Day Ten

Up relatively early this morning and headed to the executive lounge for breakfast. It was quite busy but decent enough.

We then headed out on foot down towards the bay. Eventually found what we were looking for although the area was not the greatest. Unfortunately like many cities Seattle has a lot of homeless people and a lot seemed to being 'living' under the elevated road in the Pioneer District. Apparently there are around 3000 people living on the streets in the city (Population 700,000) and it shows. Most of the places we visited seemed to have a lot of homeless people, maybe this was because they were tourist spots or maybe there is no where else to go. Seattle set up a ten year plan to combat homelessness in 2005. It hasn't worked. (By contrast London has about 7.5-8.5million inhabitants and roughly 2,500 people a night sleeping rough.)

Anyway, back to Pioneer Square. We found the building and went in. We signed the legal documentation and waited. There were meant to be another four people joining us, but it was discovered that they had booked the wrong day. That meant we had a Segway tour all to ourselves. Saddled up and then hit the city.

Our guide led us along the waterfront and gave us a personalised tour of the city. We covered much more than we would have done as he only had two of us and we were sensible, so he could take us to crowded places.

Goons

We ended up at the space needle for the obligatory photo.

Dancing Fountain

We then made our way down to Pike Place Market. He took us past the 'Gum Wall' which was awful yet people were posing in front of it. People are so weird. The Market Theatre has a no gum policy so people started sticking it to the wall outside. Gradually it became a thing. Christ knows why. Needless to say we didn't take a photo.

We ended up spending two hours out and about before returning to base. We then walked back to the hotel stopping off at a Starbucks for elevenses. Told Ann we were going to set up London Segway Tours when we got home. It would be an amazing job to spend all day on one as they are so much fun.

Headed back to the hotel to change footwear and make our plans for the rest of the day. Whilst resting found out Segways are banned from both roads and pavements in the UK due to some law from 1835. Good to see we move with the times. Might start a rogue Pro Segway movement just so I can set up the company.

Made plans and then headed out. Walked back down to the place Ann has banged on about non stop for ages, Pike Place Market. Had slices of pizza for lunch at one of the many outlets. Did some people watching out the window. Mainly watched one poor chap who had nothing but a pillow. As he laid asleep on the pavement opposite the market, hundreds of people just wandered by, not even noticing (or choosing not to notice) he was there. One lady stopped and left him a soft drink. At least one person noticed.

Had a look about the market it after lunch. Ann was very surprised that it was a market and it was busy. I was very surprised that she thought it would be anything else. To be honest I don't even know why it is such a tourist trap. It is literally just a working market, no different from any other I have ever been in. None of the tourists really bought anything, maybe food in the restaurants, but other than that they just walked really slowly getting in my way. We also saw the 'first' ever Starbucks which is situated at the market. There was a long queue of people waiting to go in to have a coffee. By long, I mean there was a 45min wait just to get in the shop. The things tourists do. The reason I put 'first' in quotes is that it actually isn't the first Starbucks. It was in the market but not at that location, it is just marketed as such.

We sat around for a while and smelt marijuana. It is legal in the state of Washington although not to be smoked in public! Thought maybe that explains the apparent problems the city has. Slippery slope and all that.

We ended up leaving the market and heading back to the waterfront. Decided to go into the aquarium. There were fish inside. And some other things.

Seal - not the singer

Ahh - a sleeping otter

I tried to communicate with the seals but it didn't work. Ann was bemused. The aquarium was actually a good afternoon activity. Lots of opportunities to sit and watch the various creatures - octopi, seals, otters, birds, fish. It was also much cooler by the water despite only being a few hundred feet from the market. Bought some crap from the shop.

When we left at around 6pm we still has some time to kill before our next activity at 8pm, so we headed to the Waterfront Park and the Seattle Wheel. We didn't go on the wheel but did have a look about and get an ice cream. I had a chocolate and peanut butter one. It was chocolate with just a lump of peanut butter stuck in it rather than peanut butter ice cream. It was still very nice.

