Pacific Northwest Trip 2018 Day 11 Wednesday July 25: Seattle, Everett, Lynnwood; Greenwood Parade

LAST UPDATED: December 28, 2025

This is the 11th 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 walked from City Hostel Seattle to Westlake Station, Downtown Transit Tunnel, where I added money to my ORCA card (probably a little too much: $20 vs $10) and put some of the money towards three more daypasses.

 

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

After a stopover at downtown’s 7-11 I visited Rachel the Pig(gy bank) at Pike Place Market and then walked to the Harbor Steps. Across the street from the Steps is Seattle Art Museum and its Hammering Man, a sculpture whose arm moves up and down except on Labor Day. As for the Steps themselves, they are very wide and are very friendly to people who like to do stairs slowly, as there are tables and chairs in sections of the steps, as well as a fountain. I headed further south through the Pioneer Square District to CenturyLink Field (aka CLink) and Safeco Field, doubling back to the former field, where one area normally blocked off was open, allowing me to go up some steps and get shots of the field through railings, plus shots of the area away from the field from the top of the steps.

 

[NOW: The two sports fields are now Lumen Field and T-Mobile Park, respectively.] 

I went to the International District's Hing Hay Park and then walked to International District/Chinatown Station, where I took a Link train (Sound Transit) back to Westlake Station. I took a 5 bus (King County Metro Transit) back to the hostel.

 

[NOW: The Central Link train is now Line 1.]

After breakfast I took a 62 bus (King County Metro Transit) back downtown where I got on a 512 bus (Sound Transit) and again got the front of a doubledecker bus. I took the bus to S Everett Freeway Station in Everett. There was lots of time before the next bus so I found a path that I figured would take me to my next destination. For the most part it did faster than expected and soon I was at Everett Mall. I cut through that and walked to Half Price Books across the street. I nearly paid $15 for a Pam Grier DVD set, but then noticed then had the same set in clearance for $10.

[NOW: The trail is Interurban Trail.]

I got on a 7 bus (Everett Transit, apparently celebrating its 125th anniversary) and took it to downtown Everett. I got some DVDs at Bargain CDs. I bought a $2 DVD at Sound Loan but unfortunately either forgot to pack it after buying or it dropped out somewhere between there and the parade I went to in the evening. I visited Everett Comics and then passed some school's blueberry festival en route to a bus stop.

I should have stuck to my original plan of taking a bus to Ash Way Park & Ride and transferring from there, but instead I took the 202 bus (Community Transit) to Lynnwood Transit Center) and then tried walking to Barnes & Noble, thinking I knew the area better than I did. I briefly visited a 7-11. A KFC I was interested in proved too expensive. I bought some DVDs at a Silver Platters I had planned to visit later. I accidentally found myself at Alderwood Mall, famished and dehydrated, but found their food court still too expensive even in my current state; by this point was tied of how the exchange rate affects prices. I saw some of the outdoor sculptures including a horse and got on a 196 bus (Community Transit) which took me past the Barnes & Noble I had given up visiting.

At James Village, Trader Joe's had cheap refreshments, but none cold. I found a cold drink at Safeway. I stood outside Half Price Books to drink it, and someone was confronting a driver who had apparently helped himself to music CDs outside the store; the worker brought in someone from the store to take over. I went in and when I left the second guy was still talking to the driver.

I got on a Blue Swift bus (Community Transit; buses like Rapidride where you can tap an ORCA card ahead of time and get on at any door). Realizing I needed lunch soon even if wasn't feeling too hungry due to heat, I got off the bus at a McDonald’s in Edmonds. It took a while for the next Swift bus to arrive, so I missed my connection at Aurora Transit Center in Shoreline. Instead I got on an E Rapidride bus (remaining buses today King County Metro Transit) and got off roughly close to my destination, but further away than intended.

