SEATTLE, WA (PART IV) WIFE'S BIRTHDAY

SEATTLE, WA (PART IV) WIFE'S BIRTHDAY

2 Jun - 2 Jul

My wife loves to watch the Food Network and it so happened to be the week before her Birthday that they had a episode on a restaurant in Seattle, WA. What's the chances of that? It was Man vs Food at the Crab Pot on pier 57. I saw her eyes light up when it looked to be an endless supply of all kind of assorted seafood. She LOVES seafood, I knew form that moment where I was going to take her for her Birthday dinner.

We started the afternoon off with a trip to the Space Needle. We debated for while, and decided not to go to the top. We walked around the plaza looking at the park water art and other activities going on.

Then, we headed downtown to the pier. The biggest problem was finding parking. We found a spot, but it was a little out of the way. Look at the stairs we had to walk, just to get from our parking spot down to the pier.

We arrived, what I thought was going to be for an early dinner, but the line said otherwise. The wait was about one and half hours. Any other time I would not stay and wait, but it was for her birthday and there was lots to see on the pier while we waited. We walked around the pier checking out the attractions and shops.

We now worked up an appetite and felt our stomachs growling we were ready to eat everything. As we got back to the Crab Pot we did not have to wait long before our name was called. We took our seat and wasted no time in ordering our food. For most Americans, it's might seem a little weird how they served the food,.. they dumped it on the table and you grab what you want to eat. It dose make for an easy clean up though. I guess our stomachs had a different plan, we could not finish it all and had to take the rest of the food home with us.

SEATTLE, WA (PART III) NATIONAL PARKS

SEATTLE, WA (PART III) 

NATIONAL PARKS

Current news:
Just got an email from Amazon CampForce and my start day is 14 Oct. I'm now just waiting  three weeks when we will start our drive to Fernley, NV. Keeping my fingers crossed that there is no snow ... yet! I'm going to give ourselves a few extra day on the road and if we arrive early, we'll either stay a Casino parking lot in Reno or just check in to the RV park early.

2 Jun - 2 Jul

We stopped at MT Rainier National Park before heading to Seattle, but never blogged it...so this is the best place to add it. Also, while downtown Seattle we stopped at the Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park. Two more Parks add to our growing list. My National Park Passport book is getting full and will need to get some new blank pages so I can add more stamps.

MT Rainier NP
MT Rainier was beautiful with snow visible from the mountain top to some place in the wilderness were the sun dose not sine. Waterfalls, streams with running water from the melting snow and a epic snowball fight waiting for us at the top.

First stop was the lower leave lodge. The lower entrance of the park was having the road repaired and took longer then expected so we had to stop and take a break. The view alone was worth it.

As we continued up the road we stopping at a few waterfalls and streams before having our lunch.

With our tummies full the last stage in the drive would be easy. As we got to the top, the hardest part was finding a parking space. We got to the visitor center and the base of the mountain. Still covered with thick layers of snow. Even the snow plowed along the side of the road was taller than the wife. Families sled riding while skiers came down the mountain. It will be months before all of this snows melt. So climbing higher is out of the question.... at least for this trip.

There was a place I wanted to stop by on the home that I saw on the way to the park. Only a few miles from the entrance is a recycled sculptures on display. Open to the public and on a donation fee we stopped. The sculptures were amazing and the detail in every piece. Take a look at some of them and see what was used.

Klondike Gold Rush NHP

On one of our many day trips to downtown Seattle, we stopped at the Klondike Gold Rush NHP. Inside is an exhibit hall with gift shop and theater.  Not very large, but after watching the movie on the Gold Rush and walking around the exhibit close to an hour tour. Prospectors who wanted to head to Alaska for the Gold Rush stayed in Seattle before heading North. These prospectors had to have one year of supplies before they were allowed to start the journey. By the time most got there the gold was taken or the land bought by local Alaskans. Chasing a dream of riches and most died or were broke compared to the few who made it rich. One exhibit we both liked was "Our weight in gold". IF we were gold how much would we be worth. Needless to stay I won with the most $$.

   

AIR FORCE THUNDERBIRDS AT NELLIS AFB

AIR FORCE THUNDERBIRDS AT NELLIS AFB

13 Sep

Nellis AFB had a retiree appreciation day with the Thunderbirds as it's main attraction. The event was held in the Thinderbird hangar bay.

There was booths set up to inform/ remind retirees of their benefits and organizations that run these programs. They even had the dental and medical personnel there giving checkups. What caught my eye was the medical display of hip and knee replacements. A surgery that took over 4 hours a few years ago, now can be done in under 2 hours. The medical personnel showed me what is done to the knee. Drilling holes into the bone and placing the titanium plate holding the two bones together. I know family members who have had this done, now I can see and understand what they went though.

Also, found out that I can use the eye exam office on base and don't have to make an appointment though the VA. If I need glasses, they will give them to me for free. They are standard military glasses, nothing fancy but will do the job. I have to take advantage of this eye exam before we leave Las Vegas. UPDATE: I need glasses, good thing I got my eyes checked.


There was Air Force EOD and Fire Department on hand explaining their duties. The wife got in the fire truck and pulled the rope to blow the horn. You had to see her face after she did it, looked like she scared herself. There was a local band playing 80-00 rock and the food and soda was free all day.

The only thing disappointing was that is was a Thunderbird event and the only one I could see was on the flight line. I was able to get a picture, but could not walk on the flight line. The annual Thunerbird air show is in Nov (we should be gone by then) and they will be on display to everyone to see.

On our way back to the FAMCAP, we decided to make a pit stop at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Gates were open so we just drove in. We stopped in the infield and took some pictures from the car. I have never been to a NASCAR race and if one comes before we leave I will have to go. There is no place better as it's less than a mile from the base.

9/11

9/11

The tragic of September 11 will be with me for the rest of my life. Everyone remembers where they were on that day. For me, the day before I was stationed in Hawaii and just re-enlisted for six year and I had my ceremony of the USS Arizona Memorial. 

The next morning I was awaken by a phone call from my supervisor informing me what was happening. My special liberty was canceled and I was to report to work ASAP.

Less than three months later I was assigned to the USS Kitty Hawk (CV63) forward deployed in Yokosuka, Japan and flew out to meet the ship in Bahrain. For the next three years my ship would make four deployments to the Persian Gulf in support of Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom. A ship the size of the USS Kitty Hawk is cycled on average ever two years for a six month (or longer) deployment. Under these circumstances, we were on something closer to three months in port three months in workups and then six - eight months out to sea. 

To anyone who has lost a love one defending this Country, my heart and prayers goes out to you. To my fellow brothers and sisters Thank You for your service. You will NEVER be forgotten.

On a more friendly note after my retirement, September 11 also means something else for us. A time to remember something more pleasant ... It is our anniversary of our life on the road as Full-Time RV'ers. We have enjoyed the last two years driving across America seeing what this great Country has to offer. As long as I have my health and means (money) to see this great land, you better bet I'm going to see as much as I can. There is no stop in sight and I'm looking forward for many more years on the road to come.

SEATTLE, WA (PART II) DOWNTOWN

SEATTLE, WA (PART II)

DOWNTOWN

I have added a few links to the side bar of other social media I can be found on. If you double click the image, it will redirect to the website. If you right click and open in new tab the blog will remain up too (I hope this help... mom!). I don't know if it will work correctly for those who are not members or not logged in. Any feedback in this will help me make this blog better for you to use. Thank you.

RVillage.com is a community where other RV'er (part time and full timers) can log into their current campground and see if other RVillage users are in the same park. You never know who you'll met in your new campground. Old friends or someone new... maybe even me. Also, you can join groups with other RV'er that have the same interest and hobbies. I've been a member for over 5 months and the site just reached 10,000 members this past week. I use it a lot to keep in contact with friends I have made on the road. Check out my old post for full details. My twitter account is mostly used to thanking athletes for taking the time to sign autographs for me. Also, to post pictures of former Kent State Flash baseball players I have met when I traveled to spring training or minor league parks across America. If you love baseball as much as I do check it out, you'll never know who will sign for me next?

2 Jun - 2 Jul

We did a little exploring of Downtown Seattle. We went on Sunday as there is free street parking ... if you can find any.

Our first stop was no other than the famous Pike Place Fish Market. There was a large crowd of people waiting to take pictures of the workers throwing fish, but no one was ordering any fish. After walking around checking out all the other shops in the Market Place, we went back to Pike Place to see if we can get lucky. Just as we arrived, there was a family buying a fish in front of us. So, we had a great shoot of the throw. I only got it on video. I guess you'll just have to wait to see it on our Summer VLOG.

NOTE: Working on part 2 of the VLOG and when I get it done I'll post a link in my blog. Part one is done and located BLOG or YOUTUBE.

In the Market place, there are two Starbucks (remember I hate coffee, so this was for my wife to see). One is newer and the other is the very first one ever to open. The line to the first one was long and coming out into the street and in front of the shop was a meeting place of sorts. I did not know that the first Starbucks logo was so raunchy. So, I just had to take a picture.

I saw a tour/ info/ map corner box. A worker sits in this box handing out maps and answering people who have question. After getting our map, I asked if there is something to see that's not in the tour books. He told us that just down the ramp and to the left is a local land mark known as the "Gum Wall". With no clue of what he was talking about, like so many our tourist we just had to go and see what a "Gum Wall" is. As we turned the corner there was a large group of tourist looking and taking pictures. A "Gum Wall" is just what it sounds like. People put used bubble gum on the side of a building. Just don't get to close... like a teenage girl did who got her hair stuck to some of the fresh gum. After seeing that, I had to put my hair up just to be safe. Beside being gross and full of unknown germs, as I stood there just looking at all the different colors and it started looking more like an extract artwork.

From the little research I did online it started in the early 1990's by locals blowing bubbles and placing on the wall, then popping the bubble with a coin outside the Market Theater wall. It stretches 15 feet high and 50 feet long, but from what I saw most of the gum is located near the theater ticket window area. If you never seen it, think again... you just might have. A scene in the 2009 movie "Love Happens" staring Jennifer Aniston ...now I have to watch that movie. "Gum Wall" is similar to "Bubblegum Ally" in  San Luis Obispo, CA that is said to have started in the late 1950's that now covers 15 feet high and 70 feet long.