Camp Long (North Delridge) and the Chinese Garden at SSCC (Riverview)

Four years, 2,722 miles and 6 pairs of shoes after starting, I have finally completed my goal of walking every street in the City of Seattle!

This morning, my husband and I walked 4 miles, most of them along the trails of Camp Long. They are not really streets but this was an excellent way to end my adventure. We talked with the helpful people in the Environmental Learning Center, heard birds chirping and saw a few squirrels. We noted picnic shelters and the ten cabins available for rent to urban campers.

We were impressed by Schurman Rock

and another climbing challenge built by the Works Public Administration in 1939-1940

but not as impressed as we were with the Ropes Course where we stopped to watch a crew of Seattle Mountain Rescue volunteers teaching others to navigate these challenges.

















Oh to be 40 years younger!

At one point, we walked the Lower Loop trail and wound up in the West Seattle Golf Course

then had to retrace our steps to get back into Camp Long and its Challenge Course.

Leaving Camp Long, we went to South Seattle Community College to see the Chinese Garden

whose peaceful courtyard reminded us a little of the Chinese Scholar's Garden in Vancouver, BC.

We will return to visit this garden and the adjoining Arboretum again.

For this last walk, I wore my Walking on the Moon socks from Walk On Socks; they were very comfortable! I came home and downloaded a We the Peepers app so that I'll be ready for my upcoming visit with my grandson. (Shameless plugs for some good businesses:-) )

Now that I have completed my walks, I plan to return to some areas for Seattle experiences. I'll start by marching in the Sounder's pre-game parade (did that) and riding the Big Wheel (did that too and ate at Pizzeria Gabbiano - yum, yum). I plan to revise the list of Seattle Gems and make copies it and the index of walks by neighborhood so that they will be the first posts visitors will see. But blog revisions can wait for a while so that I can enjoy the accomplishment and consider what I have learned.

Happy walking!

South Park, Highland Park and the Industrial Area

It is a good thing that I still have one walk left to go because I wouldn't have wanted to end this adventure along the 8.3 miles of industrial streets I walked today.  My route included streets between 509 and 99 and others clustered around 509, West Marginal Way and the 1st Avenue South Bridge.

Crossing the bridge, I came to Georgetown before turning around and walking back to the Industrial Area and South Park. This walk was not as scenic as the walks across the Aurora, Montlake and Fremont Bridges.

Back in the Industrial Area, I spotted lots of trucks heading into the Port of Seattle's Terminal 115 and what I think was formerly the location of Nickelsville.

Between the bridge and 2nd Avenue, I followed a sign for View Point Park and came across a sad looking waterfront scene consisting of a bench under a tree. Signs indicated that MARSEC 1 Security Measures were in effect at a nearby facility.

Seattle Public Utility's South Transfer Station and a hazardous waste disposal station are south of Highland Park Way and I noticed an aroma that seemed almost sickly sweet.

Detroit Avenue (west of 509) appears to be the home a school bus barn. Sullivan Street (east of 509) has some new pricy-looking townhouse construction built almost next to 99 (and just across the street from the Coast Crane Company equipment storage yard).

I started this walk hoping to visit the Duwamish Longhouse further north on West Marginal Way but it was closed. I had also intended to walk a few nearby streets that I thought I had missed by walking along the Duwamish Trail the last time I was in this area. I discovered that there were no safe places to walk along the street in places where the trail was nearby. One thing I have learned in my walks is that if a trail or footpath is supplied, it's best to use it rather than try to walk near traffic.

This was not my favorite walk but it did get me very close to my goal.

Joyous Easter

No walk today but wishing Easter blessings for everyone.

Mid Beacon Hill and the Chief Sealth Trail

Today's walk wrapped up some loose ends on Beacon Hill. A friend and I walked the Chief Sealth Trail from 51st Avenue South and South Gazelle Street to 15th Avenue South and South Angeline Street and then turned around and walked back to 15th and Gazelle.

Our 10.3 mile walk was hilly but we were rewarded with views of Mount Rainier, Lake Washington, the Cascades and the Olympics.

We saw people out gardening,

a crew mowing the grass,

a large new P-Patch

and some yard art.

After this walk, I added 2.2 miles, filling in streets that I had missed in Mid Beacon Hill. I admired spring blooms as I completed the streets of Beacon Hill.

This was a long but rewarding walk.

Discovery Park (Lawton Park)

It was a beautiful spring day so my husband and I took a 7 mile walk inside Discovery Park. There are a few named streets inside the park and we concentrated on them but also included a few trails.

When we reached the beach, we were rewarded with spectacular views of the Sound, Mt. Rainier and the Olympics.

We walked to the Discovery Park West Point Lighthouse,

passed the Daybreak Star Indian Cultural Center, the Fort Lawton Military Cemetery

and the Historic District where we spotted a radar tower,

what looked like an old chapel

and some lovely looking housing

which we discovered was Navy housing. According to HistoryLink "The nearby Capehart housing will be demolished once Navy housing becomes available nearer the Everett base. The historic family housing is planned to remain and leased or sold to private individuals."

There was a land use action sign posted at some nearby housing; it proposed subdividing an existing lot into ten lots and adding nine additional houses.

This was the perfect walk for a beautiful day and we got a real workout climbing up and down the hills.

South Park

Today's 8.8 mile South Park walk was made more enjoyable by starting and ending in the nicest part of a residential section. The middle of the walk took me through the industrial section of northern South Park between West Marginal Way S (Highway 99) and the Duwamish.

This industrial section was a mix of unpaved streets with large potholes and companies with names like Flamespray Northwest, Swift Tool Company, Non-Ferrous Metals and Harbor Island Supply Company and paved streets and well-tended buildings like the Gear Works building

with its creative sign, water sculpture and blooming tulips.

Even in the industrial area, it looked as if attempts had been made to save trees.

A little further south on the Duwamish, I came across park land including the Duwamish Waterway Park (with quite a few picnic tables)

and this picturesque spot. I also noted a sign indicating that a South Riverside Drive Shoreline and Street End Improvement project was underway and another sign proposing a storm water pump and a water quality facility.

The best part of the walk was through the residential area but, even here, I spotted industry nearby. The lower case brewery was across the street from an Access Van parking lot.

I walked over to the South Park Bridge (which is scheduled to open this summer) and chatted with a resident who can't wait to get back to his walks on the other side of the bridge.

A nice plaza has been paved and the nearby shops appear to be ready for the opening. While there, I stopped in the Stock Box store and bought some good looking apples at a reasonable price.

Back in the residential area, I spotted tree-lined streets,

the South Park Community Center,





the South Park Neighborhood Center with what looked like a Little Free Library out front,

tulips,

interesting landscaping

and a lovely little triangle park with benches.

Along the walk, I noted a sign for the Duwamish Rowing Club,

lovingly tended homes near the Duwamish,







marine-related yard art, signs for the Duwamish Trail

and a sign instruction me to Stop Believin'.

All in all, it was an enjoyable walk and South Park reminded me a little of Georgetown.