Pacific Northwest Trip 2018 Day 9 Monday July 23: Seattle, Redmond, Bellevue, Mercer Island

This is the 9th of a series of posts dealing with my 2018 trip to Olympia, 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”.

Someone in the room was texting with the lights on, and at times having a loud conversation with a friend. Managed to get a bit of sleep before finally turning the lights off when he left the room at 1:15 am. Then at 3:45, a group of young women returned from partying but didn't stay long: I heard one say about one of her friends, "She puked on my bed". They weren't in the room when I got up before six.

I got up and walked to Seattle Center to see the initial clean-up of Take a Bite of Seattle, passing the Chief Sealth statue along the way. After sitting at the International Fountain for a bit, I withdrew some money from a Bank of America machine and then headed downtown, catching a 62 bus (King County Metro Transit) along the way. At Westlake Station, Downtown Transit Tunnel, I took the Link Train (Sound Transit) to University of Washington Station. At the University of Washington I relaxed a bit at Drumheller Fountain before taking the Link train back to Westlake Station, then a 24 bus (King County Metro Transit) to City Hostel Seattle.

 

[NOW: The Central Link train is now Line 1. City Hostel Seattle appears to have closed.]

One of the owners, whom I hadn't seen in years, recognized me. After breakfast I took an E Rapidride bus (King County Metro Transit) bus downtown. Waiting for my next bus a guy harassed me including swearIng for taking photos. Ironically i wasn't taking photos: my bus was late and as I told him I was using my camera as binoculars.

Finally the 545 bus (Sound Transit) arrived and I took it to Redmond. I got a couple DVDs from Half Price Books, visited Redmond Town Center (including the fountain with the bears), and McDonald's Book Exchange. It Redmond Transit Center I took a B Rapidride bus (King County Metro Transit) to Crossroads Shopping Center in Bellevue (bus was stuck in traffic and I accidentally got off one stop earlier). There I got a DVD set a Half Price Books. I took another B Rapidride bus to Montlake Park & Ride and then a 249 bus (King County Metro Transit) to Silver Platters, where I got a DVD after first getting some flavoured water from QFC. I walked to downtown Bellevue, where I visited Barnes & Noble and Downtown Park before heading to Bellevue Transit Center.  There I took a 550 bus (Sound Transit) to Mercer Island Park & Ride in Mercer Island. I crossed the highway to I-90 Sculpture Park, had lunch at McDonald's (had a muscle spasm and knocked my trip over) and visited Island Books before returning to the Park & Ride.

 

[NOW: McDonald's Book Exchange has closed. The downtown Bellevue Barnes & Noble has moved to Crossroads. The I-90 Sculpture Park is now the Greta Hackett Outdoor Sculpture Gallery.]

I took a 554 bus (Sound Transit) to Seattle's Pioneer District where I promptly caught a 21 bus (King County Metro Transit) to Seattle's Silver Platters, where I bought quite a few DVDs. I took a 50 bus (King County Metro Transit) to Seward Park. The bathroom stalls there don't have doors so I put my backpack just outside the cubicle to signal it was occupied. I swam at Lake Washington at Seward Park Beach (lifeguards on duty) before walking along the park, getting shots of the lake and Mercer Island. You can walk through the inside of the park but with the poison oak I'd rather not.

I took another 50 bus to Othello Station, where I took a Link train (Sound Transit) to Westlake Station, Downtown Transit Tunnel. I walked to Subway, returned to the hostel for quarters. I grabbed a seltzer from a nearby Rite Aid and then put my clothes in the dryer (actually I might have done the latter before Rite Aid; can't recall). I walked to a viewing area on a deck at the end of Bell Street, just past the Bell Street Bridge, and then returned to the hostel once more.

 

[NOW: Rite Aid is now defunct.] 

Pacific Northwest Trip 2018 Day 8 Sunday July 22: Seattle

 LAST UPDATED: December 28, 2025

This is the 8th of a series of posts dealing with my 2018 trip to Olympia, 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”.

Mostly at the half way mark now. I think the actual half way mark is somewhere between 2 and 3 in the morning, but pretty close

I got up and walked to the Queen Anne area. One paper machine offered the Queen Anne paper for 50c but another for 25c. I went for the latter but it ate the quarter and the coin return button was gone. I  found another machine that offered at the same price and had the button so put in another 25c, then realized the door would open even without money. Since I had lost 25c in the other machine I tried getting the quarter back but the button wouldn't work, so I took a second copy, having paid for two copies. I later found a fourth machine offering it for free.

I walked to Seattle Center to see what Take a Bite of Seattle (food vendor event) looked like between hours. I left the center and visited the statue of Chief Sealth (considered the founder of Seattle), then walked downtown, passing the giant red popsicle sculpture and visited a CVS. Downtown I visited Kress Supermarket (grocery store where you take an escalator to the basement) and Target. I visited Rachel the Pig(gy bank) at Pike Place Market and returned to the City Hostel Seattle for breakfast.

 

[Kress has closed down. City Hostel Seattle appears to have closed as well.]

