Pacific Northwest Trip 2017 Day 11 Wednesday July 26: Seattle, Everett, Lynnwood, Edmonds, Shoreline

UPDATED: February 12, 2021

This is the 11^th of a series of posts dealing with my 2017 trip to Portland, Seattle, and vicinity. I’ve made minor corrections to these reports (typos, bits I don’t feel like making public). Also, I’ve added additional thoughts with the hindsight of two years later or to add further clarification.  These are indicated by “NOW”.

Foot pain is getting pretty bad. Hope I can complete the trip.

[NOW: I did manage to complete the trip.]

Got up a little before 6 and walked to Pike Place Market and saw Rachel the Pig again. Walked up and down the Harbor Steps (take you from 1st to Western; have fountains). I went back to Pike, the Victor Steinbrueck Park right beside the market. I walked to and across the Bell St bridge to the observation area at Pier 66; nice views of the waterfront and downtown buildings.

I walked back to Seattle Canter. Noticed that sonic loom has a big of sleight of hand: it isn’t the giant flower sculptures that make the sounds but the green cylinders on the ground beside them. As expected International Fountain not yet on. I left Seattle Center and withdrew money from a Bank of America above a Metropolitan Market. Returned to City Hostel Seattle for breakfast.

I took a 5x bus (King County Metro Transit) then took a 512 bus (Sound Transit) to S Everett Freeway Station in Everett. Walked to a 7-11 for a soft drink and I think I accidentally left my change behind there. I realized too late that Google Maps doesn't factor in Everett Transit so walked to the Half Price books by Everett Mall when I could have bused it. I bought some DVDs there, then took a 7 bus (Everett Transit) to Bargain CDs in the downtown area; more DVDs.  I visited Sound Loan and Everett Comics. Normally I visit Buy & Sell Video but it didn't open for an hour and my feet were already starting to hurt again so took a Swift bus (Community Transit) to the Half Price Books in Lynnwood, then Walked to Big Lots. I took a 196 bus (Community Transit), ringing the bell a little later than I should have. I doubled back over the freeway. I was going to eat at Chuck E Cheese for the first time but the arcade there made it too hard to focus.

[NOW: Buy & Sell Video has now closed. Specifically the arcade was very noisy.]

I got some DVDs at Silver Platters. I took another 196 bus back to near Half Price Books and then another Swift bus south to Edmonds. After a hike I visited Worlds of Collections Comics. After another hike I ate lunch at a Subway, then took a final Swift bus to Aurora Transit Center in Shoreline. I took an E Rapidride bus (King County Metro Transit) to Arcane Comics, which last year moved from Seattle/Ballard to Shoreline. I took another E bus south to Seattle where I hiked to a 7-11, where I noticed the money missing. Thankfully but awkwardly another customer paid for my Slurpee; will have to take out another 20 tomorrow and maybe put it somewhere other than my money belt, where bills have been falling out all trip.

I got some DVDs at Reckless Video and then took a short 345 bus (King County Metro Transit), but not sure if it really saved any time. I hiked to Greenwood where the Greenwood Parade was being set up. I noticed people with Repent signs. Turning onto 85^th Ave, still parade route, I visited Dreamstrands Comics and got a flavoured water from Fred Meyer. I was going to buy dinner from Subway but wasn't hungry so walked to the Safeway on Greenwood for a deli sandwich.

 

[NOW: That Safeway has closed.]

As I walked along Greenwood, the Christians now had loudspeakers on while they (or a tape) talked. Hijacking a parade to announce to everyone how wicked they were using a loudspeaker didn't strike me as the best way to get the word out. As a parade pre-show the motorcycle police did a bit of driving around, then it was one final go for the Christians who were so loud you could hear them blocks away. The Seattle Seafair Clowns soon followed. During the parade I figured out that I got a few more freebies if I put my hand out, not from everybody, but some for sure.

Some of the usual gang were there: Aside from the above, the Western City Vigilantes with their bouncy truck, the Keystone Kops and inmates, and the Seattle Seafair Pirates firing the cannon from the "ship" Moby Duck. I got a Seafair coin from one of them, my favourite freebie. I kept my shoes off until near the end of the parade, noticing that the back of one sock was stained with blood.

