This is the 2 June 2005 edition of this page
Chapter Two
ROBYN TAKES US TO 'THE ROCKIES'
Whilst our (Cosmos) Escort for this trip was Marily Penrick who met us individually
at Seattle's airport, her colleague for the whole trip was to be another woman in this all-girl crew, -
namely our driver ROBYN.
Marily checked me in as the 5th out of 28 in the group. She now contacted the bus-company
to "come to the airport". We were, of course, at the SEATAC airport (i.e midway between Seattle and
Tacoma) and would, first, be driven to Seattle - by an older way and not the 'freeway'. She passed around
some info and maps and spoke on the way to Seattle.
In the hotel (the CAMLIN) I got my room-key (for 605) and a Map which should be useful.
Having got to my room at 17.45 hrs (equivalent to tomorrow's 1.45a.m back home where I've just
come from!) - I considered 'going for walkies'. My case did not arrive until 17.56 hrs and then I thought
it advisable to search out food-shops etc.
Now my room at the Camlin (on the junction of 9th Ave/Pine St) and I walk out the exit onto
8th Ave. I explored Seattle from 8th Ave to 2nd Ave, calling in at the MonoRail Terminal (first time since
my 1977 visit) and continued until 7.40pm (i.e 3.40a.m tomorrow in UK timing) where, in my room, I
decided on an 'early night'.
I had very little sleep that night due to the proximity of INTERSTATE90 (just the same problem
that experienced with other Cosmos hotels in Europe!). I just studied papers and maps whilst in this state.
On finding the 'Cloud Room' - which was the Hotel's restaurant way up on the 11th Floor - I also changed
another $50 traveller's cheque and then had breakfast between 6.30 an 7.30. My company for this was a
gaggle of ladies from Florida and Newcastle-upon-Tyne.
After breakfast, I decided to return to the "Seattle Center" (the ex-World-Fair site [this time
without Elvis!]). It's the first time that I've visited it in 18 years. My walk started before the monorail - so I
took a morning walk and took photos on the way there. Once there, I again went up the "Space Needle"
and investigated the scenery (including Mount Rainier) from observation platforms - both inside and out!
After descending from the "Needle", I walked around the "Center" and pondered on why the
very high velocity that the Needle's lift has now been reduced to a more sedate 'trundle'. Still quite fast, but
not like it used to be in 1977. I returned then, on the Monorail, to the 'Westlake Center' (a Mall!) and had
refreshments whilst overlooking the monorail track - and taking photos of it. I had, earlier, investigated the
Interstate90's intersection with Pine street and photographed it.
I continued my expedition down Olive Way and Stewart Street to the Market Area near the
waterfront. [That was between Pike Place and Western Avenue]. Although I don't normally like shops
and markets, this was a GREAT place with a GREAT atmosphere - with fish, fruit, flowers etc and it
was crowded and cheerful. I renewed my supply of bananas!!
I then extended the walk under the Alaskan Way Viaduct, near Pike's Place Hillclimb and
spent most of the rest of the morning and afternoon at various places on the waterfront complexes.
Near the Aquarium, I chose to go to the OMNIDROME, a very wide screen [virtually 180 degrees!]
with multichannel stereo - to put one right in the picture with all the senses.
I saw two films each of three-quarters of an hour - and they were:
(1) "The Eruption of Mt St. Helens" - and
(2) "Speed - The Ultimate Big-Screen Experience"
All the piers Southwards from 63/62 along to 54 were examined and experienced in detail.
I had problems with an oriental sales-girl with the prices and city-taxes on my frozen-yoghurt icecream!
That experience removed the 'pleasure' from the normally-wonderful 'frogurt'.
There were 'great' 'Waterside-Complexes' rivalling, if not exceeding, those of 'Olde Bryggen'
in Norway. After crossing the Alaskan Way road to Western Avenue, I then walked Northwards
for a very interesting walk around the Public Market. There was a 'great' atmosphere still there, with
useful clean toilets, and a marvellous range of 'goodies' to eat!
Thereafter, I went UP the length of Pine Street from the market to 8th Avenue - and
eventually to the back-entrance of my Camlin Hotel, making a very happy and very contented day
(still only 2pm!) of DIY explorations. They are always (or nearly always) better than the guided tours.
In the Space Needle's lift (or 'elevator', for my American readers) the operator said, after
we had entered "I'll be your guide for the next 41 seconds!!". Clearly, 'Health & Safety' has a lot to
answer for in its speed-reduction over the years since my first trip on this 'rocket-ship'!
The MonoRail driver exhibited humour both during the 'drive' - and also on the EXIT. His
comments there included " All passengers should leave from the right-hand side. Passengers
attempting to leave from the left-hand side should look under their seats for a 'Bungee Rope'!"
After yesterday's low -temperature (75deg-80deg) introduction to Seattle, today (4 Sept)
provided more heatwave conditions, - so I'll be seeking shade from the sun again! Thus, when I was
back in the Camlin Hotel, I had the best shower for ages. It wasn't the 'tame' British type of shower but
an all-American very-powerful one that threatened to blast me out of existence! Having said that, it
was a very user-friendly control-system that was a pleasure to use. This factor added to the pleasures
of the day - and my water-blasting shower ended at 3pm!!
