Bristol to Seattle: a journey of scientific curiosity and christian faith: Seriously Sunny Seattle Summers

Seattle Harbour in the Sun

You’ll note that last weekend my trip to Bainbridge Island was a little damp but the general rule of thumb is that after Independence Day the weather is sunny here in Seattle. I checked the weather forecast on Saturday and it was suggesting a week of thirty degree (Celsius) days. If you are going to visit Seattle and want to see some sun come in July or August!

The back of a giant head facing Puget Sound

After my successful adventure last weekend I decided to hop on the bus and head down to the harbour side. I actually left the house before 10am which for recent Saturdays is something of a landmark occasion. First stop was the Olympic Sculpture Park. For some reason in my head this was a lot bigger but I still enjoyed my time there. It being summer there are a number of public outreach events happening all of which I neglected to photograph. While I was there there was; a hundred or so people doing yoga in the broiling sun, a hands on workshop where you could make your own sea creatures (?) out of diamonds that fitted together, easels set up where you could sit and sketch, and numerous orange chairs one could sit on. There was also some temporary art installations such as large headphones that played different background noises included noises from a city scape. As with most modern art there was some stuff I didn’t care for and some stuff I couldn’t get enough of, unsurprisingly it was the pieces I enjoyed that I photographed.

My favourite was a set of mirrored squares, built so they would all nest inside each other but allowed to tumbled outwards creating a kicking K with one too many kicks. The inside of the shape was shaded and created a really interest negative space, but also shone an iridescent blue that I found fascinating. The outside reflected the beautiful green vegetation around so that it almost blended into the background except that the human eye is so good at seeing edges. Obviously as you moved the image changed as the interaction of the shapes and the reflections changed. I spent a happy 20mins in the sun drawing until I wilted in the heat and had to retire into the pavilion to do a bit more work. The sketch is still being finished so I’ll upload it when I’m done.

The signs I love to hate

My second favourite piece was called ‘wake’, these amazing computer designed 3D shapes gradually rusting on the surface, are reminiscent of a ships wake and it was fun to walk around them and stand in their shade.

I also love to hate signs that tell you not to touch artwork, which this artwork had. I totally understand our hands (mine especially) are riddled with acids that love to eat through metal, wood, probably even plastic given a few millennia, but part of our understanding of 3D shapes is built by touch and I always feel slightly resentful of ‘hands off’ art. I’ve always been fascinated by the way interact with art and had an interest in art that you can help shape as oppose to art that simply attempts to shape us. My favourite piece of art work is ‘Field for the British Isles’ by Antony Gormley (and myriad others) for just this reason.

cloudscape

Silver Tree

Looking through cloudscape

There were some other fun things. I enjoyed the cloudscape, a corridor of artificially coloured cloud images with small circle gaps. These little circles, like miniature portholes, are supposed to give you glimpses of a moving landscape as you walk through them, supposedly like being on a moving escalator. I also enjoyed this mirrored tree that actually looks like a real tree standing in its own meadow. Finally I enjoyed the birds playing on this log, rope, and metal assemblage, people hands are a not allowed but pigeons are fine!

Pigeons enjoying the artwork

After getting my fill of art work I slowly walked along the harbourside. I saw lots of people queuing and waiting for their cruise. I saw people getting ready to go on a ferry trip to Victoria (that seems like a good idea for next year). A man with three chiwawahs dressed as Elvis(?), a Bride, and a Rock’n’Roller, he was causing a total blockage to the sidewalk but at least the dogs were in the shade! I thought seriously about having a go on the Seattle big wheel but decided that I might save that till I have a friend to go with me. I went in ‘Ye Old Curiosity shop' and saw the conjoined calves, two mummies, and flattened walrus face, amongst other curiosities and a lot of tourist souvenirs. I bought a really good sourdough round (about 7 inches diameter) which I filled with soup and ate this evening after work. I tried out another set of fish and chips (this time Salmon and chips) but I have to say that Ivar’s was definitely fresher. I fully intended to go in the Seattle Aquarium but there was a line out the door so instead I went to Pike’s place Market and visited my usual haunts. I got a macadamia bear from the chocolate factory, these are at least an entire meal of calories but they are so good, chocolate, nuts and carmel… I popped in the quilt fabric shop. I looked at the stall of the lady who does the lovely watercolours and bought myself a Seattle advent calendar. I may have bought some additional Seattle prints - I now have six for my Seattle wall when I get home. I got some flowers that are looking a bit poorly already – maybe because of the heat? I looked at the Jewellery stalls. I bought myself a two scoop beaker of ice cream with lavender & honey and Pomegranate cheesecake flavours. Most exciting of all I found a tea shop! I now have loose leaf Black currant black tea and Earl Grey tea with lavender and rose in it, both of which are very nice. They also sell PG Tips etc at ridiculous import prices. Sometimes it is fun to be tourist!

After spending the afternoon enjoying myself I headed home and then decided to do a little practical shopping at the local mall so hopped back on the bus and set off for the evening. I also popped into the cinema and watched ‘How to Train Your Dragon 2’. The first one is a favourite of mine and although I didn’t enjoy this one quite as much I did enjoy it a lot. My enjoyment was also slightly spoilt by the fact my bus was going to leave 5 mins after the film was due to end and it would be an hour till the next one. I did make the bus thankfully. On the way home I noticed the moon was almost full and massive so instead of heading straight to bed I ran down the road to try and get some pictures of the reflection off the lake.

Across Lake Washington at night

Sunday morning I played my flute in church which was fun. We played “Be though my Vision” and “He” (He can turn the tides and calm the angry see). There was an organ for the main hymn so we were just decorative touches, it was nice to play in church again but now I need to get something a bit more meaty up to scratch so I can play that.

Sunday after church I got back home and my plan of sour bread bowl filled with soup was foiled by a power-cut. I bounced back though and headed to discovery park having sussed out the quickest two bus one hour route. Discovery Park is actually only about 7 miles away but that is surprisingly far when you have no car. According to the website it is the largest of Seattle’s parks. I didn’t really know what to expect but I went anyway. I had a nice little meander and followed the signs to one of the beaches through wooded loam pathways. The beach I headed to, North Beach, is unfortunately right next to the sewerage treatment facility. Despite this it is a nice little beach and the water isn’t really dirty except for the far end of the beach. There is a little lighthouse that I contemplated drawing but didn’t (maybe another time). There is also lots of driftwood and some driftwood houses which were fun (see below). I was going to do some more walking but the draw of relaxing on the beach (having brought my picnic blanket all this way) was just too much. After an hour of sitting and reading it was time to head back to home and get ready for work tomorrow. On the way back I sussed out where the visitor centre is so I’ll have to find that another time, and visit the South Beach too. Altogether a nice relaxing busy weekend, it isn’t often I manage that dynamic so I am patting myself on the back!