Seattle – Day 8

Well I trust you all had fun in the UK setting fire to your money in exchange for a flash and a bang!

Today was fun and games day! I would have to see if I could borrow the large boots and Canadian man again.

I was up in time for breakfast and then had a little doze in a chair. I woke up later and someone had put Star Wars: The Return of the Jedi on the DVD player. I was obliged to watch the end of that and then I thought about getting myself ready. I packed up my laptop and got ready to get something to eat – I had learned my lesson from yesterday – don’t start empty!
I ran into Charlie on the way out and so we got a coffee & had a chat. I invited him along for some pinball play if he wanted. He had several calls to make in relation to getting to Portland, so I left it up to him and headed out for lunch.

There are a few breweries in Seattle and in the market is the remains of one which has been converted into a restaurant, so this is where I dined. The king prawn starter I had was wonderful and the burger I went for was homemade – someone took a steak, minced it up and then stuck it back together again – and came with a bowl of salad and steak cut fries. [Warning: “Seasoned fries” is code for: take a portion of chips (they are crisps to Americans) and throw them in a bucket of salt. Put a lid on the bucket and shake the contents for a while. Sieve off the chips (fries) and then serve. If you are one of those uncouth people who put salt on food before tasting it, then you are in for a surprise.] Having finished that I headed for Shorty’s bar.

As I was running late, fifteen minutes, Chris was already waiting for me outside the pub. (Stand down Aussies – he had got himself a beer!) We had a chat and a catch up from yesterday and then we went and “hit the pinnies”. There are some very sophisticated pinball machines about today – and very complicated too! Trying to work out what one should be doing whilst playing the thing is just mind boggling as there are lights & sounds going off all over them. We played virtually all of them and our favourites were: Star Trek: TNG, The Addams Family, Pirates of the Caribbean, Lord of the Rings, and Family Guy (of course).

We took a break for some food at the Chinese place Chris recommended yesterday and had a wonderful Kung Po Chicken.

We returned to Shorty’s for some more beer and pinball and Jonah showed up to join in.
We had a good laugh and took a break from playing to sit and chat. As we were sitting about outside – prime targets for the pan handlers but we just said “no” to them as they approached. One of these guys tried his luck with Jonah and Jonah being a very kind and charitable guy told this bum he wouldn’t give him money but would buy him food if he was hungry. The bloke took the proffered hot dog and consumed it. After he had finished his “dog” this guy then asked me for money – “just $5 for some gas for my car”. I told him to get his car and we can drive to the gas station and I’ll put $5 of gas in it for him. “But it’s out of gas man, so I can’t get it.” Then how will $5 help?” I asked. This was when his argument hit the rocks and sunk, and he was duly dispatched with instructions of “don’t take the piss” and so he left fed but with no more money than he started with. This was also the time we taught Jonah some proper English slang. He was fascinated with the term “take a slash” when Chris said “I’m off to the bog to take a slash.” Jonah has vowed to do his best to induct it into American usage. We wished him well in his task.

We finished our beers when the bar shut at 2:00, exchanged email addresses and said our farewells.

I crossed the road with Chris and then headed for the hostel.

Once again it was a repeat of yesterday morning – crawl into bed and fall asleep.