DOWN AT THE BOAT and bits of SEATTLE

Waking up Friday morning and the same view from the front of the boat is a bit different to Thursday`s blog. They did forecast -5 and they sure they did get it on the button. After my usual 4/5 trips along the towpath to keep the water tank topped up with a 2 gallon bucket i was glad i`d covered the water point as the water flowed ok on Friday. I have well over half a tank of water but am working on putting in more than my daily usage so that in the event the tap does freeze i can survive a fair while.Also in the same frame of mind i have made another diesel run along the towpath and another 20 ltrs keeps the tank higher than the first top up. Just in case road deliveries to suppliers get held up by the weather.Well that view on Friday was the icing on the cake and the decision, huh! not much choice, is the boat will have to fend for itself while i go back to stay with the family/s over Christmas. The main worry is with no heat in the boat a chance of a burst pipe. Not had this problem before as the freezing weather has always been post Christmas, yes i can hear you. Last year the big freeze a week before Christmas was ok pipe wise as i was very local to the family and could go back and forth to the boat and keep some heat circulating.

The plan this time is to isolate the water tank and leave all the taps open so any water left in the pipes has some room for expansion. All the pipework on NB Valerie is the Hep2 plastic type which i am led to believe will stand the freeze better than copper. Any other suggestions will be well received. The central heating system has anti-freeze solution running through it`s veins so all is well there.
Was planning on leaving Thursday but the temptation is to go sooner, Thanks Joanne/Kev.

Pictured above part of the flight from Vegas to Seattle. 250+ passengers over 3 classes, just how does 200 tons fly threw the air at 500+mph. It`s a long way down but from 35,000ft you`ll only crash once but if you have those thoughts why board in the first place so best just watch the movie.

Map of the area around Seattle. It could be America`s answer to the BW map of the UK waterways.





The first Starbucks was this one here in Seattle opposite the Pike Place market opened in 1971. Starbucks invasion on the world began with their first out of America site in Tokyo now they are in around 40 countries world wide.



Now i wonder what health & safety here in the UK would say about this. The driver operates the holder from the cab and delivers or collects your bike at the Pavement/Sidewalk depending which side of the pond you talk from.


One of the top attractions is the Seattle Needle standing at 605` tall. Built for the World fair in 1962 the restaurant 500` up revolves, at least the outer part does, and so finely is it balanced all that is needed is a 1.5 hp motor. Fun facts about the Needle HERE.


Views from the viewing gallery 520` feet up.



The Experience Music Project combined with the Science Fiction Museum is housed in this stainless Steele clad building. Inside the entrance hall is dominated by a guitar monument stretching up 3 floors. None of the pictures i took can beat this interactive one here. Inside the building are 12 studios where you can try out many types of musical instrument, all the studios are soundproofed and if you watch the video below of me in action you can hear why.

So i`ll just leave you with this video of me having fun in one of the mini studios in the EMP.

scroll down, the vid just wont stay where i put it.