QF WP’s do Disneyland (LA), Seattle and beyond

[QF WP]

We did notice some, but not as eagle eyed as you @Denali. Lots more photos to go

 

[rainbowgirl]

Wow, those are very interesting fries. If I remember correctly you had some other interesting photos of fries earlier in the trip report. I'd love to try fries in that shape.

 

[QF WP]

Ah, I thought I had a photo of the place we ate:



My wife and daughter wanted to check out the wild pieces of art



which lead to the entrance of:



So my son and I went here instead (an outdoor pop up table where he could build and launch a rocket):



then onto the Pacific Science Centre (as that much better met his need for creativity):

 

[QF WP]

It really is an impressively beautiful building design, so I took a number of photos of the buildings in the Science precinct



These reminded me of War of the World structures:

 

[QF WP]

We walked into the first building and along the corridor saw this Hurricane Simulator and after seeing other people in it, my son wanted his turn. So in he went and I was happy to push the button



Well he certainly enjoyed it:



But after that dalliance with wind, he wanted to find his way to the LEGO building that of course he had spied in the literature given to us - truly it must have jumped out at him. I think it’s in one of these son:



Yes, in here:



There’s not much to say about building LEGO and even less to photograph - it was a number of pits full and he could have happily stayed there for hours if allowed. Sorry, my attention span was about 20 minutes - there were plenty of other things to do...

 

[QF WP]

We went back outside to check this exhibition which we had seen walking between the buildings. Unfortunately, my son didn’t met the stringent requirements of a rider but he wanted to see if Dad had the cajones to do it - in fact, I wanted to find out as well!

The ride left a covered platform about 10 meters above the water feature and each rider was strapped onto the seat. The “wheel” was more like a tyre-less rim mounted on top of a circular path and the bike could sway out to either side on an angle if the rider stopped peddling at any time around the path - which was a circular path about 30m in circumference. I watched a couple of others do it and of course there was no photography allowed by the rider and so didn’t trust my 8 y.o. son with my brand new iPhone X just yet. So it had to stay in my backpack on the platform. At least he got to see his dad conquer a fear of heights and was part of a fun afternoon of bonding





So after my fun, it was time for my son to operate some of the displays - he liked this one and if he could have swiveled that water cannon around to aim at me ... he’d have got into a lot of trouble



The next display was also a blast - akin to the life of a hamster or mouse, so we decided to do it together for maximum speed.

 

[QF WP]

With one final display to use, my son wasted no time - this one sorted out the weak and the strong.





So it was time for me to drop my son back to his mother and sister so they could go to MoPop, whilst I braved Sky Needle. Unfortunately the only photo I took is a panoramic and won’t load to this site, but it is akin to the Auckland one. I met up with a US serviceman in the line and chatted to him - we even had the chance to have a couple of beers at the top before I had to depart and meet my family for the trip back to the Hilton.

 

[QF WP]

Back into the TR...

The next day was the Seattle catch up with two of my cousins Brittany and Alex (they’d be 3rd of 4th cousins to me) - 2 of triplets (the other triplet I would see in Spokane in a little over a week). Now they are 26 and both in the Seattle office of their 4th generation family business which spans 5 States.

I first met them when they were 3 and started visiting their parents (Tom, my cousin and his wife Cindy) in Spokane.

First up a meet up at Alki Beach, near their home (West Seattle), plus meeting Brittany’s boyfriend Steve.

Lunch was at a local Mexican restaurant



and then walking off the meal with the obligatory photos

 

[RooFlyer]

The next day was the Seattle catch up with two of my cousins Brittany and Alex (they’d be 3rd of 4th cousins to me) - 2 of triplets (the other triplet I would see in Spokane in a little over a week). Now they are 26 and both in the Seattle office of their 4th generation family business which spans 5 States.

I first met them when they were 3 and started visiting their parents (Tom, my cousin and his wife Cindy) in Spokane.

Ahem. Children of your cousin are first cousins, once removed. Now back to normal (and very enjoyable) programming ...

 

[QF WP]

Well actually my father and Toms’’ father Evan were second cousins, as it was my dads mother and Evans father who were brother and sister. So Tom and I are third cousins and our respective children are fourth cousins. Regardless, we just call any cousin, no matter how far removed, cousin.

Now back to the TR. This afternoons’ event was one of the three main reasons I was on holiday in USA. My kids were all about Disneyland, My wife was all about quilting shops (that will come in later posts) and mine was about planes (no surprise there).

So after lunch, my cousin Alex drove me to this important aeronautical place in Seattle. No trip to Seattle should be done without a visit here.



I was by myself with hours to wander through....The Museum of Flight:



Okay, in I go and straight across into the static displays in the hall directly through from the reception desk.

I am into the SR71, but I’m sure others will love some of the other old airplanes

 

[QF WP]

Always into a walk through of an airplane, one of the first ones I do is the B737-201 which is accessed via the lift up one level and next to the lift:

 

[kermatu]

Fantastic you got there. For some reason I thought you had ruled this out as not possible -- but I must be confusing items from your 'planning/advice' thread for this trip.

 

[JohnM]

Well actually my father and Toms’’ father Evan were second cousins, as it was my dads mother and Evans father who were brother and sister. So Tom and I are third cousins and our respective children are fourth cousins. Regardless, we just call any cousin, no matter how far removed, cousin.

The definition of courage: arguing with @RooFlyer .

 

[RooFlyer]

No, a clarification that 'cousin' was used in the 'conversational' sense, not the pin-point accuracy that we family historians employ. Sorry for the diversion QF WP