Escape to the City

It was late Friday morning when finally got going. We drove into the city.

Our first stop was Jake's apartment in Ballard, where we chatted outside and delivered his pasta and rice, and a homemade face mask. He works M-Th and has three day weekends, but now there isn't much he can do with his free time. He misses sports to watch on TV, especially international soccer.

From there we drove north, hoping to visit Swanson's Nursery, but, alas, they were closed. Not wanting to go back home yet, we decided a new course of action.

We drove west to east across the city on 45th, through neighborhoods in Ballard and north Seattle and past the University campus and Greek Row, to the University District, where we eventually turned south across the Montlake Bridge and alongside the Arboretum. Everywhere we enjoyed things blooming in yards and gardens and parking strips: golden daffodils and forsythia, pink bergenia, pink and white cherry and plum and ornamental pear trees. The greening of trees is beginning. It's a beautiful time in our city. 

South of the Arboretum we turned east again, through two of the most stately old neighborhoods of Seattle, Broadmore and Madison Park, and south along  Lake Washington Boulevard. All along our route we encountered people in singles and pairs, walking, jogging, and dog walking, all getting their healthy, self distancing exercise. 

Eventually we arrived at our destination, the Stan Sayers Hydroplane Pits on the shore of Lake Washington. Here we would park and go for a walk. 

No crowds, so noisy high speed flying boats, just some waterfowl lazing about. 

We set off on the lake shore path, I with my walking stick, testing how far I could go with my newly acquired sciatica, activated by my aggravated bulging disc. I hate having my active lifestyle limited. 

The breeze was brisk but the promised rain didn't come and we enjoyed a pleasant, slow paced 1.5 mile walk, nodding and waving and greeting those we encountered along the way. 

English daisies sprinkle the lawn. 

It felt good to have been able to get out, get away, and even get a move on in my beautiful city.