Perils of Caffeine in the Evening

Short on time, so I’m going to let some photos do the writing. Sunday afternoon, we got out for a stroll down to Gasworks Park (where else?) and Fremont. Gasworks was busy, and we happened upon two unrelated role-playing groups. The first we’ve seen before. They’re guys that dress up in Medieval garb and engage in various fight scenarios. The group on the right we’ve not seen before. They seem to be involved in some sort of anime scene (Click any photo to enlarge):

Wandering on to Fremont, we dropped into Puget Consumer Co-op to top off Mrs. Perils’ supply of Maple Butter, then down to the ship canal to watch boat and people traffic. This vessel I found particularly intriguing. Apparently, the boat is operated by a non-profit organization and operates educational voyages around Puget Sound.

The Burke Gilman Trail runs alongside the Ship Canal at our lounging point, so we also got to observe all manner of bikers and skaters. These two on the Segways, however, caught our attention in a negative sense. I know there are those who are downright messianic about the Segway and its supposed potential to get people out of cars for middle-distance commuting, but I just don’t buy it. The only people I’ve seen on them have been joy-riding. People who would be eminently better off walking or biking.

If Segways have so much potential to reduce car trips, then cut out a lane of car traffic on every arterial and devote it to the legions who are dying to Segway instead of drive. But allowing these things on already-inadequate sidewalks and bike trails is bad engineering and bad public policy. Right now, I see them as no more than JetSkis of the sidewalk, inconveniencing and endangering pedestrians.

A while ago I read some correspondence with the Seattle parks director to the effect that Segways, as motorized vehicles are not allowed on the Burke Gilman.  I’m hoping that this is enforced, especially if they, like their brethren JetSkis, become more numerous.

On the way back up the hill, we stopped at the venerable Fremont coffee kiosk Espresso To Go. There are always tempting baked goods there in addition to the excellent coffee, and we engaged our inner poseurs as we lounged along the sidewalk. The treat, which we bought only for research purposes and merely tasted and then spit out, was a pumpkin cake with cinnamon or cardamon, raisins and white buttercream frosting.

On the way home, we noticed many households preparing for Halloween. This was a particularly creative presentation: