Short drive this morning from Olympia to Seattle. On the road at the tail end of the rush hour and that was a good choice on our part. We had a steady run up I-5 at an average speed of about 70 mph (about 125 kph), then an easy exit to Seneca street in the heart of Seattle, exit number 165.
We did our business, then had to wait for a while so we spent the time at the Pike Street Public Market. Sort of like Granville Island Market on steroids, and similar to the Atwater Market in Montreal where Leanne's friend Peter works, but Atwater is much smaller. Another beautiful day, blue skies and warm, so even this seedier part of Seattle was gorgeous today. Stopped by the original Starbucks store that spawned the coffee craze that swept the continent. Who knew that would happen, and from such humble beginnings. What's the next one? Can I get some seed stock? Sidebar to the story - note the risque detail on the mermaid in the 'Coffee Tea Spices' sign. I suppose you have to give up some details of your signage when you go international.
Another sidebar - some of the store people at the market have a lot of laughs. Jan and I had lunch at the Pike Street Market Bar and Grill, across the street from the main entrance where there is a large fish market. Behind the counters, loaded with fish, when it isn't busy, the guys will toss big fish to their co-workers at the front of the counter, which they place on the ice. These are big fish, and the heaving and catching gets the attention of the passersby. Then, the guy behind the counter pitches a big, whole fish, deep belly and about 3 feet long, looking like about 25 or 30 pounds of fish - he throws it with a two handed heave right at the crowd. The crowd shrieks and jumps back shouting 'Eewwwwww' or something like that, and the fish hits the ground and bounces. Course this time it isn't a real fish, it is soft squishy plastic or something, and weighs about a pound or less. The straight man in front of the counter retrieves it and tosses it back, everybody laughs, and buys fish. When they get a new crowd, 20 minutes or so later, when things go a bit slack they do it again. What a great advertising idea, better than a flashing neon fish sign. Interactive advertising, brilliant.
When we finished we got as far north as Mt. Vernon, then pulled in for the night. Tomorrow, we plan to head across the border and into downtown Vancouver.
