As cars zip above on the West Seattle Bridge/Freeway below is another world. It is a maze of roads and pathways. Years ago this was a busy corridor when the road was not elevated.  It had grocery stores, gas stations, hotels, restaurants and taverns.  A real working man’s place across from a steel mill and a busy harbor.

I parked under the raised freeway not far from the Chelan Cafe which is really a survivor of that old-time. In the photo notice a couple of crows were making a living here.  They strutted out onto the road after the traffic passed looking for a tasty treat.

After I got onto the Alki Trail from my car I took a photo looking both directions up the corridor.

 

I can’t quite pinpoint where the Blue Eagle was.  I think it was closer to the Cafe than where these photos were taken. I even searched in vain for a plaque or other sign commemorating the old businesses.  All I found was hub caps placed on the decorative grid that was on the cement wall erected here.

Back in the early 90’s when we were out on the night riding our motorcycle, David took us to the Blue Eagle. It was near its end then with scared wooden benches and tables. It was now a biker bar or you could say a down on ones luck’s place. It had character but it was not to be kept around for the revival of things old.

In the timeline of the days adventure I went to the west and investigated the area behind the cafe which is Terminal 5 and 7.  Didn’t see 6 but it must have been there too.  That is where I got some good shots of the Duwamish Waterway plus got a talking to from T-5 Security.  See my other posts around Trouble at T-5 and one around the waterway.

Seattle Fire Department has a firehouse wedged down under the bridge. Station 36 has been there since 1919 and was the second station built for motorized fire trucks.  The original building a lovely spanish style building was replaced in 1971 by the one you see today.

The Alki Trail (this starts under the West Seattle Bridge) follows along the road here.  Here are some views looking east towards the river and the two bridges.

Peeking out of  the maze was this sign for Luna Park.  This area has a cluster of restaurants and other businesses surviving in some of the older buildings that have survived despite the bridge all around.

Swing around and look to the west now.  This is the exit and entrances for Harbor Avenue and Admiral Way.  Tad bit unnerving walking right next to the exit traffic.  Even with that big barrier and metal fence I walked as far away as I could.

That brings me to the end of under the bridge.

To see more of my Duwamish Adventure I have a directory post that links all of the pieces together.  You can find that post here – My Duwamish Adventure Directory