We then ordered some fries to eat as we still had a bit of time. Unfortunately got given a number and had to sit and wait for them. They never came. Ann had to go and accost a waiter and amazingly they turned up.

As soon as we finished them we then headed to our last Seattle activity, a evening cruise around the bay. Got on a boat. Went around bay. Came back to the pier. Learnt some stuff about Seattle although some of it we had heard during the Segway tour and in much more detail. Also disagreed with some of the geography notes the guy gave. Told Ann he was talking bollocks. She believed me.

Needle from the Bay

Skyline

Wandered back to the hotel discussing our thoughts of the city. To be honest one day here is enough. Can't see what we would do if we stayed another. City has some nice areas - parts of the waterfront and the area around the Space Needle - but a lot of it is just grubby and a little shabby. It is probably my least favourite of the many cities we have been to in the USA despite the fact that we did some good things today.

Leaving Seattle tomorrow, but heading only about 20 miles north to Everett.

In an unusual twist, Ann is asleep.

States visited - 6

Seal watch - High

Day Nine

Got up earlyish at 7.30am ready to rock and roll. Ate breakfast in room again and we were packed and ready to go at 9am. Fuelled up and hit I-5 northwards.

We couldn't check in to the hotel in Seattle until 4pm, so we decided to do a couple of things on the way. The first being this place: https://www.americascarmuseum.org/

America's Car Museum

We had researched museums last night to see what was about and plumped for this one. So glad we did, it was awesome. It was a typical American museum, very good presentation and layout. Here is just a small selection of stuff there.

Countach

Flags

Caddy

Main Hall

It was a 'Take a Spin' day which meant they had six classic cars giving people a couple laps around a small track outside. The cars varied in type and size from a Model T Ford to a 2CV. We rode in them all to test them out. Here is a selection.

 

 

Eventually we decided to let other people have a go and headed back in side to finish the museum.

Had lunch in the restaurant - cheesy chips which were very good.

Next we decided that as we still had a bit of time to kill we would have another round of golf. Headed to http://www.parklandputters.net/index.htm

The website makes it look better than it is. Probably the worse mini golf place we have ever been to. There were four courses of varying degrees of difficulty so we picked the hardest. I say we, I mean me.

 

Ann soon decided it was impossible and seemed to give up. The reason it was difficult was not the overall hole design, but just the cups were all on slopes so the ball kept rolling bloody miles if you missed.

The final hole was just as silly as the one at Wallowa Lake, but this time we both ended up in the same place so no controversy. I won't mention the scores but I won!

We didn't hang around long despite being given a first and second place ribbon by the course.

We hit I-5 again but this time it was busy. Very busy. Headed slowly all the way to Seattle before the sat nav caused us to miss our turning by it saying stupid things. Eventually made it to the Hilton Seattle. Checked in and went to our room on the 24th floor. When we were looking for somewhere to stay in Seattle it was apparent that everywhere cost an absolute fortune, so decided as we were going to have to spend a lot of money we might as well go the whole hog. We are in an executive room which means we get to go to the executive lounge on the top floor, which we did. Had free drinks and hors d'oeuvres.

We then headed out into the balmy evening. Walked a couple of blocks to the monorail station. Yes, the monorail station. Caught the monorail to the Seattle Centre where we then headed up Seattle's most famous feature.

Space Needle

Got to the top and had a look around. Unfortunately, the same wildfire smoke that was at Mount St Helens is also here, so the view was limited a touch. We found a good spot and then waited for the sun to go down so we could get some decent photos of the city at night.



Tossed Salad and Scrambled Eggs



Having waited for a long time we headed down into the shop and spent some money.

Caught the monorail back and walked the last couple of blocks back to the hotel. Got accosted by some bloke who we just ignored, he then proceeded to shout NASA at us as I was wearing a NASA t-shirt. Most odd.

Back in room now. Ann is asleep. I will be very soon. Up early in the morning for another exciting day.

States visited - 6

Classic cars ridden in - 6

Space Needles ascended - 1