Alaska trip Sunday 5/31/15 Issaquah WA

Alaska trip Sunday 5/31/15 Issaquah WA

We attended Faith United Methodist church this morning— the only UMC church in Issaquah— just about 3-4 miles away.  They have 9 am and 11 am services— both the same.  So we got there about 8:50 —  a few people said good morning, but no one asked us if we were visitors — not as friendly as our GUMC in Alamogordo.  It was a pretty sanctuary and there were about 80 people there.  The prelude was a classical piece with piano and flute— the flautist looked like a high school girl who did not dress up much for her performance— a tank top and short shorts!  It sounded nice.  They then had 10+ minutes of praise songs that we did not know.  There were 4 kids for the children’s time.  The “anthem” was a praise song sung by the lady praise team leader.  The minister— Pastor Elizabeth, was about 35 — she preached on “Calling— what does God want me to do”.  She was a good speaker, and made the point that our calling in life should be the intersection of our passion and the needs of the world.  They sang a few songs out of the hymnal, and that was it.  As we left, again no one said anything to us — I was shocked.  (If we had stayed for coffee time, I’m sure someone would have approached us, but we had other stuff to do.)  On the way, we stopped at a fruit stand to get some fresh Rainier cherries— they are red and yellow and very good— a little sweeter than the Bing cherries that we are used to in NM.

We went back to the RV to change clothes, then met up with our friend Betsy at the Mercer Island Park and Ride, about 10 miles up I-90 from us.  Betsy chauffeured us around— she has lived here since the 80’s, so really knows her way around town.  She drove us to the Lake Washington Ship Canal by the Hiram Chittenden Locks in Ballard.  Someone was just leaving as we came, so we got an excellent parking spot.  The weather, again, was lovely, so there were lots of people in the park & gardens along the canal and at the viewing area by the locks.  The 8 mile canal was built in the 1800’s to float logs. Hiram Chittenden made plans for the locks that were completed in 1917 by the Army Conservation Corp.  Today, there were mainly pleasure boats going thru the locks — workers guide the boats in to one side or the other, and when there are enough boats to fill the locks, the gates close and water is released, then later drained just by gravity— it takes 10-15 minutes to elevate a vessel from Puget Sound to the level of Salmon Bay — and it is free of charge to the boaters!  It really was fun to watch—  and to see inside these luxurious crafts.  We then walked over to the fish ladder on the other side of the canal — it was build in 1916, then replaced in 1976.  Unfortunately, this is not quite yet salmon migration season, so we only saw a few baby fish in the viewing areas.  We walked back to the locks to watch some more, then headed out.

Betsy drove us to a neighborhood where we had a lovely view of Shishole Bay, the harbor, and marina below— we had a good view of the Olympic mountains, and the little park had lots of colorful flowers.  We got to drive thru some pretty affluent neighborhoods who have great views!  We drove down to the harbor to eat lunch at Anthony’s — there are several Anthony’s restaurants in Seattle— but we asked, and they were not related to the Anthony’s we have been to in San Diego — we really liked that Anthony’s too!)  They were serving brunch or lunch.  The waitress led us to a booth — Betsy asked if we could be closer to the window, and she led us to the best table in the room — the corner window overlooking the bay!  Betsy and I had a seafood omelet with shrimp and crab— delicious.  Larry had an egg benedict.  They start you out with a chunks of excellent blueberry coffee cake and fresh fruit— we were full before our entree came— very delicious.  

Since we weren’t too far away, Betsy suggested MOHAI— the Museum of History and Industry.  She had been there years ago, but the exhibits had completely changed.  The exhibits we enjoyed most were of the great fire in Seattle in 1898 and American Spirits— The rise and fall of prohibition.  It was a well done museum with some videos and interactive exhibits.  The building as a former Naval Reserve Armory — I was impressed by the big beautiful preserved wood floor on the main level.  On the top level, there were very nice views of Lake Union.  We could see some areas where there were houseboats— one, way far in the distance, was the one that was on Sleepless in Seattle!  Betsy dropped us back at our car in the park and ride— it was a very good day!  Tomorrow, it is supposed to rain — boo!

at the locks

Betsy drove us to this viewpoint park

at Anthonys

MOHAI museum

invented in Seattle

prohibition exhibit

Sleepless in Seattle filmed WAY in the distance

Alaska trip 5/30/15 Saturday Issaquah

STARR TREKS SATURDAY 5/30/15 ISSAQUAH WA

We got up early this morning and drove 45 miles to the Wallace Falls trailhead in a state park.  We got there about 8:10 am and easily found a parking spot— the park opened at 8.  The hike was lovely thru a forest of fir and cedar trees.  Many of the dead trees had Spanish moss draping the branches.  It was 1.8 miles to the lower falls and rated as a medium hike.  We started at 350 ft and hiked to 870 ft— it was a lot of uphill.  We went on .3 mi to the middle falls which was really beautiful — this was 1100 feet elevation.  We talked to some other hikers, and they said the upper falls — .6 mi and up to 1570 ft was not worth the strenuous hike— said the middle falls had the best view.  So we stopped there at 2.1 miles.  On the way down, we met many many hikers — we were very glad we came early, since there was not a whole lot of room at the viewpoints for the falls.  There were a lot of Asian tourists— I was surprised they would come to a place like this that is sort of out of the way.  Anyhow, near the trailhead, we found a bench to sit on overlooking the rippling stream to eat our picnic lunch —  a very nice hike.