I took a 24 bus (all buses today King County Metro Transit) to near Discovery Park, where I visited the Visitor Center and got a map. Despite the map I found getting around confusing as usual. One route took me out of the park but I did get some nice photos of Ballard across the water. Returning to the park I made it to Daybreak Indian Cultural Center (I know, Indian, but it's what it's called). There flying overhead was a raptor (falcon?) chattering excitedly about the fish it caught. It wouldn't surprise me if like a true fisherman it was exaggerating its catch. I had trouble finding a path to the north beach but finally did. Due to the tide it was hard getting to the lighthouse where the north and south beach meet. So I tried climbing rocks to try to get on a path only to find that bushes wouldn't let me pass so I had to carefully climb down the path. I gave up and just zoomed in on the lighthouse and then did a long trek out of the park.

I walked to the Hiram M. Chittendem Locks in Ballard.  I wanted to use the bathroom urinal there but a guy had his daughter with him and she was watching the other urinal. I went to the Fish Ladder there and got lots of photos of fish trying to get back to Lake Union. I also got some nice photos of the locks themselves; the locks raise and lower the water levels so shops can enter and exit Lake Union. I walked to Twice Sold Tales (Ballard branch; the cat posed for me) and Sonic Boom Records. I wanted to have lunch at KFC but found the prices too expensive so went to McDonald's across the street instead.

 

[NOW: While the Locks are officially in the Ballard district of Seattle, parts of it including the Fish Ladder are in the Magnolia district. That KFC has closed.] 

I walked to Fremont (by the way, all neighborhoods today are part of Seattle) where I visited Video Isle; used DVDs were a bit pricey which is probably why I didn't shop there much. I walked to Archie McPhee, crossing the street from Fremont to Wallingford. Archie McPhee is a novelty shop that now at the back has the world's largest rubber chicken and not far from it a small rubber chicken museum. The museum pays tribute to the  J.P. Patches Show, which featured Tikey Turkey, so technically a rubber turkey rather than a rubber chicken but I don't think it matters that much.

[NOW: Video Isle has since closed down.]

Returning to Fremont, I visited the Fremont Troll, then Jive Time Records, then Ophelia’s Books; Claudia to cat was in her favourite box on the top of a book shelf. I visited the Center of the Universe signpost, then a few other places only in search of a bathroom, which also covered my passing through the Sunday Market and the plant dinosaurs. The Fremont Rocket is in serious need of a paint job, while the larger than life size statue of V.I. Lenin still has the painted blood on its hands from last year. The Waiting for the Interurban statue was dressed up. Right behind it on the ground was an anti-Trump sign. I zoomed in to get shots of the Rapunzel image on the Fremont Bridge, then visited the J.P. Patches and Gertrude: Late for the Interurban statue.

I crossed over to Wallingford where I relaxed for a little bit at Gas Works Park, an industrial park turned public park on the north end of Lake Union. I left and climbed the zodiac themed Wallingford Steps and then crossed back over to Fremont, where I took a 62 bus downtown.

I visited the new section of the Pike Place Market which had opened last year but I hadn't noticed until my return home. It has its own giant pig(gy bank), not as nice looking as Rachel, but few pigs are. In the mall area I visited Golden Age Collectables, BLMF Literary Saloon, Orange Dracula (novelty), Rummage Around, and Lion Heart Books. On the outside area I visited the left wing new books store Left Bank Books. I walked to Pacific Place, where I noticed the scrap-metal penguin was gone, a key attraction to the area. I did visit Barnes & Noble in the mall before taking a D Rapidride bus north using a transfer.

[NOW: The other “pig” is Billie. Rummage Around and that Barnes & Noble have closed.]

Despite it costing three dollars more than I had previously paid, I had a meal at KFC to avoid another McDonald's meal. I visited Mercer Street Books en route to the International Fountain at Seattle Center. More live music and food vendors. After a brief visit to Seattle Center Armory I returned to the fountain. After the last song of the evening, the emcee asked for applause for the last band. After the muted applause he said, “Well, that's it then”). The fountain worked for a little longer, then it stopped and the police came along to get everyone out so the cleaning process after the Take a Bite event could begin. Presumably as per previous years the fountain will be working again Thursday, but other parts of the park should resume operation tomorrow. Both last night and tonight, Christians were holding signs. Judging from the signs they may be the same group that disrupted the Greenwood and Torchlight Parades last year.

I visited 7-11, Dan's Belltown Grocery, and 2nd Avenue Grocery, which had no prices shown on its soft drinks, before returning to the hostel. My bank account still shows no suspicious activity on my Visa card.

[NOW: My missing credit card never turned up but has since expired.]

Pacific Northwest Trip 2018 Day 7 Saturday July 21: Seattle, Sumner, Puyallup

This is the 7th of a series of posts dealing with my 2018 trip to Olympia, 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”.

Woke up in the middle of the night a bit sore from my injuries, plus I felt a liquid from my elbow. Don't know if it was blood or puss. Around 3 went to the main floor of City Hostel Seattle to surf the Internet in the dining area. The worker suggested downstairs again but a couple was making out there so surfed from the lobby instead before getting a bit more sleep.

 

[NOW: City Hostel Seattle appears to have closed.]

