I continued my long walk around the periphery of Seattle with another segment on the eastern border of the city. Most of this day’s walk was along the shores of Lake Washington on good sidewalks in dappled shade. My husband dropped me off in the Laurelhurst neighborhood at 42nd N.E. and I hiked south from there.
You really can’t go far in Seattle without seeing blackberry bushes growing wild. They were in full blossom.
I soon arrived at the Center for Urban Horticulture where I wandered around the flower beds and botanic gardens. There is always something delightful growing and blooming here.
The path through the cultivated gardens leads on into the wild Union Bay Natural Area, where meadows are under restoration to improve the habitat for birds and other small animals.
The trail continued onto the University of Washington athletic complex, past soccer and track fields, tennis courts, the boathouse, and Husky Stadium. I walked across the Montlake Bridge over the Ship Canal, which links Lake Washington and Lake Union, and from there headed to the Washington Park Arboretum.
I passed an old totem pole carved by Haida Chief John Dewey Wallace from Waterfall, Alaska in 1937. I intended to follow the Arboretum trail across Foster Island, but parts of the trail were under water.
Instead I entered the Arboretum near E Miller Street in the Montlake neighborhood. Once in the Arboretum, I headed toward its eastern boundary and followed it south. I was still separated from Lake Washington by the Broadmoor Golf Course and its gated community. I hadn’t walked this part of the Arboretum before and the path took me past magnificent tree specimens and a garden showcasing plants from the Pacific Rim.
Upon exiting the Arboretum, I walked to Madison Avenue and followed it all the way to the shores of Lake Washington. The rest of my long walk followed the lakeshore through these Seattle neighborhoods: Madison Park, Madrona, Leschi, Mount Baker, Lakewood/Seward Park and Rainier Beach. As you can imagine, the residential areas were lined with beautiful homes with lovely landscaping. Lake Washington Boulevard attracts bikers and joggers, and the lake itself is a recreation spot for swimmers, picnickers and boaters.
I walked as far as Rainier Beach and then headed to the Light Rail Station to catch a ride back home.
Estimated walking distance: about 14 miles
Circumambulating Seattle 1: NE Segment
June 30, 2014
“Of such journeys on foot which I recall with greatest pleasure are some that I have made in the encircling of cities.”
— John Finley, “Walking Afoot,” from The Joys of Walking, ed. Edwin Valentine
“One cannot know the intimate charm of the urban penumbra who makes only shuttle journeys by motor or street car.”
— John Finley, “Walking Afoot,” from The Joys of Walking, ed. Edwin Valentine
I realized as I began my goal of walking the boundaries of the city of Seattle that this was an arbitrary undertaking, and like most self-imposed goals, I immediately began questioning why I was doing it. I like the idea of being an explorer of the world, and I believe that all it takes to live an adventuresome life is to have the right attitude — curiosity, wonder, attentiveness, and ultimately getting off the couch and doing rather than dreaming. I didn’t need a reason. I just needed to put one foot in front of the other. I would be an explorer in my own backyard.
I started the first day’s periphery walk along the northern boundary of Seattle at North 145th Street and Aurora Avenue North. The first part of the walk was not that pleasant, as N 145th is a busy street with rushing traffic and narrow sidewalks. I headed east toward Lake Washington, which was about 2.75 miles away.
I passed Lakeside School, a private school whose most famous alumni are Bill Gates and Paul Allen, founders of Microsoft. Years ago, the Seattle Chamber Music Society held summer concerts at Lakeside School and they piped the music to the lawn, where everyone was welcome to bring a blanket and picnic while listening to music under the stars. My daughter and I often took advantage of these fun events.
As I neared the freeway, I noticed a sign for a Carmelite Monastery, so I detoured to investigate. I wasn’t aware that there were cloistered nuns in my city. The Carmelites are a contemplative order who spend their days in silence, solitude, and prayer within their little community. The grounds were inaccessible, set apart by a high fence, but the church was open. Unfortunately, my arrival did not coincide with their Liturgy of Hours, so I missed the experience of shared prayer. Still, the church with its stained glass, arched windows was a quiet oasis in the city.
Crossing over I-5, I thought about how we Americans would find it inconceivable to live without our private automobiles.
“Traffic is the blood in the veins of this city, endlessly flowing, pumping between the parts.”
— Adam Nicolson, from Two Roads to Dodge City
Vehicles speed us to our destinations, but I would be forgoing efficiency for the slow movement of my feet, hoping to discover the “intimate charms” Finley extols in my opening quotes.
Once I reached the shores of Lake Washington on the eastern boundary of Seattle, I was able to walk on the Burke Gilman Trail, a walking/biking paved path set apart from street traffic. With the lake on my left, I strolled in shady comfort past beautiful lakeside homes.
I stopped for a picnic lunch at Mathews Beach Park where families were out enjoying the sunny, warm day. It felt good to rest.
I continued south on the Burke Gilman Trail to Magnuson Park, a huge park with its own labyrinthine paths and sports fields. I exited the park and arrived in the Windemere neighborhood, where I walked along Windemere Avenue to Sand Point Way. After five hours, I was getting footsore, so I ended my day at University Village where I treated myself to a smoothie. Refreshing!
Total distance: about 11 miles