Day 9 - Cities!

"A good cyclist does not need a high road."

-Arthur Conan Doyle, "The Adventure of the Priory School"

"Cycle tracks will abound in Utopia."

-H. G. Wells, A Modern Utopia

"Status quo, you know, is Latin for 'the mess we're in.'"

-Ronald Reagan

Have I ever told you how much I love cities? They are absolutely amazing! We were in Seattle for almost the entire day and had a great time. Chris, Debby, and Thomas Weldon came by the Hampton Inn around 11:00 A.M., picked us up, and off we went to the big city. First of all we went to Ivars for lunch. Chris found a parking spot right across the street. Ivars is a fish place right on the water where the seagulls eyed our food but politely restrained until we finished and offered some tidbits. Next we went to the Pike Place Market where Chris found a parking spot right in front of the place. We walked, looked at a gazillion flowers of all colors, sampled macaroni and cheese, visited the very first Starbucks (There are 416 in the Seattle phone book!), listened to street musicians, stuck gum on the gum wall, looked for t-shirts, ate honey sticks, and took many photos. Most of all we laughed. 

Have you ever heard of "Ride the Ducks"? We did that next. It's a ninety minute tour of Seattle in an amphibious machine that took us through Seattle and into, that's right, into Union Lake. On the water we not only saw all of Seattle and the Seattle Space Needle, but the floating house from "Sleepless in Seattle" and the "Horizon" from "America's Deadliest Catch." We saw Mt. Ranier and all the highlights of the city. Most of all we laughed.

Before heading to supper we went to the Hiram M. Chittenden Locks and watched as boats and ships, large and small, went from fresh water to salt water, a high lake to a lower ocean connection . . . without getting the salt water into the fresh. Amazing!

For the third time we ate at Claim Jumper in Lynnwood. Chris, Debby, Thomas, Margaret, and I ate (way too much), talked, and we laughed. The Bible says, "A cheerful heart is good medicine . . ." (Proverbs 17:22). We overdosed today! 

We had a great driver today and a super tour guide. Chris drove and Debby guided. I highly recommend both and if you ever get to Seattle, give them a call. Chris is very careful and courteous as he drives. We get where we're supposed to visit because of Debby. Now she's a little like the Energizer Bunny. She's twelve volt but runs constantly on a twenty-four volt battery! She will keep you busy and you will see Seattle. That's a fact. Whether it's quackin' on the Ducks, chewing gum to stick on the famous gum wall, getting a picture with the fish-throwers, or searching for a t-shirt, she will keep you busy. She kept us busy and I think I can stay awake long enough to finish this post.

So you're probably thinking, "Is this by the same guy that wrote yesterday's blog?" Yep! That's me. Do I love cities? I'm okay with them, especially if I don't have to drive. I can really enjoy the sights, smells, people, and architecture of a big city if I can be with someone who can get me in and get me out. Today I had that. Today I had a great time in the city. Yesterday Margaret and I had four photographs from our whole time in Seattle. Today we got 153! What made the difference? Our calm driver and twenty-four volt tour guide! All we had to do was follow.

Life is a whole lot better when we have someone dependable to follow.