Washington and Oregon

Our goal is to visit (not drive through) every state in the USA before we die. We've both been to everything west of the Dakotas. Except Preston is missing Washington and Oregon.  He took the week of Labor Day off to knock out those 2 states. We traveled part of the night Friday after work and made it to Andy and Holly's in about 2 AM. Met their new baby Cort Vaughn born Aug. 22 ,  7 lbs 13 oz and 20 1/2 in. Got to visit their cute family  for a few hours. Then off to Leavenworth, Washington.  A cute Swedish inspired tourist trap. Tons of specialty shops.  ALL Christmas, or  nutcrackers, Silly hats, Pulled Taffy you watched them make. Beautiful mountain town in the middle of nowhere.  

Got to Aunt Alberta's late Saturday (no thanks to our Navigation App affectionately named Beatrice. and the stupid Washington road system).  They have an amazing home. We stayed 2 nights driving into Seattle, playing all day and crashing back at "Auberge de Jones".  We got a CityPass which was  5 main attractions for 1/2 the cost.  The first day we went to Seattle Aquarium.  They had Touch tanks with sea slugs, star fish and anemones.  They felt sticky but didn't sting. Just grabbed on. Once you pulled away those grabbers took a few min to recharge.  Star fish are squishy.  All the kids liked the Nemo/Dory Fishes. The Jelly fish were the coolest.

We walked along the warf.  Stepped abord an old cargo ship the Mexican Naval Academy was hosting. All the guys in blue and black and white strip uniforms reminded me of Little Mermaid for some reason.  Took our pictures with the catch of the day. Notice mine is made of baseballs.  There were random statudes and picture momests everywhere. Preston got Sick of Posing and very good at "Selfies". (Preston hates that word)

We just stumbled upon the Gum Wall.  I thought it was oddly beautiful. Preston thought it oddly disgusting. Every nook and cranny on both sides as high was you could fling it -dripping with ABC Gum.  Sadly I had none to contribute.  The ally turns into Pikes Market. Opened 1907 it's one of the oldest continuously operated public farmers' markets in the US. 

#2 on our CityPass we took the last Harbor Cruise of the Day. An hour guided Tour of Elliot Bay along the Water front with views of the city, out into the Puget Sound and over to the loading docks and ship yard. Probably my favorite thing we did.  It quit sprinkling, the sun came up, and we could see Mt. Rainier.  It was peaceful and Beautiful. 

Street performers, singers, and artist are everywhere. Some are Ok, some are Amazing. Like this guy who literally turned out a masterpiece in 10 min. with spray paint, and a mud Trowel.

Day one ended 530 ft up.  Since we got 2 trips up via our pass we saw it in the light late morning day 2.  It's really not as high or scary as I'd thought.  I like the fun facts: like how 72 bolts secure the 3 legs in a 30 ft X 120 ft concrete base.  So the center of gravity of the 600 ft structure is just 5 ft off the ground.  the 3 elevators run at 10 miles an hour. speed of a raindrop.  Oh ya and the view is amazing too.

Everyone was doing it. 

Seattle Zoo is "free roam" which means several animals accupy a large area and you walk around them. kind of neat. more natural and all that. Preston wants the lion and Gazelle to cohabitate. more realistic and all that. 

Bill Speidel's underground Tour of Sub Seattle is a network of underground passageways and basements  that was ground level at the city's origin in the mid-19th century.    A hot glue pot started a fire on June 6 1889. The Volunteer fire department threw water on the grease fire and it destoryed 31 blocks of the original wooden city structures.  The city immediately started to rebuild on top of the rubble.  They raised the Level of the street one to two stores.  Once the new sidewalks were complete businesses moved to the new ground floor.  Merchants carried on business in the lowest floors of buildings that survived the fire, and pedestrians continued to use the underground sidewalks lit by the glass prisms (still seen on some streets) embedded in the grade-level sidewalk above.The new street level also assisted in ensuring that gravity-assisted flush toilets did not back up at high tide
In 1907 the city condemned the Underground for fear of bubonic pleauge.  The basements were left to deteriorate or were used as storage, flop houses, gambling halls,  and opium dens.
In 1965, local citizen Bill Speidel's realized the profit pushed to open/ restore 3 blocks around pioneer square.   And that's how Preston and I found ourselves following a Reefer Riden tour guide.  I liked the history. I kind of want to go on the underworld tour and hear about the infamous old red light district and more of Madam Lou Graham and her all inclusive/ full service  "sewing circles". 

Lady in Black is a Dude.

Monday night we slept in the car in the stake center parking lot next to the temple and caught an early session. Another goal is to hit all the temples in the West.  Then last on our city-pass and last as we headed out of Seattle was the Museum of flight. Definitely the most Preston friendly thing on the city pass. Had one of our only fights of the whole vacation there-- over me reading ALL the posters and listening to ALL the audio facts. "just look at the planes and pictures or we'll be here ALL week."

 Preston wanted no plans just-off-the-seat-do-as-we-go.  I would plan to the minute.  Compromising the only scheduled plans we made was a Leatherman Factory tour in Portland. Wednesday at 10. Limit 10 people a week go on this free hour tour. The coolest thing we did in Portland bar none. From punching medal with hydraulic dyes, to buffing, to assembly and lazer etching.  We got to handle dull pieces at every stage. Breath down the necks of the real workers. (tour day is probably annoying to them.) The assembly line was out to lunch so our guide showed us a little more and wasted a little time till they got back.  Our tour was more like an hour and a half. sorry no pics past the display case.  One on display is from a soldier who got shot in Afganistan. Bullet hit his Leatherman and saved his life.  Another guy came on an accident. car on fire and person trapped.  Used his leatherman to cut away hinges and seatbelt to free the driver. WOW

We were all tuckered out.  I Googled it and in Seattle we covered roughly 12 miles on foot.  So we drove through Old Town, Down Town, and China Town in about an hour.  "cool a tall old building. Look at the Oriental archway.  ohh sad more homeless people. ok lets go I've seen Portland." We did stop at KIDD's toy museum. Its an old couple who have been collecting toys since the early 60's. It's 3 rooms with hundreds of artifacts. My camera took one picture and died I was so sad. It was really neat and free. 

Came home through the Columbia River Gorge. Stopping off at Multnomah Falls. Preston was impressed but not motivated enough to climb to the top. A five mile hike. We did the 1/2 mile to the observation deck. A few miles down the road we visited the Locks, Fish Ladder, and State Fish Hatchery.  They have a 75 year old;10 foot white Sturgeon.  I'm never swimming in a lake again. 

Slept on the ground in a farmers field off Echo Road somewhere in Oregon. Woke up just in time to jump in the car so the pivot end gun didn't sprey us. We drove for a while and slept in the car on an off ramp. Had breakfast at the park in Vale. I was sad the murals in town were cracking/fading. Then I took a drive down memory lane. 3455 Fulleton Rd Vale OR 97918. It's the same and sooooo different. I probably should have knocked on the door and sang that Miranda Lambert song but it's Ok. I'll remember it better this way.

 *A special thanks to Grandma Dixie and Grandpa Calvin for taking our kids so we could get a way and reboot. Thanks to Syringa's family for providing playmates and added moral support. We love you all.