Day Fifteen

Got woken up by my phone ringing at 7.30am. No idea who it was, but it was a London number. I didn't answer it. That rude awakening prompted us to get up. Nipped down for breakfast which was actually very good.

Facetimed mum and dad to make sure dad was ready for his trip and his subsequent arrival in Montana on Saturday.

Then packed up and rolled on out. Ann decided to do some driving today, so she took the first leg. Stopped literally next door to the hotel in order to get some stuff in for a packed lunch, the premise being we wouldn't have to worry about finding somewhere to eat in the park.

Headed on up to the west entrance of Glacier National Park. Paid our $30 and drove in. First stop was the Apgar Visitor Centre which was very busy. Had to wait to get a parking space. Used the facilities and bought a fridge magnet. Most annoying thing was that there were too many good magnets. Some places you have to choose the least worst magnet as they are all fairly poor and then somewhere like here you can't decide because they have five or six really nice ones.

We then started the long, slow drive along the Going-to-the-Sun Road. Our plan was to drive the fifty or so miles and just stop whenever something looked nice. That proved to be a lot of stops.

The first was at the north end of Lake McDonald. There was a small road leading to a bridge across it. Parked up and wandered to the bridge to take some photos. Ended up staying for about an hour and a half because we decided to climb down the rocks to the river and walk up the gorge to the waterfall at the top.

Bridge over the River McDonald

Arty

When we eventually decided to move on it was already lunchtime. We thought we would find somewhere nice to sit and eat. So we did.

After lunch we headed on up the road, reaching the top at Logan Pass before heading down the other side. We stopped numerous times on the way and took lots of photos. Here is just a selection.



Heavens Peak

Stanton and Vaught

Back down the valley we had come from

Baby mountain goats

Glacier

Random snow

St Mary lake

Near the Weeping Wall

Finally having made it across to the east entrance we stopped two final times. This was to make sure we got to see two sections from Forrest Gump. He runs across the bridge at the east entrance and also along side St Mary Lake.

Like that mountain lake. It was so clear, Jenny

Run, Forrest

Eventually we had to leave this wondrous place. We could have stayed for longer but realised it was gone 6pm and we had 160 miles to drive to the next hotel.

Luckily the route we followed was pretty much deserted. First Highway 2 and then even I-15 when we hit it. 80mph speed limit and we saw literally four cars over the 83 miles we covered on it.

Arrived just after 8pm at the hotel. Checked in then ate the rest of the food we had as we couldn't be bothered to go out again.

As ever, Ann is asleep. Not surprised, it is 12.40am. I'm tired.

States visited - 7

Bear watch - low

Goat watch - high

Glaciers seen - plenty

Day Fourteen

Up earlyish. Not as early as we planned. Went straight for a swim. Pool was cold although a decent length.

Had a decent if busy breakfast. Packed up and hit the road. Headed east along I-90. Switched back into Idaho.

Made a stop at Wallace. The only reason for this is that it was the town used for the filming of Dante's Peak. Parked up and had a wander about. Found certain parts of the town from the film. They did dress it up a bit and paint in a CGI mountain.

Missing mountain

Found a mining museum so had a look about it. It was fairly interesting. The town was built on the back on the silver mines. The rest of the town was mainly shops full of old tat. Tried to find a fridge magnet but failed.

Headed on east on I-90 entering Montana for the first ever time before turning off ready to head north. Stopped for fuel in St Regis.

Carried on northwards stopping to pick up supplies and then stopped to have lunch overlooking Flathead Lake.  The entire journey was again fabulous in terms of scenery.

Completed the last few miles up to Kalispell only for the sat nav to be confused by a new section of road. Eventually found hotel. Realised we have lost an hour moving back into mountain time. Decided to make another meal in our room as we couldn't be bothered to go out.

Ann is now watching Independence Day, although this is the modern one.

Tomorrow promises to be a good one as we head into Glacier National Park.

States Visited - 7

Total States Visited - 46

Day Thirteen

Up just after 7.30am. Had breakfast in our room after yesterday’s discovery that it wasn’t included. Today’s cost 50 cents as opposed to yesterday’s $28.

Checked out just after 9am. They tried to give us another room’s bill with about three breakfasts on it but we spotted their game.

 
Loaded up and set off east. Sat nav wanted us to go on the interstate but we didn’t want to so we set about using Highway 2. Although it was a short distance it was a longer journey due to the speed limit and towns encountered. We knew this would be the case and didn’t care. We just didn’t feel like driving on the interstate.

It turned out to be a good move. Once we got out of the suburban area around the outskirts of Seattle we hit countryside and the drive was really enjoyable. We had to climb up the Cascade Mountains and through the edge of the Wenatchee Forest and then hit the plains of the Columbia Basin.

Scenery was great and the roads were fairly quiet. Stopped for fuel in Coles Corner other than that not much happened.



Bavarian

One highlight was the town of Leavenworth, which is Bavarian themed. Apparently it was a failing logging town in the mid 1960s so an idea was coined to turn it into a German style town. It worked, it is now seen as a very good holiday town. Even the Starbucks and McDonald’s were Bavarian in style.