I got up and briefly visited the off-leash park Regrade Park, then went to Westlake Station (Downtown Transit Tunnel) for some bus schedules. I visited Washington State Convention Center and then Freeway Park; the fountains weren't on this time. I visited Seattle Ferry Terminal which in the past had schedules and other booklets but they had removed them. I visited Rachel; the Pig(gy bank) at Pike Place Market before returning to the hostel.

 

[NOW: Washington State Convention Center is now Seattle Convention Center.] 

After breakfast I grabbed more schedules from Westlake Station and then revisited Pike Place Market, including the now open First and Pike News. Most stores were not yet open but at this time of the day I was still able to wander the lower levels, including the "Giant Shoe Museum" which is a coin operated shoe peep show. I didn't pay this time.

 

[NOW: First & Pike News has closed.]

Leaving the market I took the 578 bus (Sound Transit) to Sumner and walked along Main St, including a visit to A Good Book. With a long delay before the next bus I walked to Puyallup, having lunch at KFC. Only one biscuit instead of two but otherwise same deal as Aberdeen. I wish I had ordered to go because there was a vintage car show. I could have taken the next bus but service is hourly on Saturday. I took another 578 bus back to downtown Seattle, fighting sleep on the ride (I was more than awake enough to tell that people were trying to cheat the bus driver to no avail), then after a bit of a delay took a 2 bus (King County Metro Transit) to the east side.

I saw Howell Park, which proved to be a very small nudie park. Given I didn't plan to join in I didn't linger long. Another park Denny Blaine Park was more anything goes, one or two picnicking families, some in swimsuits like myself, and others, yes skyclad. But this park was more spacious and more people wearing something so I felt more comfortable here. A bit tired and sore from my spill yesterday, I rested here a few hours, swimming in Lake Washington. Very laid back, the skyclad people didn't hassle those of us who had clothes on. It's a beautiful park and wish I could have taken more photos there, but given the nature if the park, I think it would have ceased to be laid back had I attempted to photograph it the way I normally do parks I visit. I felt less sore after leaving so my body probably needed the recovery.

I took another 2 bus to near Seattle Center. At the International Fountain, there was still live music from the Take a Bite Out of Seattle event. I left briefly to see if anyone had moved into the old location of Silver Platters, hoping that another music and video store had moved in. Instead it was demolished. I grabbed dinner to go at McDonald's and returned to Seattle Center and the fountain. Paramedics were helping a kid while the police watched. People including a kid nearby were blowing soap bubbles. Due to the latter girl I managed to get some nice shots of bubbles coming at me with the fountain in the background.

 

[NOW: That McDonald's has closed.] 

 I returned to the hostel and had internet connections and in fact the internet went down entirely. After I was finally able to login after about twenty minutes (another woman was having the same issues), I confirmed that the only Visa purchases today were from my backup card with the stripe worn off, so no one's been using the card as I wait until Monday to find out if Sound Transit has it.

[NOW: My lost credit card never turned up but has since expired.]

Pacific Northwest Trip 2018 Day 6 Friday July 20: Seattle, Tacoma, Parkland, Spanaway

This is the 6th of a series of posts dealing with my 2018 trip to Olympia, 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”.

Typing this in Notepad due to connection issues, possibly caused by AVG. I got up and visited Kerry Park Viewpoint, probably the best free place to get a few aerial shots of Seattle. I then Walked to Olympic Sculpture park, along the way seeing a sculpture of a giant hand holding a paddle ball paddle. At Olympic Sculpture Park I saw the usual subjects, including Love and Loss, with its rotating ampersand. and the Father and son statue. Since the father and son facing each other are naked, sometimes obscured by water, and the sculpture is realistic looking, I suspect that the name of the art piece hides the real point of the piece.

[NOW: I started out for the day from City Hostel Seattle, which appears to have closed.]

I dropped a few things off at the hostel, then walked to Pike place Market and saw Rachel the Pig(gybank). At Target I got Black Lightning season 1 on Blu-ray; for some reason it doesn't seem to be available in Canada but it was on sale at Target. I returned to the hostel for breakfast.

I took a 62 bus (King County Metro Transit) bus back downtown and then a 594 bus (Sound Transit). One person got on without paying at first, then another guy got on the bus but got off when he asked if he had to pay and was told yes.

I got off the bus at Union Station Tacoma, and visited the Bridge of Glass, which isn't made of glass but does have glass displays. Someone made a tribute on the bridge for someone they hadn't met, completed with flowers, so I suspect they might have seen someone jump sadly. I visited the University Bookstore, then walked up and down the stairs of University of Washington Tacoma.

[NOW: I checked later and my suspicions were confirmed unfortunately. That University Bookstore has closed.]

I took a 1 bus (Pierce Transit) a little ways until it  ran out of water and broke down; the guy in front of me  had a cop with images of gun and bullet holes with "I don't call 911".

I walked to my next stop, American Pawnbrokers; the next bus passed me when i was two blocks away. I walked some more, finding at one bus stop a Chick Tract (comics that promote a fire and brimstone version of Christianity).  I jogged ahead some more stops to kill time; just before a stop I was going to stop at anyway, I tripped and fell, protecting my camera and backpack with backup camera, but getting a bit bloody in the process.

