Pacific Northwest Trip 2018 Day 12 Thursday July 26: Seattle, Tukwila, Kent, Renton

UPDATED: February 12, 2021 

This is the 12th 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”.

Still managing to get up before 6 each day of the trip except maybe day 1, but that day my trip didn't even start until mid-day.  I walked to Seattle Center and got some more money from a Bank of America machine. I walked to Washington State Convention Center and Freeway Park, then Rachel the Pig(gy bank) at Pike Place Market. I crossed over to the waterfront and walked to the observation area at Pier 66 (same place I visited on laundry day), then returned to City Hostel Seattle for breakfast.

I took a D Rapidride bus (all buses today King County Metro Transit unless noted) downtown and entered Westlake Station, Downtown Transit Tunnel. I seem to have just missed a bus I wanted, so took tunnel photos until the 150 bus arrived. I took it to Westfield Southcenter in Tukwila.

I walked to the nearby Barnes & Noble and Target, then visited Tukwila Pond Park, a nice nature area. Someone had disposed of a number of shopping carts at the end of the pond. I walked to Half Price Books and got a DVD set I think, Returning to Southcenter, I got a DVD set at f.y.e. (for your entertainment) and then took a 150 bus to near Kmart. I got some DVD sets at Kmart and then got a drink at Rite Aid.

[NOW: The Kmart, now closed, was in Kent.]

I was expecting to get on a 183 bus but a 914 bus came first and when I mentioned going to Renton, the driver suggested getting on and transferring to a 169 bus. I think my original plan would have been slightly faster but not by much. After doing said transfer I got off the bus at a combo A&W/KFC, getting a KFC meal again. I visited Comic Hut and Liberty Park, then Renton Transit Center. I could have taken an earlier bus but decided to wait for one half an hour later to explore Renton a bit more. I visited the Visitor's info. A guy there offered me water but I was afraid it would lead to a conversation and wasn't feeling chatty so I declined.

 

[NOW: Comic Hut has closed.]

Returning to the Transit Center, I took a 560 bus (Sound Transit) to Bellevue Transit Center in Bellevue; I struggled to stay awake on the bus and to remember to keep taking pictures. At Bellevue Transit Center I thought the bus I wanted was a 217, but I saw a 271 up ahead so checked and confirmed that that was the bus I wanted, so I got on just as he was pulling out.

Making it to Seattle's University District, aside from a couple of places checked for pop, I visited Magus bookstore, Bulldog News, University Bookstore, Neptune Music (got a DVD set), Al's Music Games Videos (got a DVD set), and Scarecrow Video (got more DVDs; Scarecrow is one of the best remaining video stores in the Pacific Northwest). After a visit to The Dreaming (comic shop) I walked to the University Village, just outside of the U District. The sidewalk ended on the road and didn't want to cross where I was so I tried a detour that took longer than expected. 

 

[NOW: The Dreaming has closed.]

Finally making it there I saw various statues, some also fountains (a Stonehenge fountain and Water Frolic; frogs spitting) and visited Amazon Books, though I would never buy anything at their brick and mortar store. I took a more roundabout way than expected to University of Washington Station but there I took a Link train (Sound Transit) to Capitol Hill.

I was pretty weighed down and have Capitol Hill on my itinerary for tomorrow, but I wanted to get to the pop machine with the mystery buttons at least. I visited Phoenix Comics along the way. Much to my dismay the pop machine, one of Seattle's great landmarks was gone. I visited Rite Aid and then took an 8 bus to near Seattle Center. I got dinner at McDonald's and then crossed the street to Seattle Center and relaxed  for a couple hours at the International Fountain. A number of dogs were there including a white German shepherd puppy. I went in the fountain to cool off, knowing that I was really sweaty, and then returned to the hostel.

[NOW: it appears that the owner of the pop machine has been taking it on tour of Seattle. It’s still around but hard to predict where it will turn up next.]