Walking Seattle Again

More schools today as a friend and I walked in the Green Lake and Wallingford neighborhoods. This crosswalk is at F. A. McDonald International Elementary School in Wallingford ... ... as is this lovely mural. The nearby streets were tree-lined and tidy ... ... with some charming parking strips and gardens. In the Green Lake neighborhood, we passed Green Lake Elementary and lots of shops and restaurants. Along our 4.5 mile walk, we passed one Little Free Pantry and three Little Free Libraries. The pantry contained food and sunscreen. The libraries contained novels, biographies,  children's books, GMAT prep books, parenting books, career planning books and two books about ignorance.  

Schools, schools, schools seemed to be everywhere on today's walk in the View Ridge, Bryant and Wedgwood neighborhoods. This shady street is alongside Thornton Creek Elementary  which shares grounds with Decatur Elementary . This staircase leads to .... ... this field and another staircase that leads to View Ridge Elementary . These garden apartments abut Concordia Lutheran Elementary School  but ... ... rows of modern townhouses are encroaching on them. As I walked between 70th and 80th Streets from 35th to 50th Avenue, I could have been in the suburbs. I admired beautiful gardens and lovely parking strips, ... ... passed what I though was a Little Free Library until I realized it was a place to store sidewalk chalk, ... ... marveled at the fish imprinted in a parking strip ... ... and a private basketball half-court. Density may soon disturb the suburban feel. I noted that a large new home, which fills its lot, was for sale. Another lot appears to have as many as five founda...

Today's walk in the Windermere neighborhood had me back on streets where I was never sure if I were on a street or an avenue.   I started out at the Fisheries Research Center east of the Magnuson Park entrance where I noticed this sign. A mural Community Paint Day and a tour of the facility looked like a reason to return on July 8th. Walking west along NE 65th Street, I quickly came to this entrance to 65th Avenue NE. To the east, I noted an entrance to a trail leading to Promontory Point - another reason to return. To the west, I spotted the Radford Court Apartments. I would amble through this tidy complex before this walk was over. Continuing south along 65th Avenue, I quickly came to homes that made me realize I was in Windermere. After roaming near waterfront home, I worked my way back to 61st Street where I observed a Radford Court P-Patch and ... ... then, at 60th Avenue, this staircase which ... ... took me past another P-Patch, ... ... this one attached to Sand Point Elemen...

  Yesterday's 3.5 mile walk took a friend and me to Meadowbrook Pond Park. I didn't cover any new streets or park paths but we did notice this poster. Poetry readings are scheduled at the Sound Reflector every other Thursday from 11:30 AM to 1:00 PM. The next one will be July 6th.

  Today's walk took me to the tidy Inverness area in the Matthews Beach and View Ridge neighborhoods. Once I started to climb, the views were amazing. I started at Matthews Beach Park and walked along the Burke Gilman Trail until I came to this footpath near 92nd Street. It ended at this entry to the street that took me to 45th Avenue. I kept climbing until I came to the top of Inverness Drive where I noted a Proposed Land Use sign calling for the construction of a three-story single family residence with detached accessory dwelling and parking for three vehicles. The heavily treed lot appeared to be down a ravine. I kept enjoying the lake views and the gardens and ... ... noticed that all the utilities were underground - looks as if they have been since Ma Bell was an entity. This dead-end leads to ... ... this entry ... ...  to the Burke Gilman Trail. I didn't notice until today that it is a private footpath - guess I won't be taking it again. I only passed one Little Fre...

  Today's walk took me to the Pinehurst and Maple Leaf neighborhoods of Northgate. I started out near Hubbard Homestead Park which was empty on this drizzly day. Walking north along 1st Avenue, I came to this walkway right before the I5 overpass. This bike/pedestrian path took me to 115th Street where homes were removed to make way for light rail ... ... the houses that remain look at this. They seem to have been given sidewalks as compensation but not underground utilities. At 103rd and 5th, I noted this proposed land use sign. Heading west I noted another proposing to demolish existing structures in what had been Northgate Mall. Continuing to 1st Avenue and walking south, I passed the Light Rail Station, the foot bridge over I5, the vacated Silver Platters store, a Hampton Inn and Suites where Marie Callendar's used to be, a sign for "Amazon Office Hours", and lots of medical buildings. This I5 barricade let me know I was in Maple Leaf. From 95th, I took the 3rd Ave...