases, the Ruffner Wilds.

All in all a great part of Queen Anne with unique views of the Ballard Bridge, the Olympics, Fremont and The Cascades. Not bad for a little quiet part of one neighborhood!

And, what could be bad about a neighborhood with this house in it!?

Streets completed: Emerson, 10th Ave W, W Ruffner, W Bertona
Staircases: 42, 175, 43, 105
Total time walked: 1 hour 11 minutes

Just Catching Up

Sometimes a walk is just a good excuse to catch up with a friend you haven't had much time with lately. Sure, we saw some lovely parks and streets and hiked a few hills and discovered some new places, nothing too remarkable really. But, the real reason was chatting, so I guess I didn't really notice much at all.

But, we did get some streets completed!

Streets Completed: Florentia, Mayfair Ave N, 2nd Ave W, W Fulton
Staircases: None
Total time walked and chatted: 44 minutes, plus 20 minutes swinging in the park!

A Historic Day

Today was a historic day, not only because it was the first day of fall but because of what we saw along the way.

So, I didn't make my summer cut-off, so what!? Today was the first day of fall, and perhaps one of the warmest days so far this summer. It was muggy and hot and I felt good that nature was telling me it was still summer, so according to nature, I am good!

Tackled 6th Ave W, 8th Ave W and a few others today. The sun was shinning and a couple of times, particularly when walking up a big hill I was actually sweating. It felt amazing.

Started out on Comstock and 6th W, where we immediately ran into an interesting house, designated by the Queen Anne Historical Society as a historic house. All we could really see from the street was the ornate fountain and a bunch of "No Soliciting" signs. I am sure its a gorgeous house from the inside!

Continuing north we came across a bus shelter, painted by local kids and I had the realization that there are not a lot of these around Queen Anne. Queen Anne is a particularly walking and car friendly neighborhood. So, I snapped this picture. It brought me back to my days as a high school kid, I had a part in painting one on Mercer Island. Ah, memories.

Not much else to report on 6th W, I mean, its a nice enough street and I enjoyed the walk, but nothing too exciting. Turned down Smith and hooked a left onto 8th W where we came across yet another historical marker on the side of the sidewalk.

Apparently this tree that we were standing in front of was the first Copper Beech tree planted in Seattle!? Who knew!? Today it is pretty covered with other plants, trees and bushes, but I am sure it was quite a thing when that was planted! It was marked with a small plaque and it made me wonder, what was I missing on the other sides of all those streets I had walked. Had I been on the other side I would have never known and my life would be that much less rich with knowledge. Should I go back to every single street and walk the other side?! Ha! Well, maybe!?

It is also a historic day because I am realizing that I am very close to being finished with all these streets and stairs and it is making me wonder what I will tackle next.

Streets completed: 6th West, 8th West
Staircases: none (its a rather flat part of the hill)
Total time walked: 1 hour 5 minutes

I'mmmm Back!!!

It felt so good to get back out there today! Granted, I was walking a little bit slower than normal, granted I kept a close eye to the ground to avoid those nasty cracks that come up and bite you, granted I was noticeably more tired, granted I only did flat streets, I still managed to get back out there and it felt great.

Started out on Nob Hill, right below the eastern most radio tower, going north. I hit a few side streets, back and forth I went. Cut through the lovely P Patch over to Boston and then basically back down 3rd.

I remembered that it was still technically summer when I saw the still green tomatoes on the vine in the P Patch and in people's gardens. Although I also remembered that fall is right around the corner when I saw the great pumpkins getting plump in the garden. Although I don't think I am going to be completed with this crazy task by Friday I am going to keep on going.

Interesting things I saw today; An amazing house, with a Russian looking spire on Nob Hill (see right); Lots of interesting garbage, it was garbage day today (OK, I sort of have an unhealthy obsession with garbage, it's a long story, don't ask); An almost rainbow, it started raining big fat drops while the sun was out and a ghost of a rainbow peaked out, although my camera did not capture it at all; some really interesting weather veins on the corner of Blaine and 4th; A great bench made out of old skis (which is somehow funny that skis are what brought me to this journey in the first place); And the amazing flatness that can happen when you are just perched on top of a hill.

Streets Completed: Newton, 3rd Ave N, Nob Hill, Lynn
Staircases: S9
Total Time Walked: 1 hour 13 minutes

Uh-Oh

So, I guess I am a klutz, I never really classified myself as being particularly accident prone but I guess that view of myself is changing.

A few days ago some friends and I were at the Puyallup Fair, having a grand old, barn stompin' time. We were on our way out, and the next thing I know I am flying through the air. I landed, get this, square on my, get this, good knee! For crying out loud!? Really?

To make a long story short, I ended up with a badly bruised right knee and pain while walking. The X Rays did not show anything, but if the pain and swelling and leg weakness remain then I have to go back in for an MRI.