I took another 1 Pierce Transit bus to All in One Jewelry and Loans where I got a couple movies.  I visited a Cash America (chain that used to be Pawn X-change) and E-Z Loans (latter not open when I arrived), then took a third 1 bus to Topkick Loans in I think Parkland. More walking then a fourth bus to Spanaway Park in Spanaway. I debated whether to visit but it's partly a golf course so I decided to just walk to Godfather Pizza for a lunch buffet; they gave me some adhesive bandages.

[NOW: E-Z Loans is closed. Topkick was in fact in Parkland; it's now closed as well.]

I bought more DVDs at nearby Home Video Express than I would have otherwise because it turned out to be closing. I took a fifth 1 bus back north to near Parkland Transit Center, probably in Parkland, where I took a 55 bus (Pierce Transit) to Tacoma Mall in Tacoma. I cut through JC Penney and got pics of a life-sized Batman statue at fye. Leaving the mall I visited Atomic Comics. For one intersection the walk signal buttons were in the middle of the road, but still managed to cross to a shopping area where I visited Dollar Tree (got a pop) and Half Price Books (got lots of DVDs). 

 

[NOW: Home Video Express has closed. The latter shopping area is Rainier Plaza.]

I took a 57 bus (Pierce Transit) to downtown Tacoma.  I walked to Destiny Comics and Kings Books; I petted the cat who meowed at me first. I took a 13 bus (Pierce Transit) to Backstage Video, then took the same bus the other way to Tacoma Dome station. I visited Tacoma Book Center and then took a 590 bus (Sound Transit) to downtown Seattle, where I noticed my credit card was missing. I have no phone access but a friend is helping me investigate, but if was dropped on a bus in Tacoma, on the 590, or at Tacoma Dome station might not know until Monday. I took a C Rapidride then 5 bus north and got dinner at the McDonald's across from Seattle Center.

[NOW: The credit card never turned up but has since expired. Backstage Video, Destiny City Comics, and that McDonald's have closed.]

I  relaxed at the International Fountain at Seattle Center, but didn't take as many photos as usual, a bit tired from my injuries and distracted by the credit card thing. Live music and food trucks all over due to the Take a Bite Out of Seattle event. I returned to the hostel. Had to restart computer because AVG was interfering with my internet connection.

Pacific Northwest Trip 2018 Day 5 Thursday July 19: Olympia, Seattle, Auburn, Enunclaw, Federal Way, Fife

LAST UPDATED: December 28, 2025

This is the 5th of a series of posts dealing with my 2018 trip to Olympia, 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 early to plan for a bit of today. I walked to the Capitol and walked up the steps of the main building.  I took the usual path down to Capitol Lake and glimpsed a rabbit. I crossed a bridge to the west side and back. Had a bit more PTSD as I wandered the waterfront, where I saw many art pieces including a giant knife with a giant form holding a giant Strawberry. I walked along 4th to the Star Wars Mural and then doubled-back to Capitol St and worked by way back to Ground Inn.

 

[NOW: Ground Inn has closed.]

I don't think I've gone into the history of this trip in a group email. I was going to go to Spokane but no hostel there. Then it was one day in Port Angeles, three days in Olympia, three days in Tacoma, rest of time in Seattle. Only I couldn't get a firm commitment from a Tacoma hostel despite multiple attempts. Instead I moved those days to Seattle and heavily revised my itinerary, but a lot of the earlier plans remain. It's no coincidence that the next three days will focus heavily on areas south of Seattle.

[NOW: The above was written in the morning. The rest was written in the evening.]

I had breakfast at Ground Inn and then walked to Olympic Transit Center, where I took a 603 bus (Intercity Transit) to Discount World in Lakewood, which is being used as a temporary stop with the SR512 Park & Ride in repairs. I took a 594 bus (Sound Transit) to Seattle, using a prepaid daypass on my ORCA card; in Tacoma I managed to switch to the front seat. Getting off by Westlake Center, I walked to City Hostel Seattle and checked in. The room wasn't ready but I was able to store my baggage.

 

[NOW: Discount World's full name was Tacoma Discount World despite being in Lakewood. it's apparently now closed. City Hostel Seattle appears to have closed as well]. 

A bit ahead of schedule, I decided to take the 578 bus (Sound Transit) half an hour earlier than planned to Auburn Transit Center in Auburn to allow more time to wander there. Hills of Comics I knew wouldn't be open when I got there, but unfortunately it appears that some sort of emergency also closed for the day Comstock Books (it had a cat last I knew). It took a while to find a Burger King I had been to before for lunch; before I found it I visited Cascade Loan & Sporting Goods. I ordered to go at Burger King and returned to Auburn Transit Center, where I took a 915 Dart bus (King County Metro Transit) to Enumclaw.

[NOW: Comstock has since closed down.]

Enumclaw has a bit of a reputation due to an incident just outside of the town limits. It seems that some people there... really love their horses, and the fatal incident involving a guy calling himself Mr. Hands that brought this to light... the human body can handle lots of force of course, but not when the force comes from a male horse of course. If you are not sure what i am getting at, Google "Enumclaw horse" but don't do so at work.

The McDonald's there was under renovations so it's good that I didn't try to eat there as planned. I got some 99c DVDs at Enumclaw Bargain Center, including an Emmy submission set.  Very hard to find and no idea how one wound up in Enumclaw.

