First, I had to leave Seattle, and while it was sad to say goodbye to friends who let me leach off of them for a week, it was especially sad to say goodbye to their kids. Their son will certainly never remember me (aged 13 months as he is), but his laugh is utterly infectious. Their daughter who is smart as a whip might remember …. she is a cutey, though going through that stage where she is stretching her legs for the first time …. it can be tough on parents and kids alike. I will miss them all a lot (not to mention getting to see Tom’s parents again ….)
My last day in Seattle was my only sightseeing day as Tom and his daughter and I first got to go to dad’s work. Beccause of the sensitive nature of his work, I cannot discuss too many details, but suffice to say it is a combination of Muppet Labs and Industrial Light and Magic …. the future is truly coming alive in very strange ways …. everything from laser nets that can shorten the life of malaria carrying mosquitoes to scientific investigations into cooking to creating 3-D models of brain anneurisms for doctors prior to operation …. then it was off to LaserMotive, his “hobby” job where he is helping to create a laser powered robot that can climb a cable to orbit. Next month there is a big competition for his team, as they seek significant coin from NASA.
Another highlight was the Seattle Museum of Flight. This is a very cool museum hoised at the still functining King County Airport (mostly small, private traffic now), which is also across the street from Boeing. Among the collection: another SR-71 (though there was also a cockpit you could climb in), an F-14 Tomcat, an A-6 Intruder, a Mig-21 Fishbed ….. outside there was one of the British Airways retired Concordes, as well as a Boeing 747, and a VC-737B which happened to be used as “Air Force One” at times from the Eisenhower through Nixon administrations. My assessement was that the president traveled in pretty good style, though I found the Concorde exceptionally cramped (fortunately they were all short flights). It was a great museum that I only wish I had more time to explore, thought time was a bit limited.
My travel today was hampered a bit by construction and rain, but other wise was not bad. I traveled through Spokane, through the pan handle of Idaho, and into Montana. The area around the panhandle was magnificent! Trees, some 70-80 feet tall just standing rank after rank after rank on top of mountains. It was very storybook. This was (except for the area around Seattle) finally the “Pacific Northwest” I was looking for! It must go to show that this area is not as large as I suspected, and perhaps it serves as a caution that this area needs to be looked after carefully!
Upon entering Montana, I found it odd that there were casinos in the border towns. I figured it was a way to draw in tourist bucks from naive Idahoans and Wyomingites. Then I discovered that it was more than the bordeer towns. I kid you not, the casinos have descended like locusts! In Missoula, there was a “Fuddruckers, Casino and Lounge” I could see that there were former small businesses, restaurants, etc, that had been gutted to make casinos. It was exceptionally sad! Vegas, for its gaudiness and glitz was at least built that way …. you go there expecting to see what you see. Besides, it is all surrounded by desert …. if you want to see more desert, you can always find more. This paradise is in the act of being ruined!
This was like someone took a pristine wilderness and put two casinos on every corner. I could not help but think of The Simpsons episode where Homer escapes the PBS pledge drive collectors by hiding on a plane carrying missionaries to a Pacific island. Homer quickly teaches them that casino gambling worked for Native Americans, and it can work for them. Chaos ensues! I was half expecting a fire to break out with someone staggering out yelling “How can an Ace be one and eleven? What kind of god allows that?”
I am spending the night in Butte, Montana. At least Missoula was something of a college town. Butte doesn’t even appear to have that. Its “Historic District” was a series of old turn-of-the-twentieth-century buildings, some vacant, all dilapidated.
Of course with casinos, you can guess who are being attracted herer like moths to the flame: you guessed it …. I am by far the youngest person in the hotel: the seniors have swarmed in like locusts feeding on locusts. In my opinion, it is just a sad, beat up town that has likely not been on its feet for a long time. I suspect that opening statewide casinos will not be the answer (for the record, just on the main street, Butte has at least 9 casinos that I counted).
Tomorrow, I am off to Rapid City, South Dakota, and am hoping to take two detours tomorrow: one to a museum, and the other to check out a famous alien landing pad.