I walked to Reckless Video and then took a 67 bus to Northgate Mall. I visited Barnes and Noble, then walked and took a 40 bus to Greenwood Ave. I walked along the near future parade route, leaving to visit Couth Buzzard Books and Phinney Books. Returning to the parade route,, I visited Dreamstrands Comics. The dealer couldn't get my Visa card to work so instead of charging me $11 Visa, he took my eight remaining one dollar bills. I got Savage Dragon Archives Volume 2. Savage Dragon is... one of those series where you know what you're getting into. I wouldn't pay too much, but cheap B&W reprints in thick editions make for okay dumb beach reading. I walked along the parade route some more, and bought a salad and flavoured water at Fred Meyer. I found a seating area for the Greenwood Parade.

 

[NOW: Reckless Video has closed. Dreamstrands is moving.] 

The parade started a bit late. Some of the chronology below might be slightly off. I saw, after an early lull, the motorcycle police, followed by another lengthy lull. Normally this parade has only one long lull.  A guy gave me a bottled water after the parade resumed. The “Repent” Christians from last year crashed the parade again, this time without megaphone. A kid dropped a candy package on the ground for me. I saw a band from Calgary(!), the Seattle Seahawks helmet float, Lake City Western Vigilantes with their bouncy van, and a group of marchers whose music sounded like it had swearing in the rap, but admittedly I couldn't make out the words.

I was standing at a temporarily closed bus stop and one of the Seattle Seafair Clowns made a joke about it before putting a sticker on my forehead. I move it to my shirt but it fell off at some point. Then came the Keystone Kops (and prisoners) and the Barbie Dream Hearse. Finally the Seattle Seafair Pirates came. One gave me a couple stickers. As usual they had their "ship" that fires a loud cannon. I shot video, but likely like last year, it will turn out that the video muffles the sound a bit.

[NOW: It did. Ronald McDonald was absent this year unlike most previous years.]

I walked along the parade route a little ways and then walked to Aurora and got on another E Rapidride bus. Fare enforcement offices got on and a couple people were caught. One was given a warning, but when it was time to get off, one passenger got to continue his conversation with the four officers outside the bus. I got off near the hostel.

Pacific Northwest Trip 2018 Day 10 Tuesday July 24: Seattle, Bellingham, Mt. Vernon, Burlington

This is the 10th 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”.

Cut my early morning walk a little short because today might be the most challenging day of the trip and I want to be rested for it.

Got up and visited Seattle Center, with the International Fountain as expected closed for cleaning. Walked to the nearly Bartell Drugs and Metropolitan Market, then briefly returned to Seattle Center. Worked my way downtown to Pike Place Market and got a particularly nice shot of Rachel the Pig(gy bank). Passed the gum wall (blech) to the former location of the hostel I stayed at the first year, the now-closed Youth Hostel International hostel on Union St; years later YHI opened a new hostel in the International District. Returned to Pike Place Market before returning to City Hostel Seattle.

[NOW: Bartell Drugs is defunct. City Hostel Seattle appears to have closed.The International District Hostel, which I’ve never stayed at, is American Hotel.]

Other updates: Kept forgetting to mention: in Olympia they disable the street lights in the morning, presumably to allow faster travel during low traffic periods. Still suffering from PTSD from events outside the trip this year; this will likely continue but I don't want to bog the reports down mentioning each instance. Camera still working okay since fixing itself. One shoe is falling apart, but only on the side, so feet comfortable more or less. Physically largely feeling okay from my spill, though I bumped my bad elbow yesterday. Back section of backpack with the bad zipper still splitting open from time to time. I can always correct this but sometimes it takes a few tries, which is partly why I'm risking leaving my backup camera at the hostel today.

[NOW: The above was written in the morning. The rest was written in the evening. The backpack and shoes have since been replaced.]

After breakfast at City Hostel Seattle I took a 5x bus (King County Metro Transit) downtown, where I transferred to a 512 bus (Sound Transit) to Everett Station in Everett. It was a doubledecker bus, my first such ride in the Seattle area, and I snagged a front seat.

