Thursday 12 September 2013

Day 116 Seattle, WA

Thurs., Sept. 12

Seattle, WA

Another amazing day!  A short drive to the Boeing Factory in Mukilteo, 25 miles north of Seattle.  50 – 100 people are going on a tour every half hour.  Doesn’t anybody work anymore???  Kidding!!  The tour starts with a six minute video.  No cameras, cell phones or bags are allowed on the tour.  The factory is massive with 45,000 people working on all aspects of building these flying machines.  The building where the planes are assembled is the largest building in the world by volume at 13,385,378m3 and covers 399,480m2.  We saw the 777 Boeing and the 787 Dreamliner being assembled.  The Dreamlifters are modified 777 that carry the large components for 787 that are manufactured around the world. The first 787 was delivered Sept. 2011 and they have orders for 1500.  After planes are assembled they are painted to the customer specs.
787 is assembled in here
787 Dreamlifter 
Going out for test flight
Driving to Seattle, what a maze of interchanges!!  Traffic was slow going in almost stand still at times but the HOV lane was flying along so we changed lanes.  A few miles down I5 an accident therefore the slow downs.  Finally at the Space Needle and we’re heading up 520 feet to the Observation Deck.  Its claim to fame is that it was the tallest building west of the Mississippi at 605 feet built in 1962 for the World Fair.
Looking straight down, giant spiders on roof

We head back to Everett and it is rush hour.  The traffic is crazy and again the HOV lane moves us along nicely.  The manager at our campsite suggested a great seafood restaurant for supper so we headed for Front St in Mukilteo to Ivar’s.  The ferry terminal is right next to it.  The restaurant was very good and big, right on the bay.  We were seated near a window overlooking the bay.

Daily Stats: 
Today's distance:  95 km
Weather:  Sun; High: 26 degrees; Lo: 18 degrees
Wildlife: Squirrels
Campsite:  Maple Grove RV Resort $46 full service
Walking: 5 km walking

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