Day 119 - Seattle, Washington, USA

Day 119 – 5th October 2005 -8:00 GMT

Seattle is the coffee capital of the world there is a Starbucks every 100 hundreds yards or less a Tulleys Coffee and Seattle’s Best Coffee in between every Starbucks. They have a Starbucks opposite another Starbucks so you don’t have to cross the road. People in Seattle like Coffee. Reece and I had a wander around Pike Street Market first thing and saw the Pike Market Fish Company throwing fish around like they do on a daily basis to entertain the customers. A fish flying through the air and over your head is a usual sight. The market is pretty cool with lots of quirky shops that sell everything from Antiques to Persian Rugs.



I’d been up for over an hour now so needed some Seattle Coffee, from where I was standing I could only see 5 coffee places, this makes it a difficult choice, until I saw the sign Seattle’s best coffee. Unfortunately it wasn’t. Although Reece tells me the Latte is good. We then walked along 1st Avenue and up Bell Street. We then zigzagged between 5th and 4th Avenue checking out the shops on route. Had a look around the Westlake Centre, which is a mall.


Outside Westlake Centre

Then back to the hostel to meet Jill. Jill was now dressed and showered so we headed out again and wandered along the waterfront past all the piers. A huge 127 carriage train thundered past (yes I counted all the carriages) and we waited to for it to pass before we could cross the tracks and head up Broad Street.


Modern Art at the Seattle Centre

We visited the Seattle centre which is a park in which there is a collection of museums and the famous Space Needle.


The Space Needle

The Space needle is 605 ft high and gives you excellent views over Seattle and on a clear day the surrounding mountains. Lucky for us it was a fairly clear day and we could see for quite a few miles in all directions.


View of Seattle City Centre


View of Seattle


View of Seattle


View of Seattle

We spent just under an hour at the space needle and then caught the monorail which is newly built back into the city centre.


Me outside the Space Needle

Here we stopped at the Westlake Centre and had some Indian Food. Back to the hotel for a rest before heading out again, this time Jill lead the way we walked about 20 blocks up Pike Street and stopped at a Elysian micro brewery where we sampled a pitcher or two of there beer and had some food. We spent a few hours in the bar before making our way back down to the hostel.

Day 118 - Portland - Seattle, Washington, USA

Day 118 – 4th October 2005 -8:00 GMT Total Miles 18561

Checked out of hotel and left Portland driving up the I-5 into Washington State we stopped just outside Tacoma for a spot of lunch at a diner come Casino, which I did not know until I got inside.


Happy Days Casino/Diner


Happy Days Casino/Diner

After a nice meal of Coffee, Steak and Eggs we were back on the road arriving in Seattle around 3pm. We are staying at the HI Hostel at the end of Union street, it is right in the city centre and on the waterfront. Unfortunately it is the most expensive hostel I have stayed in costing over $80 a night for a room for Jill and I. The place is Spotlessly clean but the rooms are very small. Was feeling quite tired so just stayed in the hostel and slept whilst Jill and Reece explored. I watched the film Man on Fire and played a bit of Poker online.

Day 117 - Portland, Oregon, USA

Day 117 – 3rd October 2005 -8:00 GMT

Drove into the centre of Portland and visited the world’s largest bookstore, although this was the third shop we had visited that claimed to be the world’s largest bookstore. This Bookstore has over one million new and used books. After a thorough browse we all left empty handed.


Downtown Portland


A Million Miles Away

We then found a small café where we stopped for lunch and a beer. We then wandered down to the waterfront and had a walk along it before returning to the car and driving back to the hotel.


Jill by a Fountain


Williamette River South


Williamette River North

Reece and I then had a swim and used the spa for a couple of hours whilst Jill had volunteered to do the washing. I then headed over to Safeway to buy some food which we ate in our room and watched TV before falling asleep.

Day 116 - Eugene - Portland, Oregon, USA

Day 116 – 2nd October 2005 -8:00 GMT Total Miles 18381

Checked out of Motel around 11am and again hit the road, carried on up the I-5, we drove around Salem which is the capital of Oregon and took a look at the State Capital Building which was not as impressive as some of the others.


Oregon State Capital Building

We then took a trip to Wal-Mart and Jill bought some hair dye. A quick bite to eat and then back on the road. We drove up to Portland and found a Hotel on the outskirts, we decided to stay here for 2 nights as we got a suite for a cheap price. Bought some food from the 7-11 and just ate in our room, watched the film California Man on Television and Jill dyed her hair.

Day 115 - Redding - Eugene, Oregon, USA

Day 115 – 1st October 2005 -8:00 GMT Total Miles 18218

Checked out just before 11am and got back on the road heading north on the I-5. We stopped at Shasta Lake as they have the second biggest dam in the whole of America. We did not do the tour we only stopped to take photos.


Shasta Dam

We carried on through California and the rain started, the temperature has dropped and it is around 11C now time for the jumpers. We stopped at Yreka for some lunch a quick Taco at Taco Bell, then back on the I-5, I decided to stop at a Casino we passed the Seven Feather Casino, so I could collect a couple of chips and have a short break from driving.


Seven Feathers Casino


Chips I have collected this week

after 6 hours driving we arrived at Eugene in Oregon. We stopped at a Best Value Inn and ordered a Thai meal for delivery. Chicken Green Thai Curry was superb but very hot and spicy, we ate and watched TV for a bit before calling it a night.

Day 114 - Lake Tahoe - Redding, California, USA

Day 114 – 30th September 2005 -8:00 GMT Total Miles 17868

Checked out of the Horizon Hotel and Casino and got $22 off my bill from Casino Comps which was nice. We then drove around the West side of the lake up towards Truckee stopping at a scenic view point.


Me by Lake Tahoe


Lake Tahoe


Lake Tahoe

We drove up to the I-20 which has a sign East bound saying Ocean City 3657 Miles. Any we headed west through Yuba City and on to the I-5 and Headed North we stopped a small place called Redding in the Northern part of California We checked into the Stardust Motel and after a short rest we went to a Chinese restaurant where we got huge plates of food for little money, I had Broccoli Chicken with Rice and a great Tasting Chicken Noodle Soup. Went back to the motel and spent the night booking rooms for New Zealand.

Day 113 - Lake Tahoe, Nevada, USA

Day 113 – 29th September 2005 -8:00 GMT

I spent the morning in the Casino playing Blackjack where I won a little money. Jill and I then went out for the day. I was on a quest to visit as many Casino’s as possible and get some chips for my collection. So we drove around the East side of the lake and up to Carson City which is the capital of Nevada. I visited Fandango Casino and Carson Station Casino.


Fandango Casino


Carson City

We then passed the State Capital and drove on to Reno.


Reno

We parked at Harrahs then visited The Eldorado where we got some Lunch, a nice meal of fish and chips and a beer in there restaurant/micro-brewery.


The Eldorado

Next we went to Circus Circus and then into the Silver Legacy. A quick trip to the Golden Phoenix and Fiztgeralds and we decided to head back home.


The Silver Legacy Casino


Fitzgeralds Casino


Harrahs Casino

The traffic was horrific on the way back to the hotel and we were stuck in a jam for over an hour. When we got back to our hotel I decided to have a game of Craps so spent the next few hours at the gaming tables. Then a quick go on the slots where I won 3540 coins on a 5c machine nice win of $177 for a 5c investment. I watched a couple of episodes of Lost then called it a night.

Day 112 - Lake Tahoe, Nevada, USA

Day 112 – 28th September 2005 -8:00 GMT

When we had all woken up got dressed and showered we went for breakfast in the hotel restaurant. After Bacon, Eggs, Sausage, Pancakes and Coffee we were set to go out for the day. We decided we would drive around the lake and stop here and there. We headed anti-clockwise around the lake and first stopped at Cave Rock which has a few houses and lovely view across the lake, after a few photos we carried on.


Lake Tahoe


Lake Tahoe

We passed several beaches but most of them are private. We then stopped at Glenbrook and walked down and along the large rocks in the water.


Me on the Rocks at Lake Tahoe


Me on the Rocks at Lake Tahoe


Lake Tahoe


We then made our way to Incline Village and had a look around and then carried on along the North of the Lake where we stopped at Crystal Bay, I visited the two Casino’s here, Crystal Bay and Bill’s Nugget before carrying on around the lake and back into California. We drive through Tahoe City and make our way to a ski resort called Squaw Valley which is where the 1960 winter Olympics were held.


Squaw Valley Site of 1960 Winter Olympics

My mate Joe Stevens love this place and raves about it, so we visit the area and admire KT-22 the huge Ski Lift.


KT-22 (For Joe)

The area is superb and I would love to come back in the winter and ski here. The village area here is really nice a bit smaller than whistler but has all the shops and bars you need.


