Here's today's awesome walk, which was 13.91 miles in 3:44. It's my new record for distance as well as time spent. I was really motivated to push it today since I skipped the last two Sundays. As several people have pointed out, it's also a half marathon.
![Today's awesome walk, 13.91 miles in 3:44]()
People are always saying I should walk half marathons. I get it, but frankly, I'd rather just save the money at this time. Walking isn't super expensive by any means, but it's not free, either. I'm on my third pair of shoes since I started, and I just ordered some cold weather tights. The recognition would be cool, I guess. But I really just enjoy walking by myself, enjoying the sights, taking photos, and generally feeling great and happy.
Today's walk was just exceptional. I was about to head my normal way up Federal and then Broadway Ave E alongside Roanoke Park, but I realized that was dumb since I have to go that way Monday-Thursday to get to my bus stop. May as well mix it up on days where I can do what I want. So instead of turning North on Federal, I headed West. In the process, I took some wrong turns while trying to map a new route in my head. I meant to go to the death stairs, but I'm kinda glad that didn't happen, since they're really quite dark when the sun's not out. Instead, I wound my way Boylston and Summit, and it was so cool. I really felt like I was in another city entirely since I couldn't get my bearings and nothing looked familiar. Plus, it was cold and windy, and everything was spooky and neat. There are lots of really unique houses and apartments in that area, and the streets don't make a lot of sense. In a fun way.
I could have stopped and checked the map, but at that point, I didn't even feel like looking at the street signs. I knew if I just followed the contours of the hill, I'd get where I wanted to go. I eventually found my way down to Lakeview, and headed north past where my good friend Ana lived for a while.
Right before I got to Eastlake, I started to feel a little warm and was worried I'd have to take my hoodie off and tie it around my waist. I hate doing that. Luckily, it started getting really windy and misty out. Perfect, really. Back in the early spring when I started, I walked in the rain a lot. I always enjoyed it. Really the only issue is if you can't get nice and dry when you're done. Well, that and wet feet blister easily. Honestly, I'm not worried about it. It's really cold weather that worries me. But I'll play it by ear.
Green Lake is great. I love that it's open 24 hours. Everything about it is great except for some of the obnoxious people who go there. The worst are the ones who walk in groups of three and won't make any room for oncoming walkers. I shouldn't have to check over my shoulder to see if it's safe to pop into the bike lane for a second because one of them won't drop back for a second. Bitches.
MAN, I was prairie-doggin' it for a while there. Starting at around Eastlake, really, I started to think how wonderful it would be to finally get to that restroom on the East edge of Green Lake. And that thought occupied my mind for however long it took to get there. But then I did, and realized it just wasn't going to work out. There's no stall door, and no front door, and you basically see the whole toilet right when you walk in. If it was more of an emergency, I'd have gone through with it, but it wasn't quite that bad. I managed to make it around the lake to the restroom by the bleachers.
That one was fine, except that it had just been powerwashed. Every surface was soaked. It's hard to keep my shorts off the ground, but I managed. Anyway, that was an adventure.
Speaking of Green Lake, anyone know why there are bleachers there? Is there some sort of water show I've never heard of all these years?
Anyway, my original plan was a lap around Green Lake and then over to Ravenna Park (if light allowed) and then maybe Union Bay Natural Area and/or the Arboretum. But I've done the latter so many times, so I decided to chuck that idea and just head back downtown and catch an 8 home. I knew it would be a long walk and I suspected it'd be a record, but I didn't think it'd be quite as long as it was. So glad I did.
I saw GRRRL Army's latest handiwork in person:
![I love you, GRRRL Army]()
I have to say, I'm really disappointed in the local news. We saw this on KOMO the other morning and they were talking about the vandalism and it being an eyesore and all that. It's just such a waste to even bother showing it if they aren't going to talk about the meaning of the protest. No mention of rape culture, whatsoever. Their coverage of the Mayday protests was even stupider. All they talked about was the ninja vandals who smashed some windows at Niketown. Not a single mention of what any of the FIFTEEN THOUSAND protesters were there for. Honestly, now that my unlikely crush Paul Deanno has moved to San Francisco, I find the news good for a couple of chuckles and little else.
I was hoping to get some good shots of downtown from Aurora, but the tradeoff for wet, cool weather that I like is that it's not very good for photos. I had to stop to get a shot of where the Pepsi sign used to be.
![I'm sad that the Pepsi sign is gone]()
I'm bummed that it's gone. I don't even like Pepsi, but I always liked their old logo, and the sign was just so cool. If I could time travel, I'd for sure hit NYC back when neon was the big thing. For me personally, the Seattle Pepsi sign is an important landmark, because I used to walk by it every day for three months when I temped at the Girl Scouts. That was a very strange and important time in my life, when I was just getting back on my feet after my first spell of unemployment when I was laid off from the job I moved here for. Of course, there was so much further to fall later on, but that's a story for another time.