I walked east where after a wait another E Rapidride bus arrived. As you tap at the stop before entering normally, there was a fare check. They left one stop later with a woman they were dealing with presumably; as before I passed. I got off near the hostel and got some gauze pads and ointment, plus masking tape to secure the pads. I also noticed the uneaten sandwich so been eating as I type this.

Pacific Northwest Trip 2017 Day 10 Tuesday July 25: Seattle, Port Orchard, Bremerton, Silverdale, Poulsbo, Bainbridge Island

UPDATED: February 12, 2021

This is the 10^th of a series of posts dealing with my 2017 trip to Portland, Seattle, and vicinity. I’ve made minor corrections to these reports (typos, bits I don’t feel like making public). Also, I’ve added additional thoughts with the hindsight of two years later or to add further clarification.  These are indicated by “NOW”.

I was in pain most of the day. What I called blisters is more, the new shoes ripped the skin from one or two toes and the back of my foot (all above on right foot). It's possible that the new shoes are now broken in but the damage has been done. Literally.

I got up around 5:30 and walked to the Washington State Convention Center, which is a good way, via escalators, to reach Freeway Park, a park built over a freeway. Fountains are usually on or off, but this time there was just a tiny bit of water running. I walked to the Seattle Ferry Terminal to ask directions to the new Fast Ferry terminal for later; good thing I did because it was further away than expected. I visited CenturyLink and Safeco Fields. Near the former, there's still the Kingdome Deli paying tribute to the predecessor of what locals call the CLink.

Waterfall Garden Park wasn't open and strangely had winter hours posted. At Pike Place Market…,

[NOW: Again part of what I had typed apparently got deleted before sending. I visited Rachel the Pig(gybank) and then returned to City Hostel Seattle.]

As breakfast started around 8, had a rushed breakfast then took a 3 bus (King County Metro) to near the new Fast Ferry Terminal. There I took a Fast Ferry (all transit until Washington Ferries Kitsap Transit) to Bremerton and from there the Foot Ferry to Port Orchard, where I tried to take an 8 bus to Book 'em I wanted to ask the driver where to let me off but a woman kept talking loudly and I missed the stop, not knowing where it was. I admit I got more irritated with her than I normally would with someone with an obvious disability, though she really should take a breath from time to time in case other passengers need to talk to the driver. Still, in my anxious state I was harsher than I wish I had been.

[NOW: Actually the ferry at the time was temporarily situated at the King County Water Taxi terminal. Because it was the first month of service the ferry was free.]

Fortunately it was downhill so I did make it to Book 'em, then continued downhill top Paperback Plus, getting there just before they opened. Returning to the downtown core I wandered a bit and visited a 7-11 and a market. I took the same Foot Ferry back to Bremerton Transportation Center. The nearby Liberty Bay Books wasn’t yet open. Back at the center I took a 25 bus to East Bremerton Transit Center and visited the Comics Keep and Back in Time Gaming.

[NOW: Paperbacks Plus and Back in Time Gaming have closed. The Comics Keep has since moved.]

I got on a northbound bus. A guy thought I was photographing him. When I pointed out that the camera was pointing out the window he said it could be reversed. He eventually quieted down and got off with everyone else early on. Even if I did have such marvelous tech I fear it would have resulted in just shots of my t-shirt and/or face.

Getting off at Silverdale Transit Center in Silverdale, I got a DVD at f.y.e. and then visited Kitsap mall where I visited Barnes & Noble and Avalon Comics. Sneaking in a shot of the latter (didn’t know the mall's photo rules) I tripped over a seating area that I flipped over. Losing only a bit of dignity I crossed the street to McDonald’s to go and returned to Silverdale Transit Center.

 

[NOW: That f.y.e. has closed.]