The upshot of which, I am sad to announce that I do not believe I am going to finish Queen Anne staircases or streets before the end of official summer, which is next Friday. Do not get me wrong, I am still going to finish because I love it so much. But, its not going to happen before next week.

Here I am signing out for what I hope is only a few days. Send me good healing knee vibes! Queen Anne is a' waitin'!

Yowza!

I only have 11 more days until the official end of summer. Yikes, I got some walking to do!

Old Friends

Yesterday's walk was filled with old friends, some painful reminders and some pleasant surprises.

Started out at the bottom of Garfield and wanted to finish it off, which meant the series of staircases leading up Garfield to the top of the hill. But, I have to admit some of these staircases were very lovely, in particular 343, which splits and comes together at the top of the two staircases, very elegant. See right. Just above 343 was a series of staircases that my friend and I used to run, back in the good old days.

Then, as we crested the hill we literally ran into an old friend of mine, from back in my running days, she had been a captain of a team at the same time as I was captain and we caught up and explained the whole saga of my knee and this mission.

We hit the library staircases, which the map maker qualifies as public staircases, which makes sense really. I love our little library, it is so sweet and they took fliers for Run Scared 5K for their board. So nice!

Then down 5th W, which has now been completed! We saw this great little house with what looked like a menu holder on the sidewalk. As we approached it held a side of the road poem. How lovely! Turned around at Smith and Halladay and headed back up 9th, where I ran into another old friend, this time in the form of a hill. Well, a bowl really. 9th W, between Crockett and Blaine forms this perfect bowl, two steep hills with a dip in the middle. Back in the day, when I was first starting to run I used to use this bowl to do my hill training. Oh, how the mighty have fallen.

From Blaine onward was another memory lane. This time it was what me and my neighbor friend like to call "Deep Freeze 08", when we had that really big snowstorm that was like a little piece of heaven? Well, I have very grand memories from that time, and one of them was walking home from her house, in the middle of the night, after an exhausting day of sledding and sliding and hot chocolate, walking up that hill in that deep and quiet snow. It was so gorgeous and peaceful and I wish it would snow like that again!

Eventually headed down the end bit of Galer, which we had sledded just this past mini snowfall.

I guess this is what happens when you live in such an amazing neighborhood for years, the memories pile up on top of each other. This summer of walking is sure to add a whole other complex layer as well.

Here's to old friends!

Streets completed: Garfield, 5th W
Staircases: 126 (actually a pathway), 127, 343, 125, 56 (the library staircases), P3
Total time walked: 1 hour 6 minutes

Elevated Walk

Man, I am so elevated today! Not really, just talking about some really great elevated sidewalks. I do not think there is any other neighborhood with quite as many elevated sidewalks. There is just something about them, I can't quite put my finger on it, I feel so, elevated, man, when I walk up there! Today's walk had a few elevated sidewalks, and some wild parts too!

Today we (boyfriend and I) attacked the northwest corner of Queen Anne. Parked on a little street called Prosch W, I had never even heard of it before. A charming little circular street cut in half by a great walkway and staircase, which we took down to 15th W. (picture to left is staircase 29, and the graffiti on it has the very appropriate quote "The steps with which we walk are often built upon the steps we have taken") Now, for any of you faithful readers who know that I recently completed 15th, you will surely say to yourself, well, she already completed 15th W? I have, but there are two places where 15th W splits in half and I felt I completed 15th by walking the entire length of it, but not really wholly complete because of these splits. So, splits now done.

A brief stop on the way to drop off flyers at the coffee shop on Dravus and 15th for an upcoming event I am organizing (check out Run Scared 5K) and then up to the Ruffner Wilds! So fun! This was one of those staircases that has a fun name, do not know if it's map maker derived or city derived, but I like it nonetheless. It was indeed an overgrown staircase. See picture to right. We even saw a HUGE spider eat a ton of bugs, some bamboo, a plum tree, a goodly number of blackberry bushes, some weeds and just a lot of vegetation. An aptly named staircase.

Then came the elevated walkway along 13th W, including staircase 366 right in the middle of it. I couldn't help but think of those poor shlubs who live in the middle of these sidewalks, hauling up their groceries.

Back down to Nickerson, hooked a left and all the way back up 14th W to the car (with some sidestreets and staircases along the way). Other cool things we learned? That the Polish Archbishop prayed in the church on the corner of Dravus and 14th W in 1993. How do we know? There was a shrine erected. Also, someone on Ruffner and 14th W is selling Ferrets, should any of my readers be in the market.

There was an amazing sunset last night and I thought I would throw in a picture from Betty Bowen lookout, where we stopped on the way home. There is no place like Seattle in the summer! Enjoy, man!

Streets completed: W Prosch
Staircases: 30, 28, 29, 264 (otherwise knows as Ruffner Wilds), 366, 362, 50
Total time walked: 1 hour 13 minutes