UPDATED: February 12, 2021
This is the 14th of a series of posts dealing with my 2018
trip to Olympia, Seattle, and vicinity. I’ve made minor corrections to these
reports (typos, bits I don’t feel like making public). Also, I’ve added
additional thoughts with the hindsight of two years later or to add further
clarification. These are indicated by “NOW”.
I left City Hostel Seattle and walked along the Torchlight
Parade route (or much of it) a couple of times, including that Grandstand
seating area that blocks off 4th and Pine). I returned to the hostel for breakfast,
then did a bit more walking along the parade route, leaving briefly for a visit
to the not-yet-on International Fountain at Seattle center. I saw what I call
the "fully furnished group" being set up (they bring sofas, bunk,
fridge, etc) At one point as usual I saw floats being escorted by motorcycle police
to their base at Seattle Center.
leaving the parade route, I got some soft drinks at
Walgreen's before visiting Pike Place Market,
including First and Pike News, Rachel the Pig(gybank), Golden Age Collectables,
BLMF A Literary Saloon, Rummage Around.
I wanted to visit Palace Jewelry and Loan but they weren't open despite
being during their business hours.
[NOW: First & Pike News has closed.]
I got on a C Rapidride bus (all buses today King County Metro
Transit; got a 3.5 hour transfer) and got off at Alaska Junction, West Seattle.
I visited Easy Street Records and Pegasus book Exchange. I took a 128 bus to
Admiral Junction, grabbing lunch at a nearby Jack in the Box, where a fellow
passenger from the C bus was on the phone telling someone the same bicycle flat
tire story he kept telling the driver. I took a 50 bus to Alki beach, including
the Birthplace of Seattle marker, an art show, the miniature Statue of Liberty,
Alki Bathhouse (as far as i can tell, it was never used for bathing), and a
seals sculpture. I relaxed on the sandy beach for a bit before wandering around
the area some more.
[NOW: The art show is Alki Art Fair. The sculpture is Seal
Sitters.]
I took another 50 bus out of West Seattle and into the Sodo
district, where I revisited Seattle's SilverPlatters. Still on the same
transfer as the C bus, I took a 21 bus
downtown, walking along the parade route to Seattle Center, with a brief diversion
to the hostel. I saw many of the floats at their base poition and aside from a brief
look at Seattle Center Armory, relaxed at the International Fountain a couple
hours.
I grabbed dinner at McDonald's (something that I couldn't have
done right before the Torchlight Parade a few years earlier. I saw the now fully
set up fully furnished group but the group with the pool table I didn't see.
The mini-marathon was set up near Westlake Center. I got conflicting info as to
whether they would run past the north end, where I planned to sit and which is closer
to the hostel.
I took a chance and sat on the north end but they never
made it there. I did get photos of the runners before the run though.
I found a place to sit in front of a tree which especially
at the beginning was a nice place to relax. A Chinese family arrived and asked
to sit in the area, which was fine. I didn't want to lose my tree so offered to
shift, but they declined my offer. The
fire and brimstone Christians were back preaching the threat of damnation via a
megaphone. I still think they'd do better getting a float in the parade and
waving at people if they want converts.
The guy in the Chinese group offered me water likely for sharing my
space. I accepted. The fire and brimstone people showed up one more time.
The parade started in earnest with the motorcycle police driving
around. They are very skilled but they outstayed their welcome a bit; they need
a lot of clearance so everyone else in the parade has to wait until they finish
a section to move. An Idaho group of seniors called the Red Hot Mamas did a
dance to the song Cum On Feel the Noise, some dancing with the help of their
rockers.
Lots of horses in the parade, The Lake City Western Vigilantes
from Wednesday were there. There were actually two Chinese dragons this time. A
potato company had a giant mock potato in their float. Near the end of the
parade came the Seattle Seafair clowns and the Seattle Seafair Pirates firing a
cannon form their ship the Moby Duck. King County Metro Transit was in the
parade but this time didn't give out bus passes. The Lincoln Loe Truck (truck
shaped like a toe) was the last major exhibit. I wandered the parade route a
little more to get some final photos of the fully furnished group and some
final photos/videos of the Moby Duck cannon (overall I shot a lot more video
this parade than usual). I then returned to the hostel.
[NOW: The potato float is Idaho Potato Tour.]
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