I took a 35 bus to Poulsbo, where I finished my lunch. I walked to the downtown area and decided Io wanted to stay extra long. The downtown core, by the waterfront is Scandinavian themed in terms of architecture, street names, store names, and some signage (e.g. Welkommin). The only thing that disrupts the illusion is a Wells Fargo. A  shame you have to pay for a ferry to head west: of all the places I visited for the first time today, downtown Poulsbo is the one place I'd want to return to.

[NOW: While there I visited Poulsbo Book Stop, which I think may have since closed or become Away with Words, and Poulsbo’s Liberty Bay Books. I believe I also got a soft drink at Marina Market. I also spent a bit of time at Liberty Bay Waterfront Park.]

Giving myself extra time, I hiked to the 90 bus stop and took it to Bainbridge Island Ferry Terminal. Thirty minutes before the next ferry so I visited Backstreet Beat, which was closed when I visited on day one. I skipped Eagle Harbor Book Co. though due to visiting it earlier.

I took an eastbound ferry (Washington State Ferries) back to Seattle. Due to construction I had to walk an extra stop but at the International District/Chinatown Station I took the new First Hill Streetcar (King County Metro Transit) to Capitol Hill Station. Not as fast as the Link train but above ground. I limped to the Mystery Pop Machine. This time I got a cherry 7-Up, more typical of the machine. I limped back to the streetcar and returned to the International District/Chinatown Station where I took the Link train (Sound Transit) to Westlake Station. I guy was trying to talk to the woman sitting beside me mostly in Spanish, ignoring her comments of not speaking very good Spanish and having had a long day. He got off at University Street Station. She gave me a look of relief and I told her I had been feeling for her. After getting off at Westlake Station I walked to the other streetcar line.

[NOW: The pop machine is missing.]

The South lake Union Streetcar (King County Metro) was originally going to be called the South Lake Union Trolley before they realized the acronym; too late: the locals adopted the acronym anyway. I took it a couple stops and walked the rest of the way to Seattle Center.  I had dinner at Mod Pizza, visited the still-off International Fountain, then headed out. There are plant sculptures called Sonic Bloom that make sounds as you approach. I think they were there two years ago but silent there. I made it back to the hostel a little early and got new Band-Aid equivalents, but wanting to wear my shoes again until tomorrow.

[NOW: I later figured out that Sonic Bloom is a bit of misdirection: approaching the “flowers” don’t create a sound but approaching discs beside them do.]

Pacific Northwest Trip 2017 Day 9 Monday July 24: Seattle, Bellevue, Redmond, Clyde Hill

UPDATED: February 12, 2021

This is the 9^th of a series of posts dealing with my 2017 trip to Portland, Seattle, and vicinity. I’ve made minor corrections to these reports (typos, bits I don’t feel like making public). Also, I’ve added additional thoughts with the hindsight of two years later or to add further clarification.  These are indicated by “NOW”.

I got up closer to 6 this time; got a decent night's sleep in. I walked to Olympic Sculpture Park (pretty self-explanatory). The two sculptress that stand out for me are one at the entrance called Father and son, a fountain with a naked man and boy facing each other (I've long suspected that the sculpture name disguises the art piece's true intention) and Love & Loss, with its rotating ampersand on a pole. I visited Myrtle Edwards Park beside it before returning to the Sculpture Park. It does appear that it was Typewriter Eraser, Scale X I saw at Seattle Center as it was gone from this park. I walked along the waterfront to Seattle Ferry Terminal, then walked to Pike Place Market and saw Rachel the Pig. I couldn't find my itinerary so partly retraced my steps. Back at the hostel trying to find my backup copy I found my original.

[NOW: The hostel I stayed at was City Hostel Seattle.]

I took a 212 bus (King County Metro Transit) to Eastgate Park & Ride in Bellevue. I just missed a connecting bus (ironically had I gotten off two stops earlier I could have beaten my bus there and grabbed the connecting bus). I briefly got on another 245 that was going the wrong way. I quickly returned and caught the right 245 bus (King Country Metro Transit) to Crossroads shopping Centre where I visited Half Price Books. A B Rapidride bus (King County Metro Transit) took me to Redmond where I got some DVDs at another Half Price Books. At Redmond Town Center I found a new bookstore.

