Unhappy in Seattle

KOA, Seattle, WA:  Decided to take the rapid rail into Seattle this morning.  Drove to the Tukwila Station but could not find a place to park.  Drove around and around and around waiting for someone to leave.  But no luck.  So, we drove back to the KOA and took the bus from the KOA to the SEATAC Station at the airport.  Finally got on the train and took it to the end of the line at Westport Station and went to the Public Market.  Walked around there for a while and then got a hot dog and a bockwurst at a little vendor and sat in a park on the water to eat.  Then walked all the way down to Pioneer Square, thinking that’s where we could get the Monorail out to the Space Needle.  But the Monorail was way back at Westport where we got off the train.  So, walked all the way back.  Walking in this city is a challenge since it’s so hilly—I’m talking San Francisco hilly.  The sidewalks are actually grooved on the hills to avoid slipping on wet pavement.  Took the Monorail out to the Space Needle.  Wanted to have dinner up there, but the only time available was 7:00—a four-hour wait.  So we nixed that idea and walked around the area.  A Chihuly exhibit was right next door to the Space Needle, so we walked around that for a while.  The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation offices are also in this area.  Took the Monorail back to the Westport area and had dinner at a fancy Italian restaurant and then took the train back to SEATAC.  Then we schlepped to the bus stop and had to wait about 45 minutes for the bus back to the KOA.  We were not happy.  I am not crazy about Seattle at all.  The rapid rail is very limited, and the only station with parking is Tukwila, which has parking for about 200 vehicles.  That’s it.  Not very convenient at all.  And if you buy a day pass for the train, you can’t use it for buses.  They’re separate.  And the Monorail is separate.  Portland was a much more livable city.  The rapid rail was efficient, clean, convenient, and it went everywhere.  Mike wants to go back and take a ferry to Bainbridge.  I don’t care if we ever go back, except to board the boat for our cruise.  Was a beautiful day today though—81, clear and sunny.  We could even see Mt. Rainier off in the distance.  Doesn’t happen too often.  

Public Market

You can buy a huge bouquet of flowers for $10. 

There are so many flowers at this market--it smells wonderful!

The produce is displayed so prettily.

Lots of fresh fish.

Huge shrimp.

Downtown skyscrapers.

Chihuly exhibit.

Chihuly does all this art work in glass.

Mt. Rainier off in the distance.

One of the Seattle ferries.

Our ride.

The Space Needle

KOA, Seattle, WA:  Drove over to the Museum of Flight at the Boeing facility this morning. This is the original location of the Boeing airplane manufacturing facility.  It all started in a red, two-story barn.  The only thing I was really interested in seeing was Air Force One and the Concorde.  So we split up and caught back up with each other later.  Couldn’t find Mike at lunch time, so I had lunch at the little museum café by myself.  Came back and put a roast in the oven and then relaxed.  A nice, sunny, and warm day--80.  Checked out the nearest rapid rail station to us.  Think we’ll take that back to Seattle tomorrow.  I HATE Interstate 5 and the Seattle traffic! Roast beef, mashed potatoes and corn for dinner.

Air Force One

Conference Room/Office

Used during the Kennedy administration.

B-17 "Flying Fortress"

KOA, Seattle, WA:  Mainly sunny today.  We were picked up at 9:00 by our tour guide.  We’re in a little van instead of a bus.  We headed downtown to pick up one other couple at their hotel on the waterfront.  Turns out it was just across from Pier 66 where we’re going to board the Norwegian Jewel for our cruise.  I really liked the waterfront a lot.  Toured all over the downtown area and other neighborhoods.  He dropped us back at the KOA by 2:00.  I had defrosted a nice round roast for dinner tonight, but by the time we got back we were so hungry we headed out immediately to find something to eat. Came back and sat outside reading and dozing in the sun.  Mike was picking more berries in the bushes behind us and scared up the baby rabbit.  It’s so cute.  About as big as my hand.  73 today. 

Pier 66--where we'll be boarding our ship.

Cute little European style hotel near the waterfront.

The Seattle skyline.

Older, more historic area of Seattle.

People are rappelling down the side of this Seattle skyscraper for some charity event.

KOA, Seattle, WA:  Rained last night.  Rained really hard with lightning and thunder.  Locals are worried because of the fire danger.  Still cloudy and threatening this morning.  So, we signed up for a city tour for tomorrow morning.  Then we headed to a huge mall a couple of miles away and saw “Two Guns” with Denzel Washington and Mark Wahlburg.  Very entertaining.  Emerged from the mall to sunny skies.  Back to our park and sat outside in shorts enjoying the warm breezes.  Hope it’s nice tomorrow for our tour.  Mid-80s today.  There’s a baby bunny hanging around the bushes behind us.  I haven’t seen him yet.  Mike has a couple of times.  It doesn’t take much to amuse us.

We can see Mt. Rainier again.

KOA, Port Angeles, WA, to KOA, Seattle, WA:  Left a little after 9:30 this morning.  Headed east on I101 which turned south and ran right along the Hood Canal.  A beautiful drive, but slow going because of the two-lane road winding up and down the mountains along the beautiful Hood Canal.  Finally picked up I5 and headed north toward Seattle.  A lot of traffic.  Especially slow going on the south-bound lanes.  But we made it here okay and were set up by 3:00.  When we pulled in, the RVs waiting to register were backed up to the main road.  We were just able to pull in.  Guess KOA’s computers were down.  We’re in a nice site that backs up to another field.  No horses though.  But blackberry bushes everywhere.  Mike picked a bunch.  And it’s like 85 here or something.  Back into shorts!

View out our back window.  No horses, but those bushy things are blackberry bushes.

KOA, Port Angeles, WA:  Did some cleaning and took care of the laundry this morning.  Then we kicked back outside reading and listening to the horses munching away contentedly in the pasture behind us.  Was wishing I had an apple or carrot or something.  They enjoy a huge pasture to roam around in, and they look freshly brushed every morning.  They’re definitely well cared for.  Dinner tonight at Dupuis Restaurant just down the road from us.  Tomorrow we leave for our last stop—Seattle—and get ready for our cruise.

Our site.

Horses munching away.

Mountains all around us.

 

Dinner at Dupuis tonight.  Thinking of you Darwin.

KOA, Port Angeles, WA:  Another nice, sunny day.  Drove east to Port Townsend today.  This cute and historic little town is where “An Officer and a Gentleman” was filmed.  Parked in the waterfront area and walked around.  Had lunch at one of the historic restaurants in town and then drove over to Fort Worden.  Checked out the museum there and then drove back to our park, stopping one last time at the casino.  I broke even.  Mike was up $20.  Not bad.  Did the grocery shopping after that.  65 today on the water at Port Townsend.

Mike window shopping in Port Townsend.

Some of the many historic Victorian buildings.

Point Wilson Lighthouse

This is the building where Lou Gossett gave Richard Gere his first salute as an officer--Fort Worden