Day 2

Off to Seattle!

Off to Seattle! I could scarely believe it! The nerves were really bad and the hub and I struggled to down some breakfast in the executive lounge, before getting our things together and ordering a taxi, which arrived at about 11:30am. At Terminal 4, we checked in (using the automatic machine which gobbles up your credit card and then issues you tickets - very clever!), but we couldn't check in our bags because we were too early!! So we hovered for a while, before dropping them off with a bloke who didn't seem to understand what we were asking for. I feared we'd never see those bags again. We then went through the security checks (no frisking this time!), and plonked ourselves down at Costa's for coffee and Danish. There was a great view of the planes taking off! Then we went in search of a replacement fleece for hub .... not at all successfully - and, as the whole place was heaving, we decided to go and sit at Gate 7 and wait for departure. There was this bloke, sitting behind us, strumming a guitar and mumbling. He obviously thought himself the new Kurt.

Finally we got on the plane, Flight BA0049, bound for SeaTac airport.

Our seats weren't too bad - although too little leg room, of course. Take off was ... hmm ... sinking stomach and all that! I just do not like that feeling. I'm not really frightened of it - I just don't like it.

up, up and away!

In one of the seats in front of us was a man who talked to his (unfortunate) neighbour about Microsoft and why he'd left, for almost the entire flight (his unfortunate neighbour finally saw the light and went to sleep). Our meal wasn't too bad at all! Paul and I had salmon and mash and the hub had chicken casserole.

The flight was, actually, OK, with very little turbulence. The views down over the Scottish Isles, Iceland, Greenland and the ice-flows of Canada was simply superb and I was glued to the window for much of the time.

the northwest of Scotland (click for bigger picture)

Iceland

Greenland (click for bigger picture)

Greenland (click for bigger picture)

Canadian Icefields

We then flew over the Rockies and some beautiful lakes, before flying over the city of Seattle with wonderful views over Lake Washington and Puget Sound.

(click for bigger picture)

far left, Mt Baker? (click for bigger picture)

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Then we landed - rather bumpily, probably because of the heat - and there was Mt Rainier!!! What an amazing sight!!

((click for bigger picture)

After getting off the plane, we had to make our way to immigration and stand in the alien line! We had our fingerprints and photos taken and the guy tried to make jokes, which really weren't funny - particularly after a long flight and having to stand in line for an age! Then customs. And they took our bags away! Fear not, they were on their way to the main terminal! To get there, we had to catch a train! Once relocated with our luggage, we gratefully went outside for a smoke! It was BOILING hot!

Next stop - Alamo. There was a queue there too and we were just about ready to drop!! The woman who served us was very friendly and she allocated us a blue Impala, which she said was very nice. Up the lift - over the bridge - to the car lot. The car allocated to us was too big, we thought. Hub went back to Alamo. They issued us another. It was hideous - a bit like a hearse! Hub went back to Alamo. They issued us a silver Pontiac. The boot space was a bit small, but it would do. When we checked out, the woman there told us we had the wrong car! However, she changed the forms for us and told us all would be well. (Would it?). And finally we were off onto the streets!

It was easy to find the turnoff for Burien, but we missed it! We stopped at Jay's Mini Mart for wine and bits. Still the mountain loomed over us! After that, we found the cottage (Soundview B&B)quite easily. There was nobody there, but the door was open and a note from Anna bade us to make ourselves at home and to phone her to say we'd arrived, which I did. What a lovely place it was - absolutely ideal for us! Firstly, you went into a very nice kitchen, with a fridge fully stocked with goodies and fresh fruit. Then there was a dining room and a little lounge with patio doors onto the deck, a very nice bathroom and a king bed in the bedroom. All very comfortable indeed!

The best bit was the deck! There was the hot-tub and a table and chairs - and a VIEW! It was simply glorious and we watched the sun setting over Puget Sound before enjoying a glass of wine and then pumping up the mattress to the sleeper sofa! The air didn't seem to want to go in evenly and it was a bit bumpy!

(click for bigger picture)

However, we were all in bed at a normal (local) time and slept like babies. Apparently, that day had been a record for Seattle, temperature-wise - 90 degrees! And more of the same (or hotter) was forecast for the following day.

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[ Introduction ] [ Day 1 ] [ Day 2 ] [ Day 3 ] [ Day 4 ] [ Day 5 ] [ Day 6 ] [ Day 7 ] [ Day 8 ] [ Day 9 ]
[ Day 10 ] [ Day 11 ] [ Day 12 ] [ Day 13 ] [ Day 14 ] [ Day 15 ] [ Day 16 ] [ Day 17 ]
[ Day 18 ] [ Day 19 ] [ Day 20 ] [ Day 21 ]

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