[NOW: The bookstore was Brick & Mortar Books. I also visited the Comic Stop. In the original edit this appears to have accidentally deleted after typing. The start of the next paragraph should begin “I took a 545 bus…”]

(Sound Transit) to a freeway stop at or near Clyde Hill. My new shoes were  giving me blisters so I wasn't pleased that I had to go up and down a hill to reach my next destination in Bellevue. After getting a drink at a QFC in the same area, I bought DVDs at the Silver Platters that used to be in Crossroads. Returning to Clyde Hill and back to the freeway stop. I took a 542 bus (Sound Transit) to the U District in Seattle. A bit behind schedule (mostly due to the hills)  and not wanting to  spend much more than I  had a week ago, at the U District I limited my spending to lunch at Jack in the Box. Front counter lady was a bit rude, dealing with me and a drive through customer at the same time or close to it.

[NOW: The freeway stop is State Route 520 & Clyde Hill/Yarrow Pt Station a.k.a. Yarrow Point Freeway Station in Yarrow Point, though it’s true that I crossed over to Clyde Hill very soon after leaving the station.]

I took a 71 bus (King County Metro Transit) to near Warren G. Magnusson Park. You can see A Sound Garden that the rock band Sound Garden named itself after through wire fence. You can see it more directly but it's in a government complex to easier to just enjoy through the park fence. I crossed through the off least area to Lake Washington. I did a short swim and Lake Washington which further helped me pinpoint where my blisters are. I showed and dried off, then used a couple of Band-Aid equivalents that I had the foresight to back on the worst of the blisters.

I took a 75-becoming-32 bus (King County Metro Transit) to the University of Washington where I  decided to visit the nearby University Village, which has a Stonehenge fountain and some animal fountains like Water Break and Water Frolic (latter "spitting"  turtles).  Part of the reason for going there was morbid curiosity of the new amazon brick and mortar bookstore. The deal I made with myself was to just go in, not buy anything. The biggest difference from a regular bookstore is that many books (all?)  have a review from an Amazon customer.

Back at the University of Washington I took a 78 bus (I think; King County Metro Transit) a little ways and revisited Drumheller Fountain. A duck, maybe the same one as last week was watching the fountain. I took a Link train (Sound Transit) from University of Washington Station to SoDo Station) and visited Seattle’s Silver Platters (got more DVDs). I took a 221-becoming-5 bus (King County Metro Transit) to near Seattle Center. I had dinner at the McDonald’s across from it then visited the center. As expected the International Fountain is closed.  It's usually closed for cleaning the Monday to Wednesday before the Torchlight Parade.

[NOW: Looking at my photo notes the first bus was indeed a 78. The Central Link train is now Line 1.]

I returned to the hostel and put my clothes in the wash; $2.50  US to wash and dry; ouch at current exchange rate. Had trouble connecting earlier, maybe due to AVG, so had to turn my computer off and on.

Pacific Northwest Trip 2017 Day 8 Sunday July 23: Portland to Seattle

UPDATED: February 12, 2021

 

 This is the 8^th of a series of posts dealing with my 2017 trip to Portland, Seattle, and vicinity. I’ve made minor corrections to these reports (typos, bits I don’t feel like making public). Also, I’ve added additional thoughts with the hindsight of two years later or to add further clarification.  These are indicated by “NOW”.

At the half way mark now.  Woke up at 1:50 but couldn't get back to sleep (4 hours). Shortly  after I woke up some drunks wandered in. The one below me was hiccuping. My pillow fell off my bunk again. Got up after 4:30, grabbed some discarded brochures, and had breakfast at the nearby McDonald’s. I checked out and lugged my stuff to the BoltBus stop.

Mid trip the driver told me that on Greyhound and affiliate buses including BoltBus you're not allow to record even out of windows due to people abusing the system. So, no you’re not allowed to take a photo of horses on a field. Had an Asperger's related panic attack so I was soon able to resume. I was advised that if I tell them about my disability they should be able to accommodate. Driver didn't know about Greyhound Canada's photo policy.