Starbucks

Maccy Ds

We also saw two of these. One we managed to film and one get some photos of it. The second one was bigger but much further away.

Bigger

We stopped for lunch at Doxie's Diner in Wilbur. http://places.singleplatform.com/doxies-diner/menu?ref=google

It was decent food. Quite a few flies were buzzing about which was a bit annoying.

Arrived at Spokane Valley just before 5pm. Checked into the Comfort Inn and Suites. Hotel seems very nice. The pool looks great, so we are going to hit it early tomorrow morning.

Went out to dinner at IHOP. Ann was very pleased to get some broccoli on her plate. I have never seen someone so pleased to eat it before.

Now having a quiet night before heading further east into Montana tomorrow.

States visited – 6

Bavarian towns - 1   

Day Twelve

Up at 6.30am. Breakfast at 7.15am. Ann told me breakfast was included with the room. At the end we got billed for it. Presume she was wrong and it wasn't included.

In the car and underway by 8am. Arrived at Anacortes by 9.10am. Stopped in Subway to get a packed lunch. On the quayside at 9.35am. Boarded ship with this company http://www.island-adventures.com/

Got settled in to some seats and waited for us to cast off. We did just after 10am. Headed out into the San Juan Islands and into the fog. Visibility wasn't great at all but the rumour was that it was going to get better as we headed out. First of all we pulled up near James Island. There were some seals on the rocks although the fog made photography almost impossible.

Some foggy seals

As we pulled around into a bay the fog cleared a little and we also saw two bald eagles sitting near their nest.

Legal eagle

We then headed out to try and get a glimpse of the big tamale, Orcas. We eventually broke through the fog into some clear air. The skipper was in contact with other tour boats trying to get the low down on the location of the Killer Whales or any other type of whales for that matter.

Unfortunately it wasn't to be. We were out for nearly five hours and covered about 100 miles but to no avail. On the plus side there was a child on board who screamed in a tantrum for about half an hour. Ann wouldn't let me go and punch it in the head.

Eventually we headed all the way back to shore, pretty gutted that we didn't see any whales. We had such high hopes for the trip and it was meant to be one of the big highlights of the holiday but they were just not about today.

The skipper said they have been out about 400 times this year and this was only the fifth time they hadn't delivered whales to their customers. They do have a guaranteed sighting policy though which means if you don't see any whales they will keep taking you out until you do. Therefore, we now have a free trip for two when we would like to go again. Unfortunately that won't be this holiday. Apparently the record they have for the time someone took coming back for their free trip is 15 years so we should be ok to wait a couple.

We had a gander around the shop when we got back to shore before heading back to the hotel. The traffic back was really heavy so it took us quite some time to get back. I-5 seems to be busy at any time of day, on any day, at any location. Will be glad to get away from it.

Popped out for dinner to 112th Street Diner. http://112thstreetdiner.com/

It was very quiet, presumably as it is Sunday night. Very clean and food was good. Finished up with a old fashioned chocolate milkshake.

Heading back east tomorrow.

States visited - 6

Whale watch - low

Eagles seen - 2

Day Eleven

We had planned to get up early and go the executive lounge for breakfast before it got busy. We didn't manage it. Still had breakfast just a little later than planned.

Hung about our room until we needed to leave. Did some Facetiming.

Eventually checked out at 11.30am. Packed the car. Couldn't find the mobile broadband MiFi. Panicked. Ann went back in to see if we had left it in the room. Found it. Had to ring Ann to tell her to come back.

Eventually we left. Drove up I-5 until we reached Mukilteo near Everett. Only took around 35 minutes. We arrived at our destination, the Boeing factory. We were booked in on the 1pm tour. First part was to watch a short film then get on a bus. Bus took us to the factory. It is the largest building in the world in terms of volume. Got off bus. Went down to a tunnel, walked along it, got in an elevator went up. We ended up on a viewing platform above the shop floor. The guide told us how planes are built. We retraced ourselves back out to the bus. Drove to the other side of the building and did the same but looking at other types of plane.

Unfortunately you are not allowed to take anything into the factory. To do with health and safety, people dropping things from heights. Therefore we have absolutely nothing to include in the blog in terms of photos or videos,

Here is a timelapse of what happens https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Iqx6P16ovY

Tour took an hour and a half. It was interesting seeing the process behind how 747s and Dreamliners are constructed. The size of the process is big as you can imagine.

After the tour finished we grabbed a bite to eat in the café and then had a look around the 'Future of Flight' exhibition. It wasn't really that fascinating. Did get a chance to have our photo taken and superimposed on the factory floor.

Fake news

That is at least a glance of what it looks like. We then went up to the area where you can see out across the site.

World's largest building

The factory is next to an airport so you can watch the planes come and go. Did see this there.

Big plane

It is how they transport parts of the Dreamliner in from around the world.

We then left and drove to the hotel. It took ten seconds. Really. It is next to the factory.

Checked in, room wasn't ready so sat about in the lobby for half an hour. Eventually got to room. We have managed to get two lots of washing done tonight, now it is littered around the room drying. An early start tomorrow, so bed is calling.

States visited - 6

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