Cheshiahud Lake Union Loop #Hike - #SaturdaySnapshots

Hikes don't always have to be in the woods! Although the senior center group often treks under trees, plods past mud puddles, and strides alongside streams, other times our adventures are more urban. Our April 28 seven-mile hike took us in a loop on sidewalks, paved paths, and bridges around Lake Union near Seattle. 
[Click on photos for a closer look.]



We followed the route marked in red on the map, starting and ending at Gas Works Park. I like the idea that this abandoned facility has been turned into a popular park and its old equipment left as industrial art.

I've always been fascinated by Lake Union's houseboats - like the one featured in Sleepless in Seattle. We saw quite a few houseboat neighborhoods on this hike. Can you imagine boating right up to your doorstep? There's a limited number of these floating homes and they aren't cheap. A realtor's sign advertised a 1,100 s.f. houseboat for sale for $1 million.

We came across public art ...

...and beautiful blooming flowers. 

"Pocket parks" graced neighborhoods.

We watched seaplanes take off and land.

Our route took us over, under, and around bridges.

And we stopped to enjoy a delicious lunch.

Cool weather. Bright sunshine. Good friends. All in all, a perfect day.

For more info about the Lake Union Loop Hike, click HERE.

Saturday Snapshots is hosted by West Metro Mommy Reads.

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click HERE or on the box below.  

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Sammamish Park Walk - Saturday Snapshots

Our local senior center offers all kinds of activities for people aged fifty-five and over, such as memoir writing, knitting, watercoloring, etc. All the things you'd expect. But their offerings also include bellydancing, line dancing, exercise classes, Segway tours of Seattle (and visits to other local attractions), walks and hikes. Although I've been participating in Silver Sneakers at the senior center since last summer, I'd never signed up for a walk ... until this week. Now I'm wondering why I waited so long!

A van took us to our starting point. Our walk wasn't very long - maybe two-and-a-half or three miles - but that's what I wanted for my first outing. We walked on the paved path shown at the far right of this photo (with the yellow line). Plenty of room for joggers, bicyclists, and a cluster of gray-haired walkers. Our trek began at Marymoor Park and bordered Lake Sammamish near Redmond.

The views along the way were lovely.

Plants are just now beginning to bud, but we occasionally came across trees in full bloom. (I'm sorry. I don't know the species of this beauty.)

We stopped at the halfway point and picnicked on sack lunches.

A small section of the pathway passed beautiful homes - Wouldn't you love to wake up to that view? - but most of the route was lined with trees.

There were a dozen people in our group, and we kept up a pretty good pace. 

All in all, the walk was even more enjoyable than I expected it would be. A big bonus: I made several new friends. I've signed up for more hikes and walks, so you'll be seeing more on this subject on future Saturday Snapshots posts.

Saturday Snapshots is hosted by West Metro Mommy Reads.

To enjoy a variety of beautiful pictures from around the world, 

click HERE or on the box below.  

To participate in Saturday Snapshots: post a photo that you (or a friend or family member) 

have taken then leave a direct link to your post in the Mister Linky on the host blogsite. 

Photos can be old or new, and be of any subject as long as they are clean and appropriate