[NOW; I checked after and the site said you’re not supposed to photograph the driver or bus exterior but I found nothing that said you couldn’t take a photograph out a window.]

There was a notice of long delays at Lacey but we passed early enough to avoid be impacted. In Seattle I took a 7 bus downtown and got a transfer which I used on a 13 bus (all non-BoltBus buses King County Metro Transit). After paying for my room and getting my bags stored (to my amusement a receptionist asked me if it was my first time in Seattle) I took a D Rapidride bus to Ballard.

[NOW: The hostel I stayed at was City Hostel Seattle.]

Passing the Sunday Market, I visited Sonic Boom Records but they weren’t selling any DVDs this time. Found the new location of the not yet open Ballard branch of Twice Sold Tales. I visited the Hiram M. Chittenden Locks, where they raise and lower water levels to let boats travel to/from the sea and Lake Union. But the main reason I was there was to see the Fish Ladder, where you can see salmon  returning home to spawn or at least trying to get at the current home. One had battle scars.

[NOW: I found a small DVD section at Sonic Boom Records the following week.]

I walked to Ballard's McDonald’s for lunch. I took a 44 bus back one stop, noting my transfer had been lost. At the now open Twice Sold Tales the house cat sniffed my bag. I walked to Fremont where I saw the dinosaurs made of wire and greenery, Fremont's own Sunday Market, the badly faded Fremont Rocket (on the side of a building), the larger than life statue of VI Lenin (someone had added a noose and painted a hand blood red), Jive Time Records, Ophelia’s Books (didn't see the  cat, just its food bowl), The Center of the Universe signpost, Rapunzel (I zoomed in on the art of her on the Fremont Bridge), Waiting for the Interurban statue (decorated), and the JP Patches & Gertrude: Late for the interurban state (JP fade looked freshly painted and someone added flowers). I walked uphill to the Fremont Troll under the Aurora Bridge on Troll Ave; used to be a Volkswagen until concrete added). I crossed over to Wallingford (note: Ballard, Fremont, Wallingford are all areas of Seattle) and saw the Wallingford Steps before walking to Gas Works Park, an industrial complex turned family park. Had to wait to use the bathroom: there were no cubicle doors so only wanted the farthest one). I dropped my camera on concrete but it rolled and is okay. A woman who was part of an event noticed I was taking pictures and called out to me, but it was fine: she just asked that I identify the event on any photos I post to social media (Flow Fest).

[NOW: Given later events there appears to have been a delayed reaction to the camera drop.]

I took a 32 bus to near Seattle Centre. I visited Mercer St Books, then the International Fountain at Seattle Center. It was crowded due to Take a Bite Out of Seattle.

Having a fresh transfer I took a bus part way downtown where I visited Zanadu Comics. There was a hole in one of the shoes I bought about two weeks ago and the other shoe wasn’t much better so I bought new shoes from a shoe store.

[NOW: It was a 4 bus. Zanadu Comics has since closed.]

I walked to Pike Place Market; there I visited Left Bank Books, then saw Rachel the Pig from a slight distance. Golden Age Collectables (comics), a novelty shop I hadn’t seen before, BLMF (bookstore), Holy Cow Records (no DVDs this time), and Orange Dracula (novelty shop), It seems that Lionheart Books has closed. I went to First & Pike news and then left Pike Place Market for McDonald's.

[NOW: The novelty shop is Rummage Around. I later found Lionheart Books in a different location in the market. I think it may have moved within the market. First & Pike News has closed.]

I had to pick one of two lines. I picked the slow line and finally left. I went to Westlake Center for food but the food places had closed around 5 and the mall smelled of Lush, too strong for me.

I walked to Pacific Place where I took photos of the scrap metal penguin art piece and visited Barnes & Noble. Heading north, I passed the giant red Popsicle sculpture and had dinner at the Subway in the KOMO Plaza. So busy day by others' standards, a quiet day for me.

 

[NOW: That Barnes & Noble has closed. The penguiin is gone.]