Photos

Only a fraction of the photos I take are put up in these posts. To see all of them you can find them here. I will be updating as I go, although, I am almost done with this whole expedition!

A long walk for only a few new streets

Decided to tackle the very few streets of Lower Queen Anne yesterday. I really did not feel like getting in the car to drive to where I was walking, so instead, old school style, I walked over to the few streets that needed to be done in southern Queen Anne.

From my house, walked down to Olympic to this little loop of a street that has been taunting me for a long time. Which is rediculous because on the map it looks like a big loop off of Olympic, when really its a tiny little thing that I could have knocked out when I first did Olympic.

Then up to 6th W and 7th W, between Kinnear Place and Olympic, also two little streets. Although, it was interesting, at the corner of 7th W and Kinnear Place there was one of those street markers in the concrete that said Epler Place. Could that have been the name of the street back in the day? Curious!

Then back up to 8th Ave W and staircase number 475 and 474. All the way over to Blaine, where I went down, just to come back up again and knock out 9th W and walkway 345. Damn those split streets that I have already done one half of but had to go back and do the other half!

Then all the way back to Olympic and did a circular sort of thing around Highland and Olympic.

All in all, theses streets that I completed all had only a tiny little section that needed to be walked, but it took me over an hour from door to door. Oh well, its all about the exercise, right?!

And, with all that said and done, I still have not completely finished all of lower/southern Queen Anne! I did not get to a dead end street on W Lee! Are you kidding me!?

Streets completed: 7th W, 6th W, Unknown tiny little loop of a street off of Olympic, 9th W, Blaine, 8th W
Staircases: 474, 475, P5 (yes, that is a private staircase, I did it anyway!), 345, 344
Total time walked: 1 hour 20 minutes

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'!