The last walk listed in the Seattle Stairway Walks book is on Mercer Island. I lived for a winter, years ago, on Mercer Island. It was the time of the “Iron Ass” as I didn’t have a car and rode my bike, often several times a day, back and forth to Seattle. Still, I was surprised when my friend N. and I parked the car to start this walk as it is pretty much in downtown Mercer Island.
This isn’t one I’m likely to do again. Too short. Though the staircase is pretty phenomenal as far as people-building-staircases-up-a-steep-edge-of-the-woods goes. It felt like it would never end, though it is at so many odd angles and pitches, you could never really get a pattern going to go down it. Coming back up, as we skirted the ridge, it wasn’t nearly as much effort. This was definitely more like hiking than walking.
One thing that continues to delight me about this book is that I’ve been getting out to all kinds of places here in Seattle that I’ve never seen, even after living here for twenty years. So today, it was with great privilege that I took my pal to the superb Mercer Island Thrift Store (great clothes..everything else, meh) and the pitch-perfect Roanoke Inn, both surprisingly new to her. That two old hands both got to do something new today within five miles of our homes, well, that’s a pretty good outing in my book.
It’s hard to tell here: but this staircase goes on FOREVER. Dang.
So dreary today…so much better in a bar!
+++
I’m getting my exercise this winter following the walks in “Seattle Stairway Walks”. You can get your copy here.
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