Alterative Fuel Fair in Lacy

My CANview arrived today. When I get back from my upcoming trip to Mexico (hiking in the Copper Canyon) I'll decide whether to have a go at installing it myself, or to look for someone locally to install it. (Driving to the coast once the passes are clear of snow would be an alternative if I cannot find someone locally.)

 

I'm back from Mexico. Hiking in the Copper Canyon was great. Contrary to what I had read somewhere, it bears no resemblance whatsoever to the Grand Canyon, but it is spectacular in its own right.

And what do you know? Cirque du Soleil is going to be in Seattle at the same time as the Lacy shindig, so it's definite that I'll be there. I have my ticket for Cirque for the matinee the day after Lacy. I'll probably drive out to the coast on May 5 and put up in a Seattle hotel, then drive down to Lacy for the 6th. On the 7th I'll see Cirque. Potentially, I could stay on another day if there's any reason to, before driving home.

I have yet to decide whether to attempt to install the CANview myself.

What would be the best hotel near the site? (King County's Marymoor Park
6046 West Lake Sammamish Parkway Northeast.)

 

Thanks a bunch for the offer, Henry, but I think I'd rather be closer to the circus site. Plus, a hotel allows for more quiet and privacy (assuming it's a good one). I do like big friendly dogs. I like them best if they don't try to lick my face. I like cats best of all. Dogs' tongues are kind of slimy. Cats' tongues are almost dry, and raspy, and they tickle.

I don't take pictures, but I've been promised pictures from both the Australia and Mexico trips. The folks on the Australia trip who took the most pictures were on an extended trip, so the pics might be a while in coming, and the guy who took pics in Mexico said it will take him another week or two to get everything organized: he takes 6 pics for every one he keeps, and prefers to mail out CDs to everyone rather than post on the internet. The folks on the NZ trip have had plenty of time to post pics, and have not done so, so I don't think they will. Most people on these sorts of trips promise to keep in touch but never do, and the guy who took the most pics in NZ didn't like me, and was very open about it, so I never expected pics from him anyway.

But as pictures arrive I'll post a few of the best.

Meanwhile, here are some pics of the Copper Canyon I found on the web. I was at some, but not all, of these places. The area is actually a system of several very large, deep river canyons, bearing no resemblance to the Grand Canyon, but spectacular in their own right. I can't carry a real backpack, either. I just carry a day pack with fleece, light rain/windbreaker jacket, water, and lunch if needed.

 

I don't know about the best. The closest "Hotel Central" has got to be downtown Bellevue. Pretty straight freeway shot from there. Seems like people in town on business usually stay at the Doubletree.

 

I've stayed there when it was a Red Lion. If you do, specify a west side room. I-405 will keep you awake all night other wise. The Bellevue Red Lion just next door is accetable as well. I'm trying to get my room booked for the same weekend at the Day'sInn in Bellevue and will let you know what goes on with that effort. I also normally go down on the Friday and then just drive down to Lacey on Sat morning. This year I'll check what is happening on I-5 as last year I got caught in a traffic jam due to road construction. I do a bit of running around shopping and looking when I'm down there and have supper at a Mexican restaruant in Bellevue that I discovered about 25 years ago.

 

umm frank, dont know if you can do this with a canadian cellphone, but dialing 511 will give you traffic reports for Wa State and OR... just follow the prompts, punch in route number and direction you want...every once in a while they do help.

 

thanks Dave I'll give it a try.

 

Hmmm. Day's Inn is usually rather downscale, and any hotel that does not have soundproofing on the freeway side is probably pretty mediocre as well. Whenever possible, I try to avoid anything below Holiday Inn, which I characterize as acceptable/cheap.

But armed with the name of Bellevue, I find there's a Hyatt Regency on Bellevue Way about a half a mile from 405; and a Marriott on 29th Place, maybe too close to S20. How far from the circus site would these places be?

Also, how far from Lacy?

 

Bellevue is probably about 20 minutes from the park and about 1hour 15 minutes from Lacey. The Red Lion in Bellevue is nice and I normally stay there but their reservation system pissed me off last time and I went to the DI and it was clean and quiet and convienent. Since all I'm looking for is a bed it worked for me. I might try the RL again but it got under my skin. And I'm not really a nice person when irritated.

 

I was there last year and had a lot of fun.

I plan to be there this year and have put it on my calendar.

Looks like we're going to have a real gaggle of Priuses!

And I'll have my new camera (Nikon D200) so if you want some shots of anything or anybody, let me know.

And if anyone has info about a good interface with an iPod, I'd like to chat with you.

Thanks.

 

hey John, long time no see. how was your Mac trip?

 

if you like upscale, there is a nice place in downtown Olympia about 4 blocks from the Capitol building. its very posh... cant remember the name of it, names has changed a few times. its small, about 3-4 stories but very nice as i hear. never been there, cant justify spending night at hotel that is less than 10 miles from home... was called the Governors House but i m pretty sure it changed names.

 

Great, I met Wozniak and a lot of other interesting people. Went to 3 Mexican ports. Spent a week with relatives in LA and shot about 1600+ photos.

And I used a new Nikon D200 that I got just before my trip. Terrible way to learn a new camera, but it was lighter and better than the one I've used for the last 5 years.

I still haven't fiddled with them all yet.

I just worked with a makeup artