Top Gun

I made it to Seattle a couple of hours ago.  One guy I talked to yesterday said that Seattle was hilly.  He was wrong.  It's more mountainous in my opinion than anything.  I decided to walk from the train station to the hotel.  .8 miles.  Carrying three bags again walking this distance with the hills here might not have been the best idea.  My bonus was walking past a homeless woman absolutely yelling and berating another woman with pleasantries like, "I'll mace you," only to be followed up by, "I'll cut you.  I don't care.  Stay away from me."  Welcome to Seattle, Brian.  Welcome.  

So after a much needed hour long nap, I've grabbed some food and on the move again.  

Maybe I'm wrong, but I feel like there is a scene in Top Gun where Maverick tosses Goose's dog tags off the back of an aircraft carrier.   Well, this reminds me of that scene that may or may not exist 

That's the back of the auto deck of the Pullyaup, a ferry from Seattle to Bainbridge island.  $8 ride over, free on the way back.  It's been a smooth ride on a huge ferry.  

Seattle in the background here:

Heading towards Bainbridge:

Bikers lined up ready to go: 

Halfway There Shawn

When I think of Seattle, the first name that comes to mind is sweet swining Ken Griffey, Jr.  I still think it's so cool that he and his dad hit back to back home runs. Wonder what year that was.  Let me look that up real quick.  Brb. Ok I'm back.  The wifi isn't working real well.  I'll have to look that one up. Or better yet, Blas, what year was that?  You're maybe wondering why Shawn is in the title.  Oh you're not?  Ok no worries.  

If you are, Shawn Kemp is the second name that comes to mind when I think of Seattle.  

Anyway, looks like we are about halfway to Seattle now.  Officially in Washington.  This is another first for me. 

No Shoes, No Shirt, Maybe a Problem

So during this safety video on the train, the host mentions, "And be sure when you're moving about the train that shoes must be worn."  This is the second time I've heard that warning since being on the train.  Just makes me wonder how big of a problem travelers going sans shoes is.  And yes, I LOVE using the word "sans" as often as possible.  It makes me feel sophisticated....like I'm riding a train, wearing a top hat, a monocle and a tux.  Sadly, only one of those four are true at the moment.   

Union Station

Walked the .6 miles from the Vintage to Union Station.  Nice morning for a walk howeve carrying three bags made it feel a little longer than .6.  Everyone was very friendly with Amtrak.  I had no clue what to do, where to check in, how baggage worked, etc and everyone was very helpful.   On the Cascades 500 to Seattle now.  4 hour ride.  Smooth so far.  Clean, nice train.   

Astoria Column

Don't believe I devoted a post to the Astoria Column.  Wow.  This one was a whirlwind stop on today's tour.  After talking with a couple from Sacramento I decided to head north from Canon and check out the Column. It didn't disappoint 

This column is at the top of Astoria as you'll see in a second. Or longer depending on how slowly your Intel Pentium processor works.  Remember those?  Yeah me neither. 

Pano 1:

Pano 2:

Ok so the elderly volunteer told me that the tradition was to throw planes off the top of the column.  Me not being one to skimp on tradition, yes I did say that to her, ponied up the $1 to purchase a plane: 

....and proceeded to toss it like so:  

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xi2udTiVrGM

It was pretty cool watching it float away like that.  Being on top of the column produced both fear and exileration.  It wasn't as though I thought the tower was going to topple, it was probably more that I would toss my phone instead of the plane or that the wind would catch it and take it over the rail.  Oh here are some shots of the spiral staircase.  164 steps I think I heard a kid count...was that kid me?  

