Seattle /Snoqualmie Falls

IT WAS A SIGN OF ALL THE IMPENDING AWE ON THIS TRIP TO CATCH A GREAT VIEW OF MT RAINIER ON THE RIDE IN.  MY FIRST STOP WAS THE SPACE NEEDLE FOLLOWED BY CHIHULY AND PIKE PLACE MARKET. THE MUSEUM CAMPUS WITH ALL THE ATTRACTIONS, WATERFRONT AND A SHORT DISTANCE TO PIKE PLACE MARKET MADE EVERYTHING CONVENIENT. THE SUNNY CLEAR DAY MADE FOR GREAT VIEWS AT THE TOP OF THE NEEDLE.

THE NEEDLE WENT FROM AN IDEA TO HOSTING VISITORS IN 1 YEAR IN 1961. IT IS STILL QUITE A MARVEL TODAY.  WHO CAME FIRST ? THE JETSONS OR THE NEEDLE ? DO YOU REMEMBER THE JETSON’S  DOG’S NAME ? THINK HOUSTON BASEBALL.

THE GLASS FLOOR IS NEW AND VERY COOL. THE TOP ROTATES ON A ONE HORSE POWER MOTOR . A SMARTY PANTS MAN IN FRONT OF ME SAID IT WAS SOMETHING TO DO WITH GEAR RATIOS. I THINK ASTRO IS ON A TREADMILL ASSISTING AS WELL.

PIKE’S MARKET WAS A FEAST FOR THE SENSES. THE LINE FOR THE MOTHER SHIP ORIGINAL STARBUCKS WAS CRAZY LONG AND I HOPE THEY ENJOYED THE COFFEE.

THE FOLLOWING ARE A BIT OUT OF SEQUENCE BUT HERE IS THE COMMENTARY.  I AM IN LOVE WITH A FEW THINGS. ONE IS A LADY WHOSE NAME RYHMES WITH SCHLEB BALONEY AND THE OTHER IS HYDRANGEAS. THEY WERE GROWING  EVERYWHERE LIKE CRABGRASS  JUST  MAGNIFICENT. THE BELOW WERE PARKING LOT WEEDS  OUTSIDE THE GROCERY STORE IN ISSAQUAH.

SNOQUALMIE FALLS WAS A HIGHLIGHT. IF YOU EVER WATCHED TWIN PEAKS, THIS IS THE PLACE. ORIGINALLY IT WAS A SACRED PLACE FOR THE NATIVES AND SO SACRED THAT THE MIST CARRIES PRAYERS DIRECTLY UP TO THE CREATOR. SNOQUALMIE IS SALISH FOR MOON.  LATER THE TOWN BECAME ALL ABOUT LOGGING AND ELECTRICITY PRODUCTION. THE HEIGHT OF THE FALLS IS 268′. TO COMPARE, NIAGARA FALLS IS 167′.

THE VISIT TO THE CHIHULY MUSEUM WAS A HIGHLIGHT. HE IS INSPIRED BY NATIVE ART AND THIS BLANKET DISPLAY WAS BREATHTAKING.

WRAP YOUR MIND AROUND THE FACT THAT CHIHULY’S  WORK IS HAND BLOWN GLASS THE WONDER DOES NOT CEASE.

THE SCALE OF THE GLASS IS MASSIVE.

THE WAY THE WORK WAS DISPLAYED WAS BREATHTAKING. BEING IN THE GARDEN ON A PERFECT DAY WAS A WIN TOO. I HAVE SEEN INSTALLATIONS IN CHICAGO, GRAND RAPIDS AND MIAMI, AND ST PETE. (I AM A  FAN)  BUT THIS DISPLAY WAS OVER THE TOP. I WAS NOT ALONE IN HAVING TO PAUSE AND SIT DOWN TO HAVE A MOMENT TO LET MY BRAIN ABSORB A FRACTION OF WHAT WAS THERE. THE EXPERIENCE WAS JOYFULLY REPEATED AT THE BUTCHART A FEW DAYS LATER, AND ON THE IRON HORSE TRAIL FOR THE RUNNING EVENT. WELL I DID NOT SIT DOWN ON THE RUNNING EVENT, JUST TEXTED PICTURES TO FRIENDS AT HOME TO SHARE THE MOMENT.

SEVERAL TIMES ON THIS TRIP I WAS  AWESTRUCK. KNOCK YOUR SOCKS OFF, TAKE A SEAT AWESTRUCK.   CHRISTOPHER BERGLAND DID A GREAT BLOG ON AWE FOR PSYCHOLOGY TODAY. HERE IS A SNIPPET:

AWE IS A SENSE OF WONDER FELT IN THE PRESENCE OF SOMETHING VAST THAT TRANSCENDS OUR UNDERSTANDING OF THE WORLD.

CHRISTOPHER WROTE THE ATHLETE’S WAY , IS AN ULTRA ENDURANCE LEGEND.  HE HOLDS A WORLD RECORD HOLDER FOR LONGEST DISTANCE RUN ON A TREADMILL IN 24 HOURS. 153 MILES IF YOU REQUIRE A NEW GOAL.

THE  PURPOSE OF MY  TRIP TO ALL 50 STATES (FOR THE SECOND TIME ) IS TO RUN A BIT.  MOST OF THE RUNNING MILES  BLUR TOGETHER BECAUSE I FOCUS INTENTLY ON MY FEET. THIS PREVENTS FALLING, AT WHICH I AM VERY ACCOMPLISHED.  I TRY TO FIND A LITTLE SOMETHING INTERESTING TO VISIT ON THE TRIP TO HAVE A MENTAL  BOOKMARK.   THE BLOG IS TO SHARE THE TRIP AND HAVE A TANGIBLE RECORD FOR THE MEMORIES WHICH GET A BIT BLURRY TOO !  AM I THE ONLY ONE WITH OCCASIONAL BLURRY THOUGHTS ? 

UPON FURTHER REFLECTION THE MARATHONS BEGAN THE QUEST BUT NOW TRUTHFULLY IT IS MOSTLY ABOUT THE SIGHTSEEING, A MEANS TO AN END. AN END TO A MEANS.

SEVERAL FOLKS SAID THEY WANTED TO BE IN MY SUITCASE THIS SUMMER. I AM JAMMING IN A BUNCH OF STATES TO FREE UP TIME TO PREPARE FOR THE BIKE ACROSS  USA WITH BUBBA NEXT SPRING. I HOPE TO BLOG AND BIKE MY WAY FROM SAN DIEGO TO ST AUGUSTINE FOR 7 WEEKS. TO FOLLOW ALONG AND GET THE 411 PLEASE TAKE THE FOLLOWING 2 STEPS TO GET THE BLOG DELIVERED RIGHT TO YOUR INBOX.

1. HIT COMMENT
2. CHECK THE NOTIFY ME BOX.

THANK YOU.

 

NEXT SCREEN:

WISHING YOU SOME AWE AND WONDER WHEREVER YOU FIND IT.

LOVE TO ALL -GET OUT AND PLAY,

NW