In Everett Station I got on a 90x bus (Skagit Transit). The driver couldn't figure out how to set the bus for a Skagit-Whatcom daypass, so he let me ride for free, hoping the next bus would solve it. I got off at Skagit Station in Mt. Vernon, and switched to an 80x bus. I accidentally left my camera case with phone, credit card, ORCA card and backup Visa card on the 90x bus but another passenger noticed and brought it over. I bought the above daypass.

I took the 80x bus to Lincoln Park & Ride to Bellingham, where I switched to a 5 bus (Whatcom Transit) to the Fairhaven area. A crazy lady and her partner got on and instead of sitting in one of the many empty seating areas on the bus she opted to sit where she partly blocked my exit. Still managed to get off. Moondance Comics is closed Monday-Wednesday but I did visit Village Books and Eclipse Books.

I took a 1 bus (Whatcom Transit) to Bellingham Station (downtown) and briefly left downtown for lunch at McDonald's.  I'm not sure where downtown actually begins but I worked my way there via Cosmic Games, Henderson Books (probably downtown at this point), and Aladdin's Antiques (on a lower level of a different antique store whose name escapes me). Comics Place looked familiar so I suspect that it was a comic shop I visited in the 1980s; the woman working there said it opened thirty years ago so the timing sounds right.

[NOW: Cosmic Games has moved. The other store in the same building as Aladdin’s Antiques is Penny Lane Antique Mall.]

Great Northern Books claimed at the entrance to be an adult shop. Here is where my autism did something interesting: I looked in and couldn't spot any actual books so I left, but I couldn't tell you what was actually there, be it adult toys or other things; it wasn't anything that I was looking for so I didn't take in what was there. I did consider reentering but decided I didn't want to know. I visited Avalon Music, then after a brief visit to Bellingham Station, bought a few DVDs at Everyday Music (part of the same chain found in Greater Portland and in Seattle). I walked to a Public Market and bought a DVD at Mt. Baker Books. I exited the market and reentered through a different entrance to another store a bit separate from the rest, which is about to move: Film is Truth 24 Times a Second. Bought some DVDs there; I don't think I've ever visited a video store with that long a name before.

[NOW: Great Northern Books, Avalon Music, that Everyday Music has closed. The market, Bellingham Public Market is also now closed with Mt. Baker Books along with it. Film is Truth 24 Times a Second relocated before closing as well.]

I did some random wandering around and then returned to Bellingham Station, where I got on an 80x bus (this time Whatcom Transit,  but same routing as the earlier Skagit Transit bus; throughout the day Whatcom buses had trouble with my pass, but still managed to get on. After getting on I noticed my passport was missing.

 

Returning to Skagit Station, I checked there for the passport but it wasn't there. I then had to wait to explore Mt. Vernon due to a long train passing by.  I got a map at Visitor Info and then visited Easton books.  I ended up skipping Edgewater Park for time (also Kmart in Bellingham). I walked a ways and took a 205 bus (Skagit Transit; no pass issues) north a ways; a 208 bus would have been better but the timing didn't work. I walked the rest of the way to comic shop Docking Bay 93. I then crossed a bridge over Skagit River to Burlington, where I bought dinner at McDonald's before returning to Mt. Vernon. It was a while before the next 208 bus came so I walked a ways and caught the 205 again instead to Skagit Station. I transferred to the 90x bus (Skagit Transit) where the driver explained that the bus wasn't  good on buses to and from Everett. I paid $2 more and got off in Everett Station.

[NOW: The Kmart that I didn’t get to has since closed.]

I got on another 512 bus (Sound Transit) and again got the front seat, though mid way I needed to move over to the side for another passenger. I got off at Westlake Station and rummaged through my luggage for my passport. No luck there or in my locker, but I lifted the mattress at the wall side of the bed and found it much to my relief. The other people in the dorms had been curious but when I showed them the passport they understood why I had been frantically rummaging around. I had two bottles in the fridge filled with water and drank them both, a bit dehydrated.

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.]