The Turning Point
July 20–21
Now that I am well beyond the halfway point of my trip (that was about 5 days and 1000 miles ago), I’m heading back east! I am both saddened to be entering the home stretch, but also super excited because I have some awesome stops lined up.

But first, to recount my last two days. Saturday morning I boun[stumbled]ded out of bed and got ready for a day out being in tourist in Seattle with my good friend Riley’s parents, Rob and Keri. They were excellent tour guides, and I got to see a great demonstration of what Seattle has to offer! Our first stop was Pike Place Market, where we saw a few fish getting thrown through the air between employees at the Pike Place Fish Market (I’d encourage you to google it- it’s a thing), smelled a truffle up close, and tried smoked salmon that has a name that is no longer politically correct so I will not write it up here. We then did a virtual reality tour called “Wings Over Washington,” a short ride that takes you through the scenery of Washington state. Now I can go home and say I’ve been everywhere in Washington. Following lunch at Cutter’s Crabhouse, Rob and I went up to the top of the Space Needle and walked for a 360 view of the city. Apparently there is also a revolving restaurant up there; sadly we did not go in. Then Keri and I went to the Chihuly Garden and Glass exhibit, dedicated entirely to the work of Dale Chihuly, a famous glass blower. I really, really, really, wanted to touch everything that was in there, but I knew I’d get kicked out and probably fined so I exercised serious self-restraint. Finally, for dinner, we took a boat ride across into Bellevue for dinner, and I got to see where some famous people live.






As you can see, Saturday was a very full day! Sunday was not as packed, but definitely not easy. Keri, Henley, and I went for a hike up to Poo Poo Point (yes that is the name). It’s a little over a 7 mile round trip. The cool part about this mountain (Tiger Mountain; fitting name!) is that there is a lot of gliding activity- paragliding and hang gliding. The launching spot is at the top of the mountain, and although we waited around for a while, they told us no one was jumping for several hours because the wind wasn’t strong enough and there weren’t enough thermals. Well, weren’t we surprised when once we got the bottom of the mountain we saw about 8 paragliders landing! Most of them landed right on their feet; one landed in the bushes. But a really cool thing to watch!


It has been a great visit in this awesome city! I am very lucky to have had Rob and Keri be terrific tour guides and generous hosts. I’m looking forward to seeing them again in the future! And I’m also starting to see why people love the west coast so much. But alas, I will be leaving it tomorrow morning when I head towards Pullman, WA for a few days. Then I pick up my mom from the airport on Monday morning! (Woohoo! Mother-daughter time!) I’m making a good playlist for us, don’t you worry… maybe she’ll be able to tell you if I really am as good at singing as I’ve made myself out to be on this blog….
Until another day (probably Saturday or Sunday), I bid you all adieu and good night
xoxo
Catherine
