2013-06-16 47 -122

Location

In the alley behind Kiet's Auto Body, White Center

Participants

OtherJack

Plans

Bike down, get the hash at 4pm, enjoy Zippy's Giant Burgers, bike home

Expedition

With a somewhat late start, a south breeze, a small pit stop at the Jack-in-the-box in Georgetown, and a merciless climb up Highland Park Way, I didn't arrive in White Center until more like 4:20. I don't think I missed anyone though. Google maps had indicated the hashpoint a few meters into a vacant lot behind the auto body shop, but my GPS put it right in the middle of the alley, which was fortunate since there was a downed power line on said empty lot.

I'd heard White Center was a bit sketchy, but I felt quite safe... the spot was in full view of a nice-looking residential street on a sunny day and I didn't see anyone around who looked to be a gangster. Someone calling themselves a gang had tried to tag the back of the body shop at one point, though (see photo). In general White Center didn't feel like such a bad neighborhood - it was working-class and clearly had a strong local economy.

Zippy's proved to be even better than I expected, too... I had a great burger with hot pepper relish, hot links, red onions and cheddar cheese, named the "Rae's Hell" after the derby-girl owner of the place. I got talking with the girls who were working the counter, and it came up that I was in the neighborhood because of... this online game where you try to reach randomly selected places. One of them asked me if it was anything like Ingress.

"Is that the one with two teams trying to take control of the city..."

"Yeah, that one."

"To be honest, no, it's not like that at all."

"Well, where was the spot you went to just now?"

"In the alley behind that body shop on 16th, south of here."

"Whoa, I don't know if I'd want to do that alone... maybe sounds like something you'd do with a group?"

"Seemed safe enough to me..."

but they weren't convinced. At least I got to say the word geohashing though. I probably should have explained that I'm from Chicago, where bad neighborhoods are actually bad.

On the way back I stopped to check out the newly re-opened restored King St. Station in Pioneer Square... it was grand! Overall a great afternoon.

Photos

Proof!
Looking east. The name of the "gang" seems to have been crossed out or rewritten
Northeast
South(west), toward where Google had indicated the hash
West
Back towards 16th Ave SW