the last western

so if anyone had been paying close attention to the geography that the trip has taken so far, one might of noticed that there was a bit of a seemingly out of place jaunt to colorado before finishing the west coast...i am here to put at ease such observant creatures by letting you know, that here within lies the revealing of washington state.  a beautiful place indeed.  my morning started out in leaving boise, the adair family, and heading west [ crazy so early in the trip ] on I 84 through the eastern and northern parts of oregon to eventually drive due north on I 5 into seattle.  i did have some apprehensions about re-entering oregon.  not at all because i did not have a wonderful time previously, but mainly because i was scared of the bugshield that may attack me at any time.  that being said, i did not receive the previously mentioned greeting, but instead, was struck by a rock from a construction truck, leaving me with a [ and my very first ever ] chip in the windshield.  dang rabbits!!

alas, it's annoyance and obviousness is not so great [ it only happens to be in the center of every picture that i try to take through the front of my car ] and i'm into oregon and even more ready to be in my last western state.   taken as a recommendation from my national geographic 'crossing america' handbook, i decide that there is heavy need for a stop at the stonehenge.   yes sir ree.  there is a world war I monument in maryhill, wa just over a bridge from I 84 through the north of oregon that can be seen from afar; perched on a bluff over looking the beautiful gorge.   and to much of my pleasure, i was to stubble upon this monument on the first day of fall.  an equinox.  but it's strategic placement would be of no consequence until the setting of the sun, or approximately 6.00p and i was standing there at around 2.41 in the afternoon.  again foiled by imperfect timing, but i had much road ahead of me and most definitely, much much more to see.  a short scenic drive on historic highway 30 was receiving massive amounts of signage, so i deemed the detour a necessity and down the curving off ramp i went. 

this road held some of the most enchanting views of the pacific north.  thin roads sided with small rock guard rails, white fences, large towering trees, and tall...some babbling, some gushing...mutli-storey...waterfalls!  they were the horsetail falls and multnomah waterfalls to be exact.  each of the waterfalls had a basin view point, but the second one also had a half mile ramp that you walk up to a bridge around the mid point.  or actually from where one waterfall fell into a pool and then flowed to a second waterfall.  there is also a little over two mile hike that will take you all the way to the top.  again with the desire to reach seattle looming over me, the hike to the top was put on a 'to do' list for the future.  once arriving in seattle, i met up with some great college friends, caela and sean [ the mckeevers ] and trixie [ my place to lay my travel weathered head and tour guide extraodinaire! ] for dinner and some chatting.

the next day was all my own.  i was planning another night in seattle, but what to do with the daylight hours?  first things first, i must go down to pike's market and catch a flying fish.  so thus, as the order of first before second goes...i was off to the market.

pike's market is a mecca to all things, well market.  there are a ton of flower stands, little kitchy souvenirs, bookstores [ with postcards ;) ] and locally produced, or fresh from the water, food.  saw some blankets, t-shirts, and jewelry all boasting about personalization and seattle.  but instead i settled on a taste of some smoked salmon, a picture of 'sumflours', and a moment in catchers glory.  after the market, it was time to head to the peace arch.  a monument built in 1814 to promote a strong and long neighborly relationship with canada.  quite humble when seeing in person and a little sad that although it has always been a arch, having gone through many iterations since 1814, and is wide enough and tall enough to have say a horse and buggie or currently cars go through, that has never actually been is intention.  it sits lonesome in the middle of a grassy knoll.  each borders proper entrance paper varification stands sitting a quarter mile to the north and south of it...and you just drive around it.  as a pedestrian, you can walk through, around, not really over, but under it.  very peaceful, even on the characteristically over-cast and sprinkling rainy day that i was there. 

after the arch, driving south into seattle, i stopped at the little mountain park.  it has a really nice view from the top with a cantilevered plank to frame and overlook mt. vernon.  again, with low clouds, there was not much distance that i could grasp, but beautiful just the same.  the evening after then consisted of the 'tour' from trixie and her roommate adam.  first stop was for dinner at the green leaf for my very first ever try of vietnamese food, which i'll have to say i will be trying again. dessert at molly moon's, a local artisan ice cream maker with such things as salty carmel [ that's what i got ], mint and raspberry sorbet, and other interesting but delicious creations.  and to end was some night time driving around the city to see the fremont troll and the fremont area, an amazing view of the city from kerry park, a look at capital hill and pioneer's square, ending in beacon hill and a night of blissful rest.

the next day i was a little slow going, but knew that i had to, just had to, get to spokane by 10p to pick up mommy from the airport!  finally a road warrior to forge ahead with me.  along the drive south and then west [ i took the long way having some time to kill ] i stopped to see the glass museum in tacoma washington.  an amazing space dedicated to the art of anything to do with glass.  full of examples and complete with a live studio where they invite artist to come and exhibit the way in which these masterful pieces are created.  after the musuem, i headed east on washington highway 12, stopped from lunch in mossy rock at kameo's for some chicken noodle soup and a grilled cheese, climbed 438 stairs to get a bird's eye view of mt. st. helens [ why o why i even counted these stairs, i don't know.  neither do i know why after two hundred i continued to climb, because even two weeks later, i'm pretty sure that my legs have still not recovered. ] and a drive along mt. rainer, still with a snow capped top.  i reached spokane with no more the three minutes to spare, picked up to ma, and headed to the hotel to brain storm about tomorrows adventures and night time reaching goal. so...good night.

recommendations:

     visit pike's market.  there seems to always be a lot of tourist hanging around to see the throwing and catching of the fish, but that's only done when one is purchased.  so either purchase a fish and watch i get thrown, hang out for a long time to see if it happens, or just ask one of the guys if you can catch one yourself.  easy as pie.

     seattle is a city of neighborhoods, so either grab a friend as a tour guide, or a map that lists out some of the various areas.  there is much of a different flare and feel about each one of them.  i am also growing more and more to believe that although the weather may not be a drawing factor for visitors and residents, it's variety and innovation of so many things and things to do and see, is.  you are destined to find something that you just can't believe, but now you can't live without.  me, mine is dry soda.  where in the heck else can i get this delicious stuff?!

     there are a lot of mountains, hills, and i'm sure hiking, cycling, and climbing trails.  do something outdoors.  rain or shine. [ and again like portland, don't carry an umbrella.  i mean do what you want, but... ]

notable washington:
    1.   within the city [ not sure about country ] cars are parked in both directions on both sides of a two way street.  there is nothing worse than seeing a spot, but not being able to take it because it's on the opposite side.  no problem here!  and there is also a lot of angled and backwards parking only areas of the street.  guess it helps not to have to parrallel park, but backing in on a busy street could up the pressure factor just a tad i might imagine.
    2.   into and out of the city, there are an additional two lanes that run with the heavier flow of traffic.  helps to get you in and out just a little bit faster.  perfect [ though it was disclosed that this does happen elsewhere, it was my first experience. ]
    3.   a great variety of food, and the invention of the seattle dog.  i love hot dogs!  but this could possible be the best edition ever...cream cheese and onions on a dog. 
    4.   they just flat out have great road signage.  there is a semi and towing vechiles slow down for turn sign, but i doesn't look like the average sign where you might tip over.  no, these are full blown cartoon sketches of a vechile squeeling around a corner, 3D and everything.  the +2 for car pools lanes are just so cute.  the ride share sign with the number '69-match'.  not sure that really makes me think of automobiles, but alas.  the no hitch-hiking with the thumbs up with the circle around it and slash mark through, just really makes me think of 'no thumbs up' and that makes me a little sad...but giggle at the idea of it just the same.