Olympia WA - A transit day-trip challenge

mSeattle · #1 Posted **Jan 1, 2013, 10:52 AM**

Happy 2013 Everybody!

I have a couple of challenges for myself in 2013. Here's remembering one I gave myself in 2012. I gave to myself the challenge to take commuter bus transit from Seattle to Olympia and back. Riding Sound Transit between Seattle to Tacoma would be nothing new. The Tacoma to Olympia leg, using Intercity would be a learning experience. Intercity also connects the cities of Olympia, Lacey, Tumwater and the town of Yelm. I took my little boardwalk bike along as a "security blanket" to get me around in the city without a bus and to make sure I didn't miss the last commuter bus out of Olympia.

Leaving Downtown Seattle

by mSeattle, on Flickr

Entering Downtown Tacoma

by mSeattle, on Flickr

by mSeattle, on Flickr

Bye bye Downtown Tacoma

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by mSeattle, on Flickr

The end of the road for ST594, the beginning for IT620.

by mSeattle, on Flickr

Just enough time to grab something from the gas station and stand around at the transfer station before the bus arrived. They have such long waits I couldn't miss it or it would significantly shorten my time in Olympia.

After crossing hill and valley - including the Nisqually Valley, end of the glaciar floow off Mt. Rainier's Nisqually Glacier(?) - we finally arrived in Olympia Washington.

by mSeattle, on Flickr

by mSeattle, on Flickr

We reach the downtown transit center.

by mSeattle, on Flickr

by mSeattle, on Flickr

Okay, time to explore.

by mSeattle, on Flickr

by mSeattle, on Flickr

Stepped into the library to cool off and recharge batteries. It's nice to remember on the coldest nights of the year and the last night of the year 2012 when I post this.

by mSeattle, on Flickr

by mSeattle, on Flickr

Hungry for highrises... I soon start focusing on trees.

by mSeattle, on Flickr

by mSeattle, on Flickr

Looks kinda governmental...

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Oh!

by mSeattle, on Flickr

by mSeattle, on Flickr

I took the next to last bus going to Tacoma although there was still a lot of daylight left.
But my little tour convinced me that I must return.

On the bus back to Tacoma

by mSeattle, on Flickr

I had hoped to get back down there in 2012 for some fall and holiday pictures but that didn't happen. Maybe in 2013.

Hope you enjoyed and hope we all and our loved ones have a well-lived and happy 2013.

seaskyfan · #2 Posted **Jan 1, 2013, 7:15 PM**

Nice photos - I especially like the tour of Downtown Olympia. How long did the trip take each way?

ColDayMan · #3 Posted **Jan 1, 2013, 7:30 PM**

Neat trip!

SpongeG · #4 Posted **Jan 7, 2013, 6:23 AM**

cool pics - have only ever seen tacoma and olympia from the i5 when passing, they look more interesting, probably worth a stop one time

pdxtex · #5 Posted **Jan 8, 2013, 1:26 AM**

so what was the total fare there and back? also, i have not tried it but greyhound is running a no frills inner city bus between portland and seattle, maybe it stops in olympia too. its called bolt bus.

mSeattle · #6 Posted **Jan 18, 2013, 5:37 AM**

Thanks for the replies.

@Seasky - It's a little over 2hrs each way, including the wait in Lakewood. Also this was a weekday trip. On weekends you need a connection bus between downtown Tacoma and the Tacoma Mall.

@pdxtex - If you're under age 65 but not a youth then you're going to pay cash ~$12 for the whole thing. Add $2 if you want the daily pass for Olympia city buses.

Here's some I took on the same Olympia trip (and the first I've posted for public viewing) of me trying to be a better photographer (DSLR/RAW). I'll still be posting trash every so often