July 31 Bothell, Wa

We made our journey from Ellensburg, Wa. to just outside Seattle where we are spending the night 

before heading North again.

Yep, North! We have decided since we wanted to see so many things in British Columbia, we might 

as well travel there and stay. We will stay in Vancouver, BC for a week getting to take in the sights 

and night life too.

We did journey into Seattle today and went to the Space Needle and the area has seen no sign of 

downturn in the economy. There was plenty of people everywhere spending and numerous new 

construction projects. After parking at the Space Needle we took the monorail to Pine Street station 

just a few blocks from Pike Street Market. Wow, what a festive place and plenty of fish, flowers,  

pastry shops and miscellaneous other vendors.

We walked by the Chihuley Garden of Glass and it looks phenomenal from what we were able to 

see, but their website will give you a better glance into the art displayed. When we return to Seattle 

in a week we will definitely have to splurge and chunk down the $40. I am sure it will be worth while. 

See for yourself and tell me your thoughts: 

http://www.google.com/search?q=chihuly+garden+and+glass&hl=en&client=safari&rls=en&prmd=imvns&tbm=isch&t

We are likely to also take a tour of Seattle to get a good glimpse of the city and places maybe we would 

want to go back and see more of. Oh no it isn't a Grayline tour, I assure you. We will also buy a pass for 

the City center which will give us admittance to a couple things around the Space Needle and including two 

trips up to the top.

Will be out of the US for a week, when we return I will update the blog with our adventures.

July 29, Spokane Wa

Spokane located in the Northwestern United States in the state of Washington. It is the largest city of Spokane County, a little over 210,000 people. Spokane is also the county seat, and the metropolitan center of the Inland Northwest region.


We enjoyed the Riverfront which is rich with history.


I am also including pictures in route from Spokane to Ellensburg, Wa over looking the Columbia River. Unfortunately we didn't get pictures of the couple air force fighters in training that flew in the canyon above the river. It was like something you see in movies as the planes came up from below and out of the river area out of the canyon.

July 28 Butte, Mt

We had an overnight stay in Butte, Mt. which turned out to be Evil Knievel Days which apparently quite a deal for Butte. This event brings this Mining City not only business but the economy a boost. Thousand of motorcycles bikers and daredevil enthusiast to the "Richest Hill on Earth" with hotel rooms booked to capacity and restaurants and bars overflowing.

Many business are able to continue to operate thru the winter months based on events like this one during the summer months.

They closed off streets for bands, street vendors, auto show, and various carnival like rides.

Many of the buildings in downtown date back to the 1889 time frame.

Hotel Finlin was opened New Years day in 1924 after being designed after Hotel Astor in New York at a cost $750,000 to be a grand hotel.

Copper King Mansion a 34 room Victorian built from 1884 to 1888 as the Butte residence of William Andrews Clark, one of Montana's three "Copper Kings" who helped establish Montana territory through their business ventures.

Charles Clark Chateau Mansion built in 1898 for Charles Clark and his new bride as a wedding gift from William Clark.

At one time there was much wealth in the area as seen in all the structures in town and head frames from the mines.

                                                             Copper King Mansion

                                                            The Charles Clark Chateau