Since we were pretty far northeast, we decided to drive on to the Boeing Factory so we could take their tour.  Intererestingly, building airplanes is the greatest industry in Seattle.  We used our GPS, and once again it failed us.  We drove in many circles looking for this very large building.  We finally stopped at a gas station to get directions. We got into a tour that was going to start in about 15 minutes.  We were not allowed to take anything at all electronic on the tour— no cameras, no cell phones— no photos allowed.  Our tour guide Joann, was very good.  She said she used to be a buyer for Macy’s, but actually got married to an airline pilot at the Future of Aviation museum here— the person she worked with on the wedding told her she should apply for a job as a guide, so she did.  We saw a short video, then got bussed to the huge building where planes are assembled.  Joann said it was the size of 17 football fields, and that it was large enough that Disneyland could fit inside it!!  We got to see areas where 747’s, 777’s, and 787’s are assembled.  Since it was Saturday, there were not too many people working, but she said that they have like 22,000 employees who work 3 shifts.  They stagger the hours of the shifts, but still have huge traffic jams.  We could see several planes in various stages of assembly — they sell the planes all over the worls.  It was surprising to me, how much of an airplane is still assembled by human hands— I guess I thought they would have robotics or something on an assembly line.  Each plane they make sells for like $340 million!!!  The guide also shared with us that this is the biggest area in WA that there is no Starbucks!  Tully got the contract for Boeing!  There was a small museum there, but we were pooping out from our hike, so didn’t spend a lot of time.

When we got back to the RV, we got busy making some reservations for next week when we plan to ferry the car from Arrontes WA, thru the San Juan Islands, to Vancouver Island.  We are going to spend the night in Victoria and see as much as we can in one day.  After that, we’ll be heading to Canada— not sure if we will have internet or GPS.  Larry ordered phone service — we each get 100 minutes a month.  

Tomorrow, we will find a Methodist church to attend.

along the walk to town

near the Wallace falls trailhead

lower falls

lower lower falls

middle falls

boeing plant

future of flight aviation center

engine turbine

piece of turbine made of carbon fiber composite

Alaska trip Friday 5/29/15 Issaquah WA

STARR TREKS FRIDAY 5/29/15 ISSAQUAH WA

We got up at 5:45, ate breakfast, made a picnic lunch, and then when we started really studying the map to Mt Rainier, decided not to go.  A lot of the park is not even open this early in the year, and it was going to be a very long 2-3 hr drive just to get there.  So we elected to do some waterfall hikes that were a lot closer.  Twin Falls was recommended to us by a friend of our friend Betsy who lives here.  I also read about it in an article in Visit Seattle Visitor’s Guide.  It only took about 30 minutes to get to Olallie State park (where we had to pay a $10 day use fee!).  Part of the trail is washed out and under repair, so we started on the John Wayne Pioneer trail.  Most of it was nice and shady, but the humidity warmed us up— another wonderful sunny day.  This is considered an easy hike, but there were a LOT of ups and downs— we would call it a moderate, tho no rock climbing.  A few areas were muddy (reminded us of when we hiked up and down to the leper colony Kalipaupua in Molokai 2 yrs ago!).  The waterfall was very nice.  There was another one below the boardwalk bridge that we stood on.  It was odd to be able to hear traffic noise, since I-90 is not real far away.  It was about 3 miles and took 2 hr.  We ran into a few other young hikers— one girl ran the entire hike!! as we huffed and puffed along.  I then saw another waterfall hike that was only 12 miles away, going toward Issaquah.  The Snoqualmie Falls was accessible by a paved path near a hotel /spa, the Salish Lodge (I looked it up and the rooms are $484 a night!!!!!)  What I did not realize, was that we could hike all the way down to the river which made this very nice.  We went thru a beautiful forest, then finally got to the river — the sign warned that this was the equivalent of climbing up and down a 32 story building!  It is only .7 miles each way, but it was a lot of climbing.  They had lots of logs to sit on along the trail, + signs describing the hydroelectric plant located there— it was first built in 1898, and completely redone in 1996.  We sat on rocks along the river to enjoy our lunch —and it just doesn't get any better than this— enjoying the sunshine, the river, and our lunch!  There was another area with a boardwalk where you could walk past the hydroelectric plant and see the bottom of the falls— so misty it was hard to see the waterfall down there.  

We got back to the RV and got cleaned up — I wanted to go to a museum, but Larry vetoed me!  We did drive down to the chamber of commerce in Issaquah, trying to get some information on ferrying up to Victoria.  We think we will start driving toward the border on Tuesday and will stay on the US side.  We want to leave from Arronte WA and ferry with our car thru the San Juan Islands (hope we’ll see some whales!) to Sidney on Vancouver Island, then spend one night and see the island and Victoria.  We have some organizing to do before then.

Tomorrow, I gave the choice of Mt Rainier, or another closer waterfall hike to Larry.  He chose Wallace Falls, so that will be our destination in the morning.

custom made tables at the bridge center

twin falls trail

twin falls

twin falls

twin falls

squalmamie falls

down by the river

walking back up the trail

a nursemaid tree-- tree dies and provides nutrients for another tree to grow on top of it