We had an 8am start, but it would be a short travel day today. Our main stop was at the Mount St Helens Visitor Center at Silver Lake. On the way there, Jose showed us a movie about the eruption of the volcano back in the 1980s and the follow-up studies. Made me want to know more.
We took a look at the exhibits first, including a series of photographs that show how the volcano pressure built up and then exploded. The exhibition reported who died and survived in the path of the volcano. What is amazing to me is that vegetation was devastated as far as thirteen miles away. Check out this tree stump.
Unfortunately, the weather was pretty lousy, with low cloud and rain, which meant that only Di, Paul and I were interested (aka. stupid) enough to do the 1-mile Silver Lake Wetland Haven Trail. We wanted to see the volcano (and knew you would too). We did the walk, but I am not convinced they even have a volcano - I think it's only something they tell the tourists. At least, I have no proof they have a mountain at all. Take a look at the view. You tell me where it is! Mind you, I could be standing in the wrong spot...or facing the wrong way or something. You think they'd have a "look this way" sign at the very least.
A lot of the trail is boardwalk and, even in bad weather, seems popular with the locals, several of whom passed us. None of our fellow passengers did, however. Wimps. Would have been better had Di remembered my jacket, I got a little damp, so they lost two Teds. One for the rain and one for the total lack of volcano. I never said I would be fair now, did I?
Jose's next task on the drive to Seattle was to hand out the Archers aka Cosmos aka Globus questionnaires. Paul and Dave got 2010 versions (this was 2011 remember?) so their competition expired last December, which isn't helpful. They had the usual ambiguous questions too.
Rate the amount of leisuretime So, if I say "Good" is that because there was plenty of leisure time, or not much? Cos someone - like me - that doesn't like a lot of free time, they would say a little leisuretime is "Good", yet, someone who likes time for themselves will vote "Good" if there's a lot of it. So, is "Good" that there was a lot, or a little? A very stupid question. As Paul feels the need to explain. EVERY year. Just goes to show they don't take much notice of our responses. And here's me thinking it's a cynical attempt to gather my email addy. S'ok though - I just give 'em Di's.
We passed through the Port of Tacoma. Everything that is imported from China into the US comes through here - so it must be a busy place, judging by all that tourist tat I keep buying! Jose reckoned George Lucas got his idea for the Star Wars At-Ats from the huge cranes. It's not like he'd ever lied to us. Well, not that much. Probably.
On the way a lorry in front of us shed something cos something really knocked a hole in the windscreen (or windshield, if you prefer Americanisms). I'm sure it happened cos I was sat at the front of the bus. Maybe it was a bad sniper? Or not. Just outside the city we passed the Boeing Factory. We'd be going there for a closer look tomorrow.
Once we arrived in Seattle, Washington, we were dropped off at Pike Place Market. Here they sell food, flowers, fish and yet more cheap tat (probably from China?) There were also a lot of people. It was not a pleasant experience. Getting back on the bus it seems we weren't the only ones of that thought. Another one of the Archers tour misses, rather than hits, but there are always way more hits, in my opinion. The first Starbucks can be found in Pike Place Market - it opened in 1971, so that's good, right? Well, if you like Starbucks. I'll have a latte please. Or maybe a frappuccino.
We then took a brief tour of the Seattle sights - a couple of stadiums (well, I thought stadia, but Wikipedia says not), including Qwest Field, now Century Link Field, where David had plans to see the Seattle Sounders soccer team. At the other end of town we saw the King Street Station, which opened in May 1906 and is used by Amtrak. We passed the quirky looking Central Library before arriving at our final hotel of the tour - the Sixth Avenue Inn.
The hotel wasn't a great looking place and it didn't get that much better once we got inside. Despite having had the bags for two hours - J&J had dropped them off while we were at the Market - the hotel didn't start distributing them to the rooms until after we arrived. Some people found that very annoying as we only had an hour before going out again to the Space Needle (you know, the whole dressing up to go out thing?) Well, as you know, I don't often do that, so I was already sorted! Although, we did have those questionnaires to fill out.
