Day 10: Home (Kirkland) to Magnolia

 Highlights:

The real Camino would have had me complete 14.2 miles from Santo Domingo to Belorado, relishing agricultural vistas of lush wheat fields, visiting the birthplace of Santo Domingo, and crossing into Castilla y Leon.

What I did instead was my first trek where I didn’t back track.  I walked from my home in Kirkland (Houghton) across the 520 bridge trail, through residences above the I-5 highway, down to Elliott Way on Puget Sound (the ocean!) and discovered a trail that hugged the slightly grotty Port of Seattle yards up to hilly Magnolia where my son, daughter-in-law, and grand dog live.  I have driven this route many times but walking it, I learned, was a completely different experience.

Another perfect day of warm sun, cool air and clear sky.  I never get tired of my Lake Washington beaches which are sprinkled with whimsical statues.  Once again I took on the 520 floating bridge trail to take me downtown and came across a mystery that you can perhaps help me solve.  I saw half a dozen mysterious cartoon like formations floating on the surface of the water beside the bridge. I don’t know if they are some kind of seaweed, pollution, or aliens invading Lake Washington. If you recognize this phenomenon, let me know.

At the end of the bridge crossing, I once again enjoyed seeing the tranquil University of Washington Arboretum and spotted a lone Blue Heron quietly resting in the tall grass.  Next, new territory!

I forced Google maps to take me the long way (I needed the extra 2 miles) to my kids’ place, exploring hilly and well established neighborhoods parallel to the major north-south I-5 highway overlooking Seattle’s skyline and Lake Union.  I love the accessibility that I continue to discover in Seattle and surrounds – you can walk almost everywhere.

I headed onto Mercer Street – heading towards the Puget Sound waterfront.  Mercer Street has been the home of major Amazon construction for the past few years and is filled with shiny new buildings and coffee shops and restaurants.  I couldn’t resist the shot of the new Google building which, like most other office buildings these days, sits waiting for post-pandemic days.  I passed so many Seattle icons:  Seattle Center with the Needle, various theaters and museums, and the renowned Allen Institute with the eye-catching statues made of letters, numbers and symbols outside of its doors. 

Moving from Mercer to Elliott Way to get to the waterfront was dicey for walking with no sidewalks and little room for pedestrians.  After half an hour on Elliott Way, I realized that pedestrians were not allowed on the Magnolia bridge to take me to my destination.  I struggled to find the overpass that led me to the Elliott Bay bicycle and pedestrian trail that took me almost to the end of my journey.

One thing that I’ve learned to not be shy about on my faux-mino is asking directions.  The path seemed to dead end at what looked like a sketchy rail yard but I found out from a kind cyclist that I just needed to keep going and all would be well.  It wasn’t beautiful (and it smelled like dead fish and garbage) but it was practical and I was grateful for that.

Finally, I arrived in the kids’ back patio and was happily almost knocked off my feet by my grand dog – Banzai the wonder dog.  After some wonderful coffee, my ride and best husband ever, along with my son and his wife took Banz (as he is fondly known) up to the nearby park where he amazed us with his Frisbee catching skills and general enthusiasm for, well everything.

As you may have noticed, I didn’t write my summary of Day 10 until the morning after.  I'm taking today off to rest and heal a new nasty blister on the back of one of my smaller toes. (Goddamit feet!!!)

Thanks for continuing to follow along. ¡Buen Camino!