bikes 'n' books

 So, of course had to end the day with a long slow uphill on Admiral Way -- lovely views though now way too overgrown of Spaceneedleville finally to the West Seattle branch, yay Final pic inside (though nothing logical about the whole ride!): and now only a well-over-an hour & a half couple buses to get back home (hey, I never said I was going to ride to all libraries AND back home too!) Gosh, the day looked so straightforward and sensible on the map... But so, all 27 SPL branches 'conquered' in 3 days... and this is all simply to prepare me for the much grander quest to bike to all 50 (!) KCLS branches next... (whew!)

 Now veering east and north with some giant downhills too (which now only make me worry about the inevitable uphills to come!) to another closed library, Delridge with some graceful sculptures outside at least and interesting new views of Seattle (on the way to Delridge, I mean)

 A very much straight shot north to High Point though I am not nearly so energetic anymore! though maybe I am getting more creative (or exhausted!) with my camera angles inside

 There were lots of steep hills no matter how I bike west now but it didn't help to go too far on 1st ave south, having to race across super busy highways and then try surmounting the sheer, seemingly near vertical Highland Park Way -- (okay, I admit walking part of it...!) -- desperate for some food I finally found the oasis of Mod pizza and then managed to further bike to Southwest: which was not so terribly distinctive inside but had another nice series of sculptures outside

 South Park such a distinctive Hispanic neighborhood even as I whisk through on bike Little did I know the treacherous hills that awaited me next

 Backtracking a tad through utterly new territory via backstreets of Columbia City to NewHolly Another small branch closed on a Friday (but these days, who can wait for a pleasant day for all the libraries to be open?!) And now pedaling out on busy streets through industrial areas, up & down, even over the now scenic South Park bridge: as well as special Big top emporium that will have to be investigated further later:

 A pretty straight shot down Rainier Ave. -- not always with bike lanes -- to 'neighbor of Skyway' Rainier Beach: which had, by far, the coolest display of all libraries inside all about JAZZ -- namechecking all my heroes!:

 Through big & busy Jefferson Park and (whee!) down Alaska st. to Columbia (city): Not the most stupendous to view inside -- Carnegie apparently did a bit of cookie-cuttering for all his libraries -- but #2 done

 Well over an hour's ride [why the passive voice 'ride' when one is on the bike and pedaling hard!!] and lots of uphill, through familiar turf: around Green Lake, up steep Capitol Hill, through 7,000 traffic lights past downhill, more uphills and finally to never-before-seen Beacon Hill! Duncan couldn't join me so, further complicating matters, attempting all this solo! Not sure what that 'ship' is doing on the roof, but some kewl roofbeam architecture inside...!

 & finally --  also not so distant -- the gigantic architecturally marvelous downtown headquarters branch: though many of the floors inside were closed off though they still DO have a pretty cool free 'short story' dispenser: and then I also happened to meet Librarian Betsy who somehow wisely figured out that we have very good mutual pals, Carol and Steve...! So, 2/3rds of SPL now done, the 9 furthest away branches yet to go, including West Seattle...!

 Didn't seem so very far next to the wee International District/Chinatown branch (library names replacing dashes with slashes now): with a very appropriate display of tea cups inside:

to yet another hyphenated library -- and a handsome one to boot, both inside and out -- bravo Frederick Douglass and Sojourner Truth!: with multiple floors inside full of art & interest: Even more exciting, staff here actually found one of the SPL (5 year old?) passports so I can start using this instead of a xeroxed copy of the KCLS one!: to now get my passport stamped properly!: & also then had to get a pic of the newly restored "Soul Pole" on the corner!:  

 & now into more uncharted territory -- and we found out that Seattle certainly has more than 7 hills too (pant, pant!) to tiny little Madrona - Sally Goldmark (had never heard of her but sounds like another virtuous individual establishing libraries all by herself)! And I actually knew a couple of these libraries were going to be closed but in Seattle this spring, one can't line up non-rainy days with times when all the libraries are open!: Nice little statue just outside too -- Duncan gets a moment to rest:

 & then more big hills all the way to the top: Capitol Hill! (I don't quite 'get' why there is all this fencing?): where, inside there are not only lotsa growing vines: but also a really nifty chair dedicated to a longtime heroic patron!:

 South and then along the sweet Burke Gilman: & then the beginning of hills to little Montlake: but how dare the library be closed?! So then could only drop off my laminated blog website address in their bookdrop!:

 Long slow slog along 35th to nondescript Northeast branch: Still struggling to find some interesting feature inside the branches to take photos of..... but I DID kinda like the graffitti outside!:

 Little ridden paths northeasterly and then steep downhill (whee!) to Lake City: Absolutely nothing distinctive to take a picture of inside but a nice Native American statue outside at least (though only temporary?): BTW, sorta loving my new cellphone holder on bike so can follow directions this way but of course then the battery runs down quickly so depend on Duncan still instead...!

 Duncan joins me a 2nd day of ambitious bike riding, and we start off for Northgate -- down interurban trail, over freeway, trying to find lesser traveled roads: Didn't find much special to take a photo of inside but one of the staff DID know who I was from previous library bike rides...?!:

 Then westward and down, down to ol' favorite Richmond Beach (closest to my home growing up) And this after little detour to lonely curious Shoreline museum...but RB has some bucolic sculptures outside: & inside so aquatic I was surprised to stay dry!: