The Adventures of Captain Z: A Long Walk at Woodland Park and Zoo

Today we head on our furthest excursion: the Woodland Park Zoo. I'd already gotten directions on how to take the bus there but D wanted to look it all up so he felt comfortable making the trip. I'm glad we did some looking of our own because we found the E Line that is a very fast and direct route between the zoo and our hotel. Since we started the day late after a glorious morning sleeping in we decided to grab food at the zoo.

Yes, you do see two heads. Baby Joey is inside.

These guys are called "Flamboyant."

I am impressed at how well behaved dogs are on the buses. We got off on our stop and had to take a bit of a hike to get to the south zoo entrance. Once inside we were told that there were some young lions on display and a new sloth bear exhibit. We were given tokens to vote on how the zoo should support conservation efforts of various species and I voted for the orangutans while D voted for a species of frog.

I've never seen this kind of wolf before.

The nearest eatery was half way across the small zoo but beyond the lion exhibit, so we had to take a detour to see them first.

Two of the three young cubs. They were keeping and eye on mom who was pressed up against the viewing glass.

On this detour we might have made a few other stops, too.

To see the hippos, giraffes, and zebras.

Maybe a monkey or two.

Or well-endowed fruit bats.

And we certainly can't skip the ever-vigilant meerkats.

We made it to one eatery and decided to cut across to the other side of the zoo to check out a larger one and that led to yet another detour.

We said hi to the tigers.

Watched the river otters play king of the log.

Waved to this curious penguin.

Then remembered that we were as hungry as these flamingos.

Lunchtime finally arrives and we pick out a buffalo chicken sandwich and nachos for way too much money. While D goes back in to grab napkins, the many blackbirds around us begin acting very noisy and odd, and suddenly they rained down who knows what onto us. Thankfully only the cement takes a direct hit. D is amazed to see one bird bold enough to hop onto an occupied table and steal a man's hot dog with his wife and child sitting right there. So I advise you to eat inside or under a roof and keep an eye on your food at this zoo.

These bears don't seem very concerned with the big black birds.

For the rest of the zoo hours we take our time seeing everything else and revisiting the lions and a few others. We get to watch two monkeys appear to kiss and then groom each other, a gorilla do a headstand while making faces at us, some birds perform their funny song and dance routine before grub hunting, fuzzy sloth bears eat grapes with funny lips, and parakeets eat seeds off of sticks held out by visitors. It is a very eventful visit!

She started out just sitting with her back to us, then suddenly she did this.

One of these was singing right as we entered the habitat.

These sloth bears won't share their grapes and branches.

After buying a couple magnets we are off to the rose garden where I play with the macro lens some more. Using Auto mode and the touch screen feels like such a cheat! I take so many pictures and each time I think it's safe to put the camera away and move on D or I spot another rose just begging to be photographed.

See what I mean?

If this rose isn't begging, I don't know what is.

These three smiled very nicely for me.

Finally we make it out of the garden and begin our hike to Green Lake. The area is so lush and natural, except for the tennis courts. D and I enjoy a leisurely hike around the lake and I play with a few more settings on my camera before just enjoying the view and general nature sounds including jogging feet. We find our way back to the nearest bus stop and decide where to eat dinner tonight.

We enter the wild.

Greeted by the vast expanse of Green Lake.

I am glad that Washington does not look like Illinois.

Half way around the lake.

My first 21 and over experience.

The Unicorn, a 21 and over restaurant celebrating karaoke night on Monday nights. They sell such beverages as Unicorn Jizz, and appetizers as Narwhal balls which we had to try the latter with our Coney Dogs. To say this is a unique place might be an understatement. We listen to the karaoke going on downstairs as we indulge in the amazing chili cheese dogs topped with green onion, sour cream, and Fritos. Mmmmm! The Narwhal balls are also quite delicious, but D and I agree that the dipping sauce is a bit strange.

Upstairs is Unicorn, downstairs is Narwhal.

That's the kind of monkey we saw kissing and grooming.

The decor is certainly fun.

We waddle home past the numerous homeless sleeping in doorways, hanging out in entryways, camped out in tents by the highway, and walking along the sidewalk. It doesn't feel right being so stuffed while so many of them are likely hungry. I am repeatedly stunned by how many homeless live in Seattle. The prices of simple goldfish crackers might be a clue as to why the population is so large, though. Seattle is far from cheap. We decide to come back and visit Molly Moon's for her ice cream at a time when the sun is up and the streets are a bit busier. I know that likely most of the homeless are also harmless, but I have seen at least a handful talking to themselves or making very odd gestures that hint at instability, and I just don't want to take any chances.