[NOW: The store above is also called Enumclaw Video and Pawn; it has since closed.]

The downtown core, where I got an Enumclaw guide book from Visitor's Info, has a statue of a horse in front of public restrooms (I got a laugh out of that given the unintended symbolism there). I visited Sequel Books and Espresso. Now here's the plot twist: while I wouldn't have visited had its reputation not made me curious, the downtown is actually very beautiful and the buildings are the archetypal small town America. So I actually recommend visiting here and will be back for sure. I'd have stayed longer, but the bus is hourly and I had lots I wanted to do today. I would have stayed longer though had the bus service been half hourly.

 

[NOW: Sequel Books and Espresso has closed.] 

I took the same 915 bus back to Auburn Station, then transferred to a 578 bus (Sound Transit) bus to Federal Way Transit Center in Federal Way. I visited Action City Comics & Toys and took shots of the space where Al's Music Games Videos used to be. It's still fenced off from last year's fire but the debris is gone now. I visited West Coast Sports Cards, decided to skip Barnes & Noble after realizing I had overshot it, then took a 500 bus (Pierce Transit) to Fantasium Comics & Games. I wandered around, having to wait a while for the next 500 bus. I would have tried dashing to the next stop but there was construction.

 

[NOW: Fantasium Comics & Games has closed.]

It finally came and took it to Fife, where I got an ice cream from a 7-11. I wandered to explore the sections on both the north and south ends highway in between) but there didn't appear to be any way for pedestrians to do so. Another 500 bus heading to Tacoma went by sooner than expected, but managed to snag one going the other way back to Federal Way Transit Center, where I took the 578 Sound Transit bus yet again, to near Westlake Center. Fife put me a bit on edge, didn't feel right so I wouldn't attempt the north end again.

I took an E Rapidride bus (King County Metro Transit) to near my hostel, where I got my key card and dropped off some things. I walked to Seattle Center, where I took a quick look at the International Fountain before having dinner at Mod Pizza in Seattle Center Armory. I returned to the fountain and rested there a while, watching the water jet and enjoying the music. Not many people there as it's been overcast all day. According to one song the bluest skies you've ever seen are in Seattle. That may be true but they're often covered by clouds so it's hard to tell sometimes. Sitting there I noticed a minor snag for tomorrow regarding an opening time but think I have a solution there that won't radically alter my plans.

I cut through Seattle Center Armory and left Seattle Center, on the way passing Sonic Bloom. The conceit is the giant flowers looking like sunflowers make musical sounds; last trip I figured out that it's really the discs beside the flowers. I walked to 7-11 then to Rite Aid, where I got ID'd buying beer. I told the guy I like being ID'd now that I'm in my 40s. Arriving back in the hostel, I found a woman sitting on my bed playing with her handheld device; probably from the bunk above me.  She moved when she saw me but didn't apologize. I didn't press this even though I found it was rude to sit on someone else's bed without asking. I did spread things on my bed before heading downstairs to type this. Hope she takes the hint.

[NOW: Rite Aid is now defunct. No further incidents with her.]

Pacific Northwest Trip 2018 Day 4 Wednesday July 18: Olympia, Centralia, Chehalis

LAST UPDATED: December 28, 2025

This is the 4th of a series of posts dealing with my 2018 trip to Olympia, 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”.

Typing this outside even though my vision isn't as good outside, getting in some fresh air. Overcast this morning. As I was about to leave Ground Inn, I noticed my memory card had a little over 1,000 pictures left so I went and grabbed another, correctly figuring I would need it before breakfast.  I was to the Capitol and wandered around there. As I started on the winding path to Capitol Lake, I saw a fawn I think (maybe a doe; no antlers). It watched me as I photographed it until a jogger went by. I walked along Capitol Lake a bit, then downtown, then back to the hostel for breakfast.

The forecast was for rain (didn't happen) so I packed my coat. I walked to the Greyhound Depot, explored Sylvester Park across the street a bit and then returned to the depot for the 40 bus (Gray's Harbor Transit). For my destination, the driver, a friendly East Indian guy who recognized me from yesterday, recommended a cheaper and faster alternative for my return, RT, which goes to Tumwater (which I knew was part of Greater Olympia). 

 

[NOW: That Greyhound Depot has moved.] 

I took the bus to Elma Station in Elma, where I had a 90-minute layover; around McCleary en route I saw a group of horses who all had different colours; I also briefly got off and on the bus in McCleary for fresh air, so technically I've now been to McCleary.

Leaving Elma Station I walked east and south, crossing the highway to Vance Creek Park, the bulk of which is Bowers Lake. I circled the lake, seeing two baby rabbits. Heading back towards downtown, to kill time I visited Shell's Food Mart and Chevron's Astro Express Mart. In downtown Elma I visited Elma Dollar and Thrift and Elma Variety. A store called just General Store was not yet open. Back at Elma I took a small shuttle 45 bus (Grays Harbor Transit) to Centralia Amtrak in Centralia. While I had gone from zone 2 to zone 1 earlier, my transfer only covered zone 1, so I had to pay another $2. I had to surrender the transfer but took photos of it earlier, expecting that.

