The City With a Little Something For Everyone: Seattle

Jun... I mean July 1st, 2013
Portland, Oregon
Distance traveled: 3465 miles

It seems like every so often on a trip you find a place that's hard to leave, and for the first time this trip that place for me was the city of Seattle.  Chicago was easy to hit the gas and leave behind, and all the other stops along the way though exciting, I always get the itch to get back on the bike and head out normally after a day or so but that wasn't the case at all with Seattle.  It really seemed to have a little something special for everyone, and despite the few shady encounters with some of its more "diverse" people, its definitely the nicest city I've visited so far.

After moving from my hostel out near Seatac to my friend Dave and Ana's place downtown we were quick to hit the streets to see some pretty cool nightlife after an interesting but sweltering ballet performance in an impressive abandoned warehouse.  Taking the train back we eventually found ourselves in a bar/club where we were pounded by the impressive driving rock progressions of a( band called Indian Wars (though we really questioned the sincerity of the tambourine player!).

While the music and drinks were great, by far the best part of that evening was the people watching, a reoccurring theme of the city.  The nightlife on Capitol Hill seemed to draw in every type of person from the LGBTQ community in the midst of celebrating Pride, to the dingy grunge rocker with the almost mandatory dirty denim jacket.  Everyone was dancing, drinking, smoking (legal here recreationally!) , and the vibe of the city that night couldn't have been more fun and laid back.

The next day we made a straight line to the holy grail of farmers markets (which are my favorite places to go): The Pike Place Market.   They had everything and I tried as many things as I could paying for some, and sampling others in total happiness.  I tried an oyster shooter, fresh smoked salmon, crab cocktail, $18 per pound cheese (!), nectarines, cherries, the founding spot of Starbucks, and the famed tossing of the fish.  They had everything and it all tasted amazing.  Without a doubt I could have easily of spent the rest of the day and then some there but we had more to do and see.

From their we took a short water taxi ride to West Seattle and made our way to a busy beach full of people enjoying the unusual heat wave of 90+ degrees.  Though hot as it was, the water turned out to be on an entirely different schedule as it was ice cold.  Me and Dave managed to dunk our heads and swim for a bit but only with a total dedication to beat the heat.  But we did it when no other adults would, just kids, and hanging out on the beach of the Puget Sound was great.

The next day we did more of the same loafing around the city at the laid back west coast speed this time making our way down to a  sandwich place at Pike Place, and another beach this time only a few blocks away.  The water being a lake here was much more enjoyable and soon enough I found myself swimming up to a huge boat with thoughts of piracy racing through my mind, watching planes land in the water not far from me, and jumping off a low bridge into the water like the other kids there.

By far the coolest part of Sunday though was the massive crowds of people coming out for a gay pride parade bigger then any parade I've seen before.  For anyone who hasn't been to a Pride parade of this magnitude let me paint you a picture.  Besides your usual floats put on by supportive local businesses and organizations helping the community, on the more exotic side it had naked people on bikes (some with body paint, others without), men dressed as dogs on leashes, a leather pride section which I'll skip the details on, and even a crowd goer in a speedo who pulled down his shorts in front of us showing two cheeks sporting massive gashes from a group with whips who had just walked by.  No doubt while the intimidating men with whips were parading by he must have stuck his naked butt out there to see what it felt like, and he got a double dose in return.  I can only imagine his unhappiness later in the week every time he goes sit, or stand, or move, or...  Ouch!

There couldn't have been a happier group and getting to experience the almost rabid celebration of how far we've come as a society really was a heart touching moment.  Ever day it seems like we move just a little closer to equality for all in every aspect of life, and in times full of turmoil and compromises its progress and celebrations like this that reminds us of what we have to fight for as human beings, and remind us that we can truly change when we want to. 

All in all my time in Seattle was perfect.  The first two nights I got to relax, and then I got culture, incredible food (fried oysters and chips for dinner one night), swimming, great weather and awesome sights.  I was almost sad leaving the city today for the short 180 mile drive to Portland, but the fact that I would be picking up Magan in just a few short hours and having a travel companion for the first time on the trip gave me the drive to push on!  Goodbye Seattle, Dave, and Ana and thank you for the amazing hospitality.  It's been epic, but now on to Portland and the mythical highway 101!