First days in Seattle

Driving down from Northern Cascade National Park was like  leaving Disneyland on a warm summer night...scads of people with cars!

We have had pretty much bumper to bumper traffic and it made no difference which way or what time you drive. I thought we'd sneak into Seattle early one morning at 6:45 AM but no dice, got caught in traffic at that time too.

For the first three weeks we will be staying at Lakeside RV Park in Everett, Washington. It's only 20 miles from SCCA but that is still deemed to far by Donna's doctors, who insists we move closer before any surgery.

In between appointments, Donna and I ran over to Bothell, WA because they are only the second town in the state of Washington to have a "Bonefish Grill". One of the reasons I love it is because before the one in Vegas closed, (then opened back up a few years later) on Wednesdays you can get this appetizer called "Bang Bang Shrimp" for $5. Well, now it's $7.90 but still a deal in my mind. Hot, spicy shrimp and a cold beer...what's not to love?

Donna thought with school back in session that the Pike Place Market would not be too crowed and besides, once her procedure is done she won't be going anywhere, where large crowds will gather. It could of been the beautiful 80 degree days that brought out the hoards though. 

I'm not sure why, but in the past if I met someone from Seattle that was tan...I'd ask if they were rusting. Warm, sunny days like this would make a Hawaiian envious.

 Inside of the Pike Place Market is filled with vendors selling wood carving, tie dye clothing (how could I resist, no really...how did I) glassware and other great stuff that people buy than next week say, "why the hell did I buy this"?

The other half of the market is filled with so many wonderful fish, shrimp and crab products that it's hard to resist the sight of a beautiful crab cocktail. Then I saw the price of $12.99 for a small plastic cup with sauce at the bottom and settle instead on a chicken kabob next door for $2.95. There were many other items I had never heard of but all looked yummy to Donna and I.

This is the famous counter where workers throw fish back and forth causing quite a show. Now they added a new twist, (new to me) if you buy a fish you can go behind the counter yourself and they throw it to you...yuck. People seemed loved it, so what do I know. The lady in short hair did a fine job of catching her fish so someday she can honestly tell her kids that "yes, mommy caught this monster"...just not in the water.

Pike Place Street

I might venture to say this ship is going to Alaska with a full compliment of "white hairs".

This is the first Starbucks, that was originally about two blocks to the north but relocated in 1976 to its present location. Starbucks was to be called Pequod after a whaling ship in "Moby Dick" but later decided on the name Starbucks, a character in the book. People were waiting in hour long lines to buy a mug that says "Starbucks Original Coffee Shop"

From the market we headed to the Bank of America building a few blocks away that has a sky viewing platform on the 73rd floor, the tallest building in Seattle. Well, after Bank of America's big downfall in the mid-2000's, the name was reverted back to its original, Columbia Center.

I get a little dizzy looking down from this high up. Below the ferry is pulling in and a Ferris Wheel has started turning for those not afraid of heights.

Less than 60 miles from Seattle is Mount Rainier, at 14,417 it is the 5th highest peak in the lower 48. I have seen taller (by less than 100 feet) peaks in California and Colorado but nothing quite equals the majesty of a single, huge, imposing peak such as the volcano's in the "Ring of Fire". Within 110 miles of Seattle are Mount Rainier, Mount Baker, Mount St. Helen's and Mount Adams...no wonder everyone here seems to be hikers.

I can see it just fine from here, thank you!

The Space Needle looks small from up here.

Well of course it's........not gonna be me.

Harvest moon developing over the basin.

A slightly better view of the Space Needle that was built for the 1962 Worlds Fair. The state of Washington must of had a "love affair" with Worlds Fairs because just 12 years later, Spokane got the rights to the 1974 Worlds Fair...called an Expo.

As the sun sets behind the San Juan de Fuca Straight, a ferry makes another exciting (sarcasm here) trip to Bainbridge Island. I only say sarcasm because the pilot must of already made 1000 or more of these trips...but hey, maybe I'm wrong and every trip is different. I shouldn't judge, right!

Donna rests her weary muscles while taking in a professional video of the view from our tower.

Against better judgement I really wanted a sunrise photo of Rainier but seeing that the the tower closed at 10 pm we decided to hide in the bathroom all night in order to get the shot I wanted.

Or.........did we just use the sun refracting from a window to give the allusion of a sun rise?

You be the judge.

Good night all....back to work Monday morning with the fine staff at SCCA.