Squaw Valley


Squaw Valley

Anyway after an hour here we carry on driving and are soon back in Nevada. We go to Safeway and buy some junk food, and essentials, then back to the Hotel. I have a gamble and play Blackjack and Craps for a bit. I make a small profit and then grab Reece and Jill and we head across the road to Bill’s Casino for a few games of pool and a few $1 beers. I have a go on a slot machine and win $100 with my first credit. We then cross the street to Harveys and visit Sammy Hagar from Van Halen’s Restaurant Cabo Wabo. It is a Mexican restaurant and has huge TV screens showing Van Halen the walls are covered in signed photo’s and posters. The music is all rock and good tunes are played throughout the night. The meal was good and not too expensive. After we have eaten and sampled a cocktail or two we head back to our hotel for the night.

Day 111 - San Francisco - Lake Tahoe, Nevada, USA

Day 111 – 27th September 2005 -8:00 GMT Total Miles 17474

Early Morning for me as I have to check out of the hostel before 10am. Jill sits outside the hostel with all our bags whilst Reece and I walk the 5 blocks to pick the car up. After a little negotiating of San Francisco’s one way streets we find Jill and load up the bags. Then off we go again this time we travel East firstly crossing over the 8 miles long Bay Bridge that takes us out of San Francisco. We head North for a while then East. We get to Sacramento which is the capital of California and have a drive around then we decide to stop for some lunch, So a quick wander around a local mall then some food and we are on our way again. We decide to take the South route to Tahoe along Route 50, we climb up to 8,350ft along the winding roads as we pass through the mountains.


View on route to Lake Tahoe


View on route to Lake Tahoe

Lake Tahoe is the highest lake of its kind in America sitting at around 7,300 ft. Our Hotel is the Horizon Hotel and Casino Complex situated in South Lake. It is located around 100 meteres across the state line in Nevada. We check in and get a reasonable sized room for the low hotel cost price and a splendid view over the lake.


View From Hotel Room


View of Lake Tahoe from Hotel Room

The area is gorgeous a clear blue lake and high mountains. We relax in our room for a couple of hours.


Sunset Over Lake Tahoe


Sunset Over Lake Tahoe

Then Reece and I go and visit the local casino’s for a look around. First we visit Caesars, then Bills, then Harrahs, then Harveys. We play the slots in a few of them and both Reece and I win at all the casino’s.


Casears at Lake Tahoe

We head back to the room as Jill was taking a nap and order some room Service. It turns up after an hour and a half, we eat and watch TV before getting some sleep.

Day 110 - San Francisco, California, USA

Day 110 – 26th September 2005 -8:00 GMT

Got up fairly early and picked the car up, then we drove over the Golden Gate Bridge and into Marin County. We visited a small village called Sausalito just on the other side of the bay from San Francisco.


Jill in Sausalito


A Fountain in Sausalito

Sausalito is a very picturesque village with water on one side of the road. It has some lovely quirky shops and a big Marina.


Jill at Sausalito Marina


A Palm Tree in Sausalito

We walked up and down the High Street and I stopped for some food. I found the best Hamburger I have ever tasted, the place was just called Hamburgers, the food was fresh cooked the downside being you have to wait in the queue for 15 minutes but it is well worth it. We then drove on to Muir Woods which has some of the tallest trees in the world, The Californian Redwoods.


Sergeant Pilkington at Muir Woods

We choose the hour and a half trail which was a nice trail along a boardwalk for the first 40 minutes then over a little stream and back along an uneven dirt track.


Muir Woods

Some of the trees here are over a 1000 years old and well over 300ft tall.


Me in a tree at Muir Woods


Me at Muir Woods

We then drove up to the Golden Gate view point and took some pictures of the bridge.


The Golden Gate Bridge


View of San Francisco

We then drove back into San Francisco and visited Fort Point to get another viewing spot for the bridge.


The Golden Gate Bridge


The Golden Gate Bridge

Then we went to Alamo Square which has lovely little houses that always appear in films as the perfect house in the perfect street. This row of houses is supposed to be the most photographed place in San Francisco.


Alamo Square

We then drove to Haight Ashbury which is where the Hippie movement was in 1964. The place does not look like it has changed much with some cool shops, bars and restaurants. We found a small bar that served some food and had a beer and some grub.


Haight Ashbury


Haight Ashbury

Then it was back to the hotel for the night. I watched a couple of episodes of the TV series Lost then read some of my book before falling asleep.