Seattle

Seattle gave us Microsoft, Starbucks and GRUNGE so it has more than made its mark on the modern world. (De Gorski can remember exactly where he was when he heard Kurt Cobain was dead, and McThommo still has a ticket from one of their subsequently cancelled gigs). We had a one night stop here before heading off to Oregon and stayed in a wicked hostel called the Green Tortoise , right next to the famous Pike Place market. Highly recommended - make your own waffles for breakfast, amazing wet room bathrooms, double-bunks and great location. When you start work at PPPayne they show you an inspirational video based on one of the fish stalls in this market, renowned for its crowd-pleasing fish-throwing antics, it was funny to see some of the same characters still there. They are coffee mad in Seattle so we had a very good one in a tiny indie-looking shop called 'Seattle's Best' near our hostel. Turns out they run the coffee franchise in US Borders stores, capitalist b@stards! Seattle was our first US city and the next city stop after Vancouver and the increase in dodgy characters on the street and big city threatening feel was noticeable. Maybe it was due to coming from the countryside.
Things we didn't do in Seattle:-
1-See Kurt Cobain's Grave
2-See Bruce Lee's Grave
Things we did do:-
1-Hire a Pontiac, yeeha. American cars are crap, this one was a 'Large' and only just squeezed in two bike bags and two backpacks. It does a remarkable 25 miles to the gallon.
PS sharing our room was a Swedish girl who was going to the Burning Man Festival and did her damndest to persuade us to go. We looked at going when planning our trip but sacked it off due to practicality and eating into riding time. She was so enthusiastic and raved about the community spirit there, next time.....

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