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