[NOW: The park is actually just outside of Elma city limits. Elma Dolloar and Thrift and Elma Variety Store have since closed.]

In Centralia, Anderson Books wasn't open. I visited Tillikum Books & Bindery, Cosmic Comics and Games, Book Quest. I wanted to walk to my nest stop, but the route took me to an area where pedestrians were prohibited, so I doubled back a ways and took a 30 bus (Twin Cities Transit) to Yard Birds in Chehalis. Yard Birds is a flea market setup. One store there, 10,000 Titles was pretty well organized so I bought a few DVDs there. Another place whose name I blanking on (Cowlitz Movies?) had a large selection of $1 movies but not order for the most part so I didn't buy any. After lunch at a nearby McDonald's I walked to the downtown core of Chehalis. There I visited Diversified Games and Books 'N Brush. The downtown core was nice, so I wandered randomly. The library has a nice statue and a nice staircase to the entrance so i got photos from the top of the steps.

[NOW: Cosmic Comics and Games, Book Quest, and 10,000 Titles have since closed. The other Yard Birds store was probably Cowlitz River Antiques, also now closed. The McDonald’s is on Median St.]

One bit of bad news: A routing for the bus back changed and there was no notification at the old stop so I missed a bus I needed to connect to one that runs hourly. I took a later 30 bus (again Twin Cities Transit) back to the Centralia Amtrak Station after a 12 driver (same) pointed out the correct stop. I wanted to explore downtown Centralia more, but my OCD insisted I walk to Fords Prairie even though the bus there was long gone so I did a long walk. I grabbed some water at a Safeway in the broad vicinity of Fords Prairie.  I'm pretty sure I made it to that municipality despite lack of signage, asking for help a few times.

[NOW: It appears according to Google Maps that the Safeway is in Fords Prairie itself, but that area is thought of as Centralia by most people.]

Returning on foot to downtown Centralia, I visited Star Exchange and wandered downtown a bit, partly in search of an RT schedule. One tourist info place had no schedules and told me they recently changed the times. Anderson Books was still locked. An Amtrak dealer figured from an older RT schedule they ran at 4 and 5.

I explored a tiny bit more, not as much as I would have liked, then saw a  4 RT bus (Rural Transit) arrive before the Grays Harbor bus. The driver confirmed that I could take that bus and connect to another to Tumwater for $1 so I got on. I could have gotten on one hour later and explored more but had to make a fast decision. It turns out their transfer system is at timing spots, whichever bus arrives first waits for the other, then they exchange connecting passengers. In Tenino I switched to the 2 RT bus and took it to Tumwater Square, Tumwater. A 13 Intercity Transit bus was arriving so I took it to downtown Olympia.  So in a third of the time or less I paid $2.25 instead of $5.

I was hungry but decided to visit Heritage Park Fountain first, as it was very nice out now. Across the street, closer to the waterfront, there was a group protesting Trump. The group wasn't that big but numerous drivers honked their support. My camera problems seemed to finally clear up, though it remains to be seen if that will continue the rest of the trip. No real lost photos today.

I  got plenty of photos before deciding to head to the McDonald's from previous days, visiting Orca Books again en route; no cat. After dinner I returned to the fountain; most of the protestors were gone but a few were left for a few more minutes. One woman at the fountain was letting her kid run naked so I was careful to keep the kid out of any fountain photos I took. I took the usual path past Capitol Lake to the Capitol, seeing a rabbit briefly. I revisited Tivoli Fountain there before returning to Ground Inn to type this outside.

[NOW: Orca Books has moved. Ground Inn has closed.]

Pacific Northwest Trip 2018 Day 3 Tuesday July 17: Olympia, Aberdeen, Hoquiam, Cosmopolis

LAST UPDATED: December 28, 2025

This is the 3rd of a series of posts dealing with my 2018 trip to Olympia, 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”.

First a few oversights from yesterday. Near the Sequim Restrooms I sat down briefly at the small park Seal Street Park. Not small by the standards of Mill Ends Park in Portland but small by most other standards. Riding the bus from Lacey to Olympia I found a notice that SR512 Park & Ride has temporarily closed. Given that I had planned to switch buses there on Thursday I appreciated the heads up. At the Capitol there's a drinking fountain by Tivoli Fountain which you turn on using a foot pedal.

NEW: I left Ground Inn and walking to the Capitol, then took the winding path to Capitol Lake. I had a bit of PTSD doing that walk. I crossed bridges to the east side and back, then wandered around the waterfront, looking at art pieces, including one looking like a fable pig. I wandered downtown some more, including Sylvester Park. I returned to the hostel for breakfast. Unfortunately the only toast they had had raisins in it.

 

[NOW: Ground Inn has closed.]

I walked to the Greyhound Depot, where the Gray's Harbor Transit bus I wanted (all buses today that service; this was the 40) was there but not yet loading. I walked across the street to Sylvester Lake, then walked to Capitol Lake and back. The fare was $2 for zone 2 and $1 for zone 1 so I asked if I could pay $5 to get the $3 zone 1 daypass; I could and did. The weather became overcast as we went west.

 

[NOW: Olympia's Greyhound Depot has closed.]

