Walking Seattle Again

Today's walk in Wedgwood threatened rain but I remained dry throughout the five and half miles. It was almost as if I were walking in a few different neighborhoods as I covered streets from 75th to 90th between 35th and 40th Avenues. Some streets were tailored with sidewalks and curbs. Some streets overlooked a ravine and had the feel of country roads. Some streets probably haven't changed in over 50 years.  Some streets had cinderblock houses, others had a mix of older homes and skinny homes. Still others had quite a few  large homes - either just completed or still being built. Along the way, I passed Our Lady Of the Lake Church and School , Thornton Creek Elementary , Wedgwood Presbyterian Church , lots of businesses on 35th, houses decorated for Easter, beehives, Hunter Farm Gathering Place, the Wedgwood Post Office, a treehouse, whirligigs around a tribute to a beloved pet, ... ... a miniature farm, ... ... some climate activist signs ... ... and a Wedgwood banner suggest...

Spring was on view today as I walked from 75th to 82nd Street between 20th and 24th Avenues NE in the Ravenna neighborhood. Some impressive trees thrive ... ... and survive in this area. Some streets have tailored and nicely landscaped edges.  Houses range from tidy Tudors to small cottages to large new homes to homes being built in backyards. The last example is not too common because the lots here are not large. On many streets, space has been set aside for alleys behind houses. This means there are fewer driveways so more on-street parking spaces. Additionally, garbage and recycling bins don't clutter up the sidewalks. 79th Street at 22nd Avenue is really just an alley. Marti and Charlie have adopted this litter bin at the bus stop on 75th and 20th. Picardo P- Patch has been readied for planting. University Prep is building additional facilities. This photo was taken along 24th Avenue. I knew the school had acquired the old Wedgwood Tool Library building but they must have bou...

Today's walk wasn't really in a neighborhood. Most of it was in University Village. A trip to The Confectionery to buy chocolate Easter bunnies took me to this ever upscaling outdoor shopping center. New landscaping, ... ... restaurants ... ...shops and lots of new residential buildings surrounding University Village greeted me. By the time I completed my chores (here and elsewhere) I had walked well over two miles - most of the steps here. I did note that healthcare facilities are popping up everywhere.  

It looked like Spring but felt like Winter today as I took a short walk in Fremont. I passed the Center of the Universe sign and the statue of Lenin ... ... as well as some impressive tree trunks. Walking around B. F. Day Elementary School , I observed The Powerhouse - the Fremont Arts Council headquarters - and noted that the Solstice Parade will be on June 17th this year. When I reached 40th Street, I saw that, instead of a street, there are staircases - this one to the west ... ... and this one to the east. There is a stairway over Aurora Avenue at 41st Street ... ... and the new-looking Fire Station 9  is on Linden Avenue. There are still some detached, single family homes but housing is getting denser ... ... and denser. Along my meandering two mile walk, I passed a dog treat bakery, an American Grill/Irish Pub still decked out for Saint Patrick's Day, an animal hospital, Fremont Baptist Church and Theo's Chocolates.

Beautiful leaded glass windows ...  ... were a highlight of today's walk in the Roosevelt neighborhood. I admired the Tudor style houses, both brick ... ... and wooden, that were examples of the most prevalent style along these streets between Lake City Way and 20th Avenue NE from 75th to 85th Street. Not too many houses have been replaced by larger, newer ones. Many of the newer homes appear to have tried to "fit in" with the existing character of the neighborhood but a few did not. Most of the homes were on small lots and appeared to be small in size until I realized that some were on sloped lots and were single story on the front side but multiple story on the back side. Apartment buildings have gone up close to Lake City Way and there are a few pubs, restaurants, take-out places, auto-related businesses, a 7-Eleven, a naturopathic medicine facility, a veterinary clinic and an Eagles Lodge along this busy, noisy street. The dry cleaners has closed and the BMW Motorcycl...

A camellia in full bloom greeted me in Ravenna this afternoon. After a stop at the Grateful Bread to pick up bagels, I walked streets between 25th and 35th Avenues NE from 65th to 75th Street.  Once again, Nature trumped everything. From the Wedgwood Rock (which is really in Ravenna) ... ... to some beautiful bonsai trees ... ... to the trees surviving being pruned ... to the hills ... to the glorious gardens ... and beautiful blue skies, Nature was on display in Seattle today. Trees even acted as supports for play structures. This area has already undergone a lot of older home replacement. For a while, faux Tudor or neo-Craftsman seemed to predominate. Then it was modern boxy homes with lots of glass.  Now, it appears to be tall, white houses with black trim and vertical slats. There were a number of dead-end streets but I discovered this footpath connecting two parts of 70th Street between 27th and 28th. The Northeast Library now has a locker for hold pickup. Eckstein Middl...