Mt. Baker Neighbourhood Stairway Walk

Rode Terrace stairway

Last summer, I went on a stairway walk with my boys in the Queen Anne area. This book is the source for the walk ideas.

On Thursday we went for a walk in the Mount Baker area in Seattle. It is on a hill (of course) with views of downtown Seattle, Bellevue, Mt. Rainier, and the I-90 bridge. We didn't follow the suggested route in the book to the letter but got ideas of some scenic spots to find.

We parked the car at Bradner Gardens Park. This is a charming P-Patch and park full of whimsy.
I actually took a photo inside the bathroom of the mosaic!

We ate our lunches on a shaded bench inside the park. Next we walked up two blocks to 31st then found the stairs that go down to Colman Park.

The path was labelled as 1.4 miles. This path went by a community garden which is in a ravine.

We went under several tunnels.

We reached the shoreline. There is a grassy area with sunbathers as well as a sandy beach on the shore of Lake Washington.

that's Mt. Rainier in the distance

We could see Bellevue and the I-90 bridge from this spot.

We crossed the road and went up a long stone staircase.

At the top, we had landed at Rode Terrace. Next we walked on a shaded trail, with no elevation, through the woods. Then we were back in Colman Park. Colman Park has a total of 24 acres!

We eventually arrived back at the ravine community garden and went up the staircase that we started at. That's about the time that I wished I was in better shape! I was pretty tuckered out as I neared the top.

This is Bradner Gardens park.

We got back to the car and then drove to another spot with a view. We found an empty lot where we could take in the view of the I-90 bridge and Lake Washington. I think the Mount Baker Tunnel was directly underneath us.

This spot would be great for watching the Blue Angels during SeaFair.

Nearby was an old house with a turret, which I always appreciate.

We found another spot with a view, this time of downtown Seattle.

We couldn't find the Mt. Baker Viewpoint Park which I read about when we got home. We'll go there another time, I suppose. It looks like the perfect spot for sunset viewing.

On the way home we stopped for a milkshake for C, a smoothie for A, and a frappucchino for me.

We didn't walk as much as I had hoped but the temperature was near 80 so I didn't have that much energy. I'm glad that A was enthusiastic about our adventure. C wasn't as enthusiastic but they enjoy each others company. It is always good to get outside, get some exercise and explore a new place.



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Victorian Radicals at SAM

Beauty and the Beast (portion) by John Dickson Batten

On Friday, I went to a special exhibit - Victorian Radicals - at the Seattle Art Museum (SAM) with my friend Mary.

Description from the museum's website:

"Victorian Radicals presents an unprecedented 150 paintings, drawings, sculptures, stained glass, jewelry, textiles, and decorative arts—many never before exhibited outside of the United Kingdom. See vibrant works by the major figures associated with the subversive Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood and the later Arts & Crafts Movement."nt.

The collection's origin is Birmingham, UK.

Here are the images and textiles that caught my eye.

Two Gentlemen of Verona by William Holman Hunt

The Blind Girl by John Everett Millais

Pretty Baa Baa Lambs by Ford Maddox Brown

Embroidered bed cover. I didn't note the artist.

Stained Glass - "Sleepe after Toile" by Mary Jane Newill

Hope Comforting Love in Bondage by Sidney Harold Meteyard

Face jug by Robert Wallace Martin

Fiametta (tiny portrait of Georgie Gaskin) by Arthur Joseph Gaskin

Musica by Kate Elizabeth Bunce

Design for stained glass - Jacob's Ladder by Henry Holiday

"Honeysuckle" fabric (block printed linen) by William Morris

Proserpine by Dante Gabriel Rossetti

La Donna della Finestra by Dante Gabriel Rossetti

St. George Slaying the Dragon (stained glass) by Dante Gabriel Rossetti

Work by Ford Madox Brown

The Long Engagement by Arthur Hughes

The Hunting of Chevy Chase by Edwin Landseer

The stories that accompany the paintings are fascinating. I can't recount them all. I recommend you look them up OR go see the exhibit which is around until early September.

I enjoy going into the city once in a while. I took the bus and it was very convenient. I rode on the top level of a double decker bus (on the way back) in the front seat with a terrific view. The bus fare was $3.75 (each way), quite a bargain, considering the price of parking downtown.

Admission to the museum was $29.






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