That said, once we got to the room it seemed quite nicely decorated, with a fridge and microwave. Not sure about a room with a view, though. Not everyone's idea of a great view...
Despite the setbacks, we all made it back on the bus in time to get to the Seattle Space Needle by 4.50pm. Unfortunately, when we arrived it said on the door that we'd be kicked out at 5.30pm for a private function, so our plenty of time at the Needle was somewhat diminished. Bearing that in mind, we headed straight up to the elevators to get up to the top for as long as possible.
We stepped outside and the clouds had come in so it was a little dull, light-wise. We took a turn around the Observation Deck. Below us we could see the tidy little houses, a fountain and the Experience Music Project.
We saw South Lake Union, from where a bunch of floatplanes were taking off and landing. At the end of the lake is the Naval Reserve Armory
Below we could see the Seattle Ducks (more about this tomorrow), a TV station helicopter and here's some of the Seattle skyline. Ted fact - if you look at the opening of Frasier, you'll see the Seattle Space Needle as part of the skyline. But it's not. Cos the Needle is here, and the skyline is over there. Dramatic licence, I believe they call it. Or maybe lying.
We checked out the stadiums - Qwest and Safeco. In the distance we can see those At-Ats again (yikes!)...or maybe they're just the dock cranes. You probably can't quite see it, but in the middle of the shot with the yachts is a helicopter - this came up to the Needle and flew below us, which was pretty cool.
After we'd been up on the observation deck for about 25 minutes, they decided it was time to kick us out (they obviously didn't recognise me) - they were setting up for the private function, with a hot buffet (well, it certainly smelled, or possibly smelt, like it). Shame they didn't invite us to stay. Anyway, couldn't hang about...had to hit the gift shop and get back to the bus, so we made our way to the elevators.
Got to say that although the shop was pretty large, there wasn't much to grab my attention. No space-bear-needle costumes, f'rinstance. Well, there was one thing - Space Noodles, which are little pasta pieces shaped like the Space Needle, so they are Space Needle Noodles, or, Space Noodles. Very cool. I did consider making a Space Needle out of them...but I haven't. Yet. We dropped 'em a Ted, for kicking us out early, but it was a cool place to visit.
We got on the bus as we were heading out for our last meal together. We spent about ten minutes waiting for the Fremont Bridge which was open and totally blocked traffic. Eventually, we were back on our way. We passed the Armory that we saw from the top of the Needle.
We arrived at Ivar's Salmon House. I'm not a great fan of fish, but Jose had said that there was a veggie option for Di so we'd agreed to go - the last chance for most of us to get together. Unfortunately, it was a lousy meal. Maybe if we hadn't gone as a group we'd have been okay, but we did. There was a seat short, and we were all squeezed up one end of the restaurant. There was a struggle to get our drinks and an even bigger struggle about the veggie meal. They didn't seem to understand that vegetarians wouldn't want to eat the clam chowder. Not to mention Paul, who's allergic to shellfish. In fact, they even claimed their clam chowder didn't have any shellfish in it! D'oh! The clue's in the name, you muppets. So, against their better judgement, they reluctantly agreed to give us a salad. Apparently their group fixed menu didn't take account of us abnormal folk.
Di got the usual, here's a plate of veg so she was thrilled but the rest of us were mostly okay. Dessert was a bit thin on the ground too, with a tiny ice cream. Not our finest hour or our finest dinner. Was the worst we'd had since San Francisco. You'd think that restaurants offering group meals would have a clue about feeding a group. You wouldn't get that from our experience - you'd think they'd want the word of mouth of all those future customers, but it seems all they want is the money - I guess they know we're from out of town and a captive audience. They obviously don't care what we think. Perhaps they also don't realise we talk to people, too.
All that said, they had a nice view, so we decided to take a group photo, although it was getting dark. Of course, I got another shot of me with the guys, Johnny and Jose, and, if I'm honest, I'm not sure we put their tables back exactly as we found 'em, so I'll cut 'em some slack and give them two Teds. Probably more than they deserve.