 

Another part of the fun was riding to Astoria and leaving Astoria heading back to Portland.  Here are some shots of that ride:

Hard to see this one but there are piles and piles of logs.   Logging is huge up here 

Another great day in Oregon.  The landscape and the people didn't disappoint again. I ended up speaking with a guy seemingly in his 30s before the Blazers game.  He wasn't going to the game and was just hanging out in the food area the organization had set up.  He is from Illinois and moved to Seattle to get away from the business and found seattle to be as busy as Chicago so he moved to Portland.  He likes the big city feel and yet the laid back nature of everyone here. I agree with him.  I haven't met anyone here that I would characterize as rude or in a hurry.  Even driving was a pleasure around the state.  I can't help but wonder that people here are a little more laid back because of the natural beauty that surrounds them.  I know, for me, when I got back to the hotel, I was on a high from all of the things I had seen and done.  Starting with The Falls yesterday and culminating with a whirlwind trip up the coast and back, I saw a TON of natural beauty and experienced wonderful sensations through sight, sound, touch, and smell all the way down in my soul while traversing the Oregon coast and countryside.  I'm very thankful for this swing of Tripapalooza 2015.  I don't know how Seattle will compete and I'm willing to give it a try.

Blazers Win

Good NBA atmosphere.  Too bad the Suns were not very good.  

Piled in the MAX heading back downtown.  

Whoops

So you remember when I said how easy purchasing a ticket was?  Well it was however there was a gentlemen in my seat when I arrived.  Who was it you might ask?  The season ticket holder! They let him in the building too.  He was very gracious and of course gave me the seat.  So he sold his seat and still is in the building.  Not a bad deal.  Makes me want to be a Trailblazers Season Ticket Holder

Passbook, You Sly Dog Ewe

Here's what just happened. 

Walked across the Columbia River:

Got here:

Talked to a scalper.  Then another.  And the another.  And then one more.  

Then I went to my phone, found a great seat at a great price. Checked with the ticket window just incase he had a better one. He didn't.  Then purchased ticket online and? Yep.  Put it in passbook 

Thank you Steve.  Rip City!!

Ecola State Park and Canon Beach

Totally wish I could record the sounds and smells.  Temperature is so refreshing and cool right now. So peaceful just sitting and relaxing and of course blogging for you the loyal fan.  

This park is just north of Canon Beach

Spoke with a local home grown Canon Beach resident and he was delightful.  He explained that this is more of a family beach and beachfront property is at least $1 Million for the lot.  He is surrounded by some Texas oil money homes and some .com money homes.   Here's a front beach home at Canon.  Yeah, I'm hip.  I just called it Canon.  

Here's the big rock formation up close.  Totally amazing: 

Canon Beach

Another gorgeous part of Oregon.  You know what?  I know you're tired of hearing me say that.  But I'm going to say that whenever I think it's warranted. And it's warranted again.  Canon Beach reminds me of the west coast Scotland near Turnberry.  Very similar rock formations.  

Multnomah Falls and More

I did my homework.  Sort of.  If homework consists of asking several people where I should visit while in Portland then I am halfway to my masters.  I got a lot of great information from all of you who volunteered it and I really appreciate it.  Today after The Huddle concluded, I checked into my hotel, rented a car, and headed east towards Multnomah Falls.  Don't worry, I can't pronounced it either.  It usually comes out a Mulminuah Falls when I try.  And let me say I have never seen anything like this area.  Pictures do not do the falls justice. Oh and yeah, this post might be a little longer than normal.  It's only limited by the fire burning in the meat of my thumbs as I type this.   Don't act like you don't know what I'm talking about.  Oh and you know what?   I can use double negatives if I want to.  It's my blog.  Anyway, the falls are beautiful, lush, green and feature a trail to the top of the falls.  I must admit, I didn't know where I was going when I started out on the trail. But I kept going.  And going.  Up. Up. Higher.  And going.  And boy was it worth it.  The falls are loud at the top and the view is incredible. 

On the way back down the trail, this little number rolls up on me.  

In the gift shop (yes there's a gift shop.....that water doesn't run on it's own folks)(ok that was a joke yall....relax) the cashier suggested Horsetail Falls. And here it is above ^

So after Horsetail, the race was on to get to Vista House to see this:

Yeah. I know. Ridiculous right?  Oregon is a 5 Star place.  It's a mixture of North Carolina mountains, Ireland and a bunch of Oregon.  Hard to describe in a poorly written blog.  

And here's the view of the Columbia River Gorge and the Vista House in the distance from the Portland Women's Farm. 

What an incredible afternoon. Yes.  I was tired.  It was a looong way up to the top of the falls and it was worth every step. 

Keep up the good work Oregon.