I passed the time with various activities in my own room, recording my travels, and kept
going until 4pm! Those activities involved the paperwork, planning and finance for tomorrow. A visit
to a 'drug-store' for food for this evening and tomorrow was well worth while too! I consumed some
of these resources and then went down PINE STREET to watch the 'big parade', then went along
'4th Avenue'. All evening there was something on - including OVER 6000 runners (male & female) in
a marathon!! Then a collection of 'bands', motor-cycle display teams (police mainly!), many cars
full of 'governers', officers (civil plus military), female cheerleaders - and, wait for it, - the most
appealing and warranted clapping was for the many POWER BOATS and their SERVICE-TRAILERS
(great American TRUCKS!).
These Power Boats were both Internal Combustion Engines AND Jet Boats. They would
be racing on LAKE WASHINGTON tomorrow! (Presumably after we've crossed it!!) It's wonderful
what Bill Gates can get on his local 'pond'!!
I was on 4th Avenue from about 6.30-10.00pm - with more acheing in my feet that for many moons!
It was sheer agony for the last couple of hours - more severe for longer than I care to remember.
I was joined by two English couples and a local Seattle couple ( all of them admitting that "today's
temperatures were unusual"). I was too tired and 'achy' when I returned to my room, so
decided that supper and bed-packing would have to wait - until sometime early tomorrow morning?!
In the morning after a sleepless night (although NOT as bad as the previous one) due to my desire
for fresh air, despite the proximity of a noisy "INTERSTATE 90" to my room, I was UP at 4.30a.m
for a shave, see some paperwork and to prepare for the new day (Saturday, 5th August 1995). These
tasks were effectively completed by 5.15am.. So the I went back to bed!!.
I got up again at 6.00 am to wash, complete the packing, and get my case 'outside the room' and went
to breakfast just after 6.30 am.. Alone on a 'single-table', I chose a Continental Breakfast with the
addition of fresh fruits etc.. The kind waitress said that I could be accompanied by another person if
I wished - but I replied " OK!! Thanks a lot, but I'll be going soon". That person, whose name
I found shortly after breakfast, was the very interesting VICKY. I'm so glad that the waitress ignored
my response and got us 'in touch'. We chatted continuously without my leaving the table as
originally intended!!
I found VICKY in her seat on the coach and found a nice chatting relationship, discussing a
multitude of topics, views and thoughts. These thoughts proved that our philosophies of life
were very much in line!! We got on very well right from the beginning. As the coach headed out
over Washington Lake's floating bridge we heard that our TOUR DIRECTOR on board this
coach was a bright young lady by the name of CARMEN (BILAC) and that our DRIVER was
another high personality lady by name of ROBYN.
We headed into the Cascade Mountains!!
At our stop at the small German-styled town on LEVENWORTH, Vicky and I looked for a
cafe/restaurant for a little snack/refreshments which we were both in need of. We found
a nice place together. The waitress, probably misjudging our closeness, put both of our
bills together and treated us as a 'couple'.
Afterwards we both took a walk into this delightful 'Bavarian' village, taking photos and
listening to music. What a 'great' place!!
For the next leg of our journey, we swapped seats with each other and, fortunately, we
discovered that we are NOT being separated (as had been our first thoughts). We headed,
first EASTWARDS, then NORTH for another stop at Omak (still USA!) where the
outside temperature was a very dry, very hot 100 degrees (distinctly different from the
coach's interior!!)
We both bought refreshments, partly consumed them, but conserved most for the long
trip ahead. Back on the coach we headed for the CANADIAN BORDER, Vicky sitting in
the aisle seat to give a comfortable position to her painful leg.
Heading off into Canada, we chat, view the fabulous scenery, joke together and compare
thoughts and views on many topics. Such an interesting lady! We progress along the long
Lake Chanagan, across another floating bridge to KELOWNA - and eventually arrive at
the Ramada Lodge Hotel by about 6pm.. I had 'settled-in' by 6.55pm. This was the first
time that Vicky and I had been separated all day, but we cooperated a fair amount in a
game organised and started by our courier, CARMEN, to help to get fellow-travellers to
get to know each other!.
Another member of the 'crew' was the larger ROBIN - our coach-driver with personality
from Australia (well, one of its off-shore islands!) who was multi-genned and a wonderfully
interesting and amusing lady. This much-modified monster-coach (by some male garage
mechanics - just for a laugh!) was giving her some embarassing situations and problems,
which she laughed about and safely dealt with..
After eating, writing these notes and exploring locally on foot, I tried to control the multi-channel
TV before using it! Whilst on the exploratory walk, I came across a programmed digital-display
which was advertising, amongst other things, "Fire-burning, Top-Fuel, Funny Cars". This was,
quite clearly, at the KELOWNA DRAG-STRIP that I'd read about (and almost forgotten) back
in the UK!!.
Also, whilst on that walk, I investigated possible breakfast-locations for tomorrow. Pity that I can't
stay and visit their Drag-Strip!! Anyhow, so close to the 'border', I managed to change some US
travellers-cheques into Canadian Dollars. Because of earlier 'lost-sleep', I turned-in between 9pm
and 10pm.. In this room with noisy air-conditionning and windows that won't open, digital alarms
that one can't switch off (apart, temporarily, by a 'dream' button) - any sleep was going to be a
challenging exercise!! By 6.20am the following morning, after 3 awakenings separated by 10 minutes
each, that challenge came to an end! - I had clearly failed!!