I took the bus to Aberdeen Transit Center in of course Aberdeen, nearly two hours. I accidentally left my maps of places along the way at the hostel, but that's okay. They weren't that interesting and I decided I'd prefer to spend more time in Greater Aberdeen area. I crossed the street to Ride Aid and back. By then the 20 bus was there. The right side was almost full on my preferred right side, so I sat on the left, but then enough parents with kids showed up that I could get away with switching to the last seat on the right.

 

[NOW; Rite Aid is defunct.] 

This particular run to Hoquiam wasn't supposed to detour to the hospital but did anyway. Then there was a long pause due to a drawbridge being up. So a 15 minute bus ride took around half an hour.  I wandered around Hoquiam a bit after getting off at Hoquiam Transit Center, looking for a particular store that I thought was in Hoquiam but proved to be in Aberdeen. One grocery store the Asian owner didn't seem to understand me. Lots of DVDs there but I didn't get any.

Here the trip started to take a seriously wrong turn: I turned my camera back on and got a lens error so there was a period where I couldn't get pictures, and my other camera was back in Olympia. Finally out of frustration I whacked it and it started to work again. Then it stopped working until changed that battery. Now it worked for the rest of today aside from very brief lens error, but is still in less than perfect shape: even when off the lens is extended the way it should be when it’s on. So I will have to carry my backup camera and batteries with me at all times. Only, the largest section of my backpack is prone to splitting every so often each day, so will have to carry the extra camera and its batteries separately so the camera doesn't drop during a backpack split.

[NOW: I’ve since replaced the backpack. The camera worked for the rest of the trip.]

I crossed the bridge along Simpson to the east side of Hoquiam (I wanted to do this three years ago but they were doing bridge work then) and walked along, getting a few freebies at a Visitor Info Center just after crossing back over from Hoquiam to Aberdeen. I found the store i was looking for earlier (Sucher & Sons, mostly a Star Wars store) right by Aberdeen Transit Center. The place is practically a museum for Star Wars stuff, with a small amount of other memorabilia. The guy clearly loves his work. He was so enthusiastic that I bought a Star Wars drink cup because I would have felt bad not buying anything.

 

[NOW: Sucher & Sons has closed.] 

I went to Jack in the Box for lunch, but no one was at the counter, so after a few minutes I left and crossed a bridge to the east side of Aberdeen. I checked to see if KFC has the Tuesday deal in the US. They didn't, but I got two large pieces of chicken, two biscuits, a drink, a cookie, and a decent sided container of mashed potatoes and gravy for $5.99. I considered going to the Walmart across the street but was getting mindful about the time. There is another bridge back to the west side but the pedestrian area was closed, so I returned to the earlier bridge and crossed over, then crossed another bridge to the south end of Aberdeen. I walked south to Shopping at Riverside. In that mall I got a couple DVDs at Videogame Nuts, then took a 10S bus back to Aberdeen Transit Center.

 

[NOW: Videogame Nuits has closed.]

There the 30 bus I wanted was late leaving but finally I was able to Cosmopolis. Cosmopolis is about as inversely interesting as its name. In fact the only thing that really caught my eye was the Chevron. I did a dash and managed to intercept the 30 on its way back to Aberdeen, where I again got off at the Transit Center.

I had about a hour to kill so I got a couple cans of ice tea at the Rite Aid (with my Wellness Card they cost me total a little over $1). I noticed a snake statue in one outdoor part of the store. I visited a grocery store whose name was something like Jo's Deli and then Dream Secondhand Store. I saw a diner made to look like a 1950s Shell Station. I returned to Aberdeen Transit Center. The return bus trip was 90 minutes and there was a washroom for patrons only, so I found a help window and showed a woman inside my daypass, so she pressed a button to unlock the bathroom.

[NOW: The deli was probably Joe's Deli. Dream Secondhand Thrift Store has closed. The diner, also now closed, was Scoops Ice Cream and Coffee.]

I took the 40 bus back to downtown Olympia. I revisited Rainy Day Records (bought a couple movies; one on Blu-ray was called Cosmopolis so I couldn't resist the irony of buying that today), Orca Books (didn't see the cat), Left Bank Books.

 

[NOW: Orca Books has moved.]

I went to the same McDonald's as yesterday. At various places they try to explain how to use the Visa card when I use tap. I always explain that it's working and when they say they didn’t know you could do that, I tell them that we've had it in Canada a while. I then walked to Heritage Park Fountain and relaxed there briefly and then to Danger Room Comics.

[NOW: This McDonald’s is on Plum Rd.]

I returned to the hostel and dropped off my backpack. I walked to the Capitol where I saw a couple rabbits. I took the same path to Capitol Lake as earlier today; a jogging team was using the path as well. I passed Heritage Park Fountain and made my way to the Market Square by the waterfront. I walked east  to the East Bay before returning to the hostel.

Pacific Northwest Trip 2018 Day 2 Monday July 16: Port Angeles to Olympia & Area

This is the 2nd of a series of posts dealing with my 2018 trip to Olympia, 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”.

Only got about three hours sleep. Partly new environment/not used to others being in room while I sleep, but new cell is power guzzlers and no outlet by my bed so was preoccupied with making sure it lasted today. So I'm typing this mostly to kill time as phone charges.

