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Archive for June, 2009

2009 Crazy Stupid Vacation – Day 3 – Seattle, Washington, USA/British Columbia, Canada



Friday, June 26, 2009

British Columbia roadside.

Day three of my vacation consisted of driving. A whole lot of driving. Luckily I wasn’t the one behind the wheel this time and I learned that it is a whole lot easier (and perhaps a whole lot safer) to take video and photos while a passenger.

We woke up early and checked out of our hotel in Seattle and hit the road in a rental car for the Canadian border. Our destination for the night was a motel in New Hazelton, British Columbia.

Can you believe that this was my first time ever in Canada!!!

The day really did consist of nothing but driving, gas station stops, and lunch at a cute little hamburger joint (I got a fish sandwich and strawberry shake.) While there were no actual stops planned along the way I did manage to see a whole lotta roadside attractions! From a big marmot to a big toy man to a giant chicken on the roof of a restaurant! How awesome is that?

After driving for about 16 hours we didn’t get to our destination until well after midnight and by that time, despite doing nothing but sit in a car all day I was pretty exhausted. So I basically crawled into bed and passed out. I needed a good night’s sleep because I had another long day ahead…

p.s. Canada totally counts under “Silly America” because it’s still in North America.

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2009 Crazy Stupid Vacation – Day 2 – Seattle



First stop today was the Sci-Fi Museum in Seattle Center. It was pretty cool but the best part was the special exhibit on the work of Jim Henson. We didn’t have time then to go to the second have of the museum: EMP, but hand stamps could be used all day.

Why didn’t we have time? Well it was time for a Mariners game! And what a game it was! Not only did the Mariners kill it but there was a lot of action, some base stealing, AND the guys who were raking the field busted out in dance!

Afterward we returned to the Experience Music Project before it closed for the night!

Next up was the Space Needle! We went up to the top and checked out the views!

And, well, I am tired! Tomorrow I’m getting up bright and early and heading off to Hyder, Alaska! See you in Canada!

The Space Needle reflected in Experience Music Project in Seattle, Washington.

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turn around



“A good photograph is knowing where to stand” Ansel Adams

A sculpture and the Space Needle from the Olympic Sculpture Park in Seattle, Washington.

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2009 Crazy Stupid Vacation – Day 1 – Seattle



I took approximately five bazillion photos today…but you will have to wait for them all…in the meantime, here are a couple of my favorites from the day:

The Seattle Space Needle in Washington.

Seagulls in Seattle, Washington.

***

My alarm didn’t go off but luckily I was staying at my parents’ place so they could drive me and my dad woke me up. It was 2:15am so I really only got 3 hours of sleep. In the shower I got soap in my eye and the sting wouldn’t go away and hurt for over an hour. After leaving I realized that I forgot my phone charger and had to turn around to get it. I still got to the airport around 3:30 for my 5:15 flight and truthfully that is probably the least amount early I have ever been to a flight…and still when I got there I had to stand in line for 20 minutes because security wasn’t open. And I was not searched at security! Seriously, that is a first in a loooong time! I didn’t have any liquids and I guess my shoes this time didn’t pose any threats. I was kind of nervous because I didn’t have round trip tickets and I know that can set them off sometimes. But I got through with no problems!

There was a set of twin boys on my flight wearing shirts that said “Thing 1″ and “Thing 2″. Just sayin.

I got on my flight and slept most of the way to Phoenix. I opened my eyes and all I saw was desert. It was pretty awesome. When I got to Phoenix I headed to the gate on the boarding pass, which was all the way at the other end of the airport…I got there are there was nothing on the sign and no one at the desk…I checked the board and the flight had been moved to a gate pretty much exactly where I started…great.

So my day started kind of cranky…

But, despite the fact that my feet are now KILLING ME Seattle itself is so far totally amazingly awe to the some. AND while I did get lost a lot I didn’t get lost too much. You think with the amount I drive and travel I would have some sense of direction, but really I have ZERO. But I did way better at staying on track then I did when I went to Amsterdam. So I think my map-reading skills are getting better…

Anyways, enough about all that!

So I checked my bag into the hotel and took off. I didn’t really have a game plan, but the hotel way kind of sort of close to Capitol Hill so I decided to start there. First up was the very Silly American Seattle Museum of Mysteries which had info on bigfoots and ghosts and such. Then I headed to Volunteer Park to check out the free conservatory.

After that I took a break at a coffee house while it rained a little. So Seattle-esque, right?

Then what to do after coffee but stop for a burger. My coworker said Dick’s was delicious and she was correct. Word to the wise, you have to pay for ketchup, but it’s only 5 cents.

My final stop in Capitol Hill was to look for the Jimi Hendrix statue…which took entirely too long because I was on the wrong side of the street and there was a construction truck parked in front of it…

After that I took a walk through the downtown area where I saw a building with walruses on it and took a much needed break at the Seattle Art Museum. By break I mean they had a coat check (I carried my heavy camera bag and laptop around all day) and bathrooms and a little bit of air conditioning. Much needed. The museum was great though. A lot of modern art which was my favorite and a cool installation in the lobby made of old cars (which made me totally miss my Spindle).

After that I headed off the pier to check out Ye Olde Curiosity Shop and their crazy creatures, and stopped for lunch #2 at Ivar’s where I had some clam chowder on the pier and chased around some seagulls.

Then it was on to Olympic Sculpture Park in Belltown. A great collection of outdoor sculptures!

I walked around Belltown a bit, including passing by the iconic-to-Seattle-music Crocodile Cafe. Then walked to the Space Needle, but didn’t go up to the top yet.

I was going to try to find dinner but since I had already eaten two lunches I wasn’t that hungry. But the museums around the space needle were all closed and I just was looking for something else to do. But I still have trouble witht he whole going into a restaurant and eating alone thing. So I didn’t…

And…now I am EXHAUSTED! But it was a tons of fun day! And tomorrow I get to do it all again before driving to Alaska!

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From Sea to Shining Sea



And I am off! For the next twelve days I’ll be on the most awesometacular vacation of the year! It starts tomorrow morning when I fly to Seattle. From there I’m driving to Hyder, Alaska, and back… I’ll be spending a few days in Seattle and then flying to New York City! Yes, yes I do realize that New York and Washington are on opposite coasts, but I just can’t miss the Coney Island Fourth of July hot dog eating contest! I went last year and it was AMAZING! Can’t wait to be there again!

So I have a LOT and planned and you can bet there will be some Silly American awesomesauce along the way! I’ll be blogging and sharing photos as much as I can while on the road…and will be updating Twitter too!


View My Stupid Vacation in a larger map

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