Walking is so therapeutic. I don't think people process their problems very well these days. I think exercise and time to think are some of the best things for a person, and I'm really benefiting from both lately. A lot.
People are always saying I should walk half marathons. I get it, but frankly, I'd rather just save the money at this time. Walking isn't super expensive by any means, but it's not free, either. I'm on my third pair of shoes since I started, and I just ordered some cold weather tights. The recognition would be cool, I guess. But I really just enjoy walking by myself, enjoying the sights, taking photos, and generally feeling great and happy.
Today's walk was just exceptional. I was about to head my normal way up Federal and then Broadway Ave E alongside Roanoke Park, but I realized that was dumb since I have to go that way Monday-Thursday to get to my bus stop. May as well mix it up on days where I can do what I want. So instead of turning North on Federal, I headed West. In the process, I took some wrong turns while trying to map a new route in my head. I meant to go to the death stairs, but I'm kinda glad that didn't happen, since they're really quite dark when the sun's not out. Instead, I wound my way Boylston and Summit, and it was so cool. I really felt like I was in another city entirely since I couldn't get my bearings and nothing looked familiar. Plus, it was cold and windy, and everything was spooky and neat. There are lots of really unique houses and apartments in that area, and the streets don't make a lot of sense. In a fun way.
I could have stopped and checked the map, but at that point, I didn't even feel like looking at the street signs. I knew if I just followed the contours of the hill, I'd get where I wanted to go. I eventually found my way down to Lakeview, and headed north past where my good friend Ana lived for a while.
Right before I got to Eastlake, I started to feel a little warm and was worried I'd have to take my hoodie off and tie it around my waist. I hate doing that. Luckily, it started getting really windy and misty out. Perfect, really. Back in the early spring when I started, I walked in the rain a lot. I always enjoyed it. Really the only issue is if you can't get nice and dry when you're done. Well, that and wet feet blister easily. Honestly, I'm not worried about it. It's really cold weather that worries me. But I'll play it by ear.
Green Lake is great. I love that it's open 24 hours. Everything about it is great except for some of the obnoxious people who go there. The worst are the ones who walk in groups of three and won't make any room for oncoming walkers. I shouldn't have to check over my shoulder to see if it's safe to pop into the bike lane for a second because one of them won't drop back for a second. Bitches.
MAN, I was prairie-doggin' it for a while there. Starting at around Eastlake, really, I started to think how wonderful it would be to finally get to that restroom on the East edge of Green Lake. And that thought occupied my mind for however long it took to get there. But then I did, and realized it just wasn't going to work out. There's no stall door, and no front door, and you basically see the whole toilet right when you walk in. If it was more of an emergency, I'd have gone through with it, but it wasn't quite that bad. I managed to make it around the lake to the restroom by the bleachers.
That one was fine, except that it had just been powerwashed. Every surface was soaked. It's hard to keep my shorts off the ground, but I managed. Anyway, that was an adventure.
Speaking of Green Lake, anyone know why there are bleachers there? Is there some sort of water show I've never heard of all these years?
Anyway, my original plan was a lap around Green Lake and then over to Ravenna Park (if light allowed) and then maybe Union Bay Natural Area and/or the Arboretum. But I've done the latter so many times, so I decided to chuck that idea and just head back downtown and catch an 8 home. I knew it would be a long walk and I suspected it'd be a record, but I didn't think it'd be quite as long as it was. So glad I did.
I saw GRRRL Army's latest handiwork in person:
I have to say, I'm really disappointed in the local news. We saw this on KOMO the other morning and they were talking about the vandalism and it being an eyesore and all that. It's just such a waste to even bother showing it if they aren't going to talk about the meaning of the protest. No mention of rape culture, whatsoever. Their coverage of the Mayday protests was even stupider. All they talked about was the ninja vandals who smashed some windows at Niketown. Not a single mention of what any of the FIFTEEN THOUSAND protesters were there for. Honestly, now that my unlikely crush Paul Deanno has moved to San Francisco, I find the news good for a couple of chuckles and little else.
I was hoping to get some good shots of downtown from Aurora, but the tradeoff for wet, cool weather that I like is that it's not very good for photos. I had to stop to get a shot of where the Pepsi sign used to be.
I'm bummed that it's gone. I don't even like Pepsi, but I always liked their old logo, and the sign was just so cool. If I could time travel, I'd for sure hit NYC back when neon was the big thing. For me personally, the Seattle Pepsi sign is an important landmark, because I used to walk by it every day for three months when I temped at the Girl Scouts. That was a very strange and important time in my life, when I was just getting back on my feet after my first spell of unemployment when I was laid off from the job I moved here for. Of course, there was so much further to fall later on, but that's a story for another time.
Walking is so therapeutic. I don't think people process their problems very well these days. I think exercise and time to think are some of the best things for a person, and I'm really benefiting from both lately. A lot.