Dog owned by one of the hostel workers wandered around a bit, mostly wanting to be let outside to be with its human dad. Didn't want to socialize with me much but did come over once for a quick lick and let me pet it for a second. Bathroom floor map, probably to keep people from slipping as they exit the shower, has beer caps attached all over.

Phone won't be charged before I want to leave but if it does shut down I can use my camera as a timepiece.

[NOW: The above was written in the morning. The rest was written in the evening.]

I left ToadLily House at around sunrise and did a short walk along downtown Port Angeles; someone was already at Port Book and News, likely related to a broken window. At Gateway Transit Center I took a 30 Commuter bus (Clallam Transit) to Sequim ("e" is silent); en route I passed Fred's Guns, which still had up its banner "We sell AR15s because we're not Dick's" (Dick's Sporting Goods stopping selling ARs after the Florida shootings); I'm anti-ARs myself but have to admit that's a good pun. I had breakfast at McDonald's.

[NOW: ToadLily House International Hostel has closed. That McDonald’s has since changed its interior layout. Fred's Guns, now closed, was in Carlsborg, though with a Sequim address.]

I walked to Sequim Public Restrooms; loud classic music there as usual, likely to discourage loitering. At Sequim Transit Center I took an 8 bus (Jefferson Transit; got daypass) to the Four Corners transit exchange just south of Port Townsend. There a woman with a disability asked me if we have cops and illegal activities in Canada; I said we're very comparable to the US that way in the broad sense. She said that someone told her we didn't so it must have changed. I didn't have the heart to tell her that someone must have pranked her. I took a 1 bus (Jefferson Transit) to Triton Cover, Brinnon; along the way I saw a Burger Shack whose front looked like the nose of an airplane. I got some nice shots of the water at the cove.

I took an 8 bus (Mason Transit) to Shelton. Along the way a couple outside a car and not at a stop waved at her. She was going too fast to stop so she radioed in. At a later stop they caught up to us. It turns out the woman wanted to get on and her boyfriend(?) started cussing at the driver. The woman threatened to report the driver but then was quiet the rest of the trip. In Shelton, thankfully avoiding an hours long layover like my visit years ago resulting from a schedule, I was able to get on a 6 bus (Mason Transit) in short order; I considered going to a nearby Bank of America (Scotiabank is affiliated with them) but decided not to chance it.

I took this bus to Olympia, grabbed some money at Bank of America, and dropped off my stuff at Ground Inn (a hostel); the woman didn't want the money at that point; I wrote down the entry code. I walked to a nearby McDonald's. It took a while to prepare so I packed most of the food and walked to a nearby bus stop. I got on a 66 bus (all buses rest of the day Intercity Transit). This is the route to Lacey that passes a cemetery near Phoenix Rd, optimistically enough.

[NOW: Ground Inn has closed. This particular McDonald’s is on Plum Rd. There are two others in Olympia]

I got off in Lacey, where I visited Olympic Cards & Comics. I wanted to visit Boomerang because it's closing (music, movies) but it's not open Mondays; slim chance I'll get there tomorrow. I took the next bus that came along, 68, a slightly indirect route back to Olympia, specifically Olympia Transit Center. There I really had to go but the men's washroom was locked and the ladies was unlocked. When it looked like another impatient guy was about to use it I decided to go for it, since I was in severe distress and the bathrooms are basically the unisex type. I wouldn't normally do it but it was that or mess myself. As I exited a woman declared how she hates going to the bathroom after a f--king man; well, it was upset her or upset pretty much everyone else.

[NOW: I wasn’t able to make it to Boomerang before they closed down.]

I took a 48 bus to Capital (sic) Mall. I missed a shortcut I wanted but still made it to my next destinations, Barnes & Noble and Half Price Books Outlet (got a DVD at the latter). I nearly made it back to the mall using the shortcut, but saw a 47 bus about the turn the corner so I took it to Heritage Fountain, which has jets shooting up. I cooled off there and then walked to Danger Room Comics, Browsers' Bookstore,  Rainy Day Records (I bought some movies), Orca Books (took pics of the perennially sleeping cat), Star Wars Mural, Left Bank Books.

 

[NOW: Orca Books has moved.]

Returning to Olympia Transit Center, I took the 94 bus to Yelm, fighting the urge to nod off; Yelm is okay, but don't need to revisit. At A Novel Bookstore, I bought some Blu-rays. The guy said my credit card declined so I paid cash. That woke me up a bit, but that's not the first time that's happened so I made myself reserve judgement until the next place. I wandered along and then took a 94 bus back to the hostel.

I paid cash as per their preference. I wanted to have dinner at Jack in the Box near the McDonald's I ate at earlier, but it was being renovated so I returned to the earlier McDonald's; my credit card worked. I walked back to the fountain; I didn't go in though one woman went in in her underwear; not really my type. Was careful not to take too many photos; even without her the kids there make it a place I don't want to take too many photos of and give people the wrong idea.

I walked along Capitol Lake and took a winding path to the make area of the Washington State Capitol; I sat briefly at Tivoli Fountain. I was pretty beat so even though it was not yet 7, I just wandered a little bit  more including the Olympia Timberwood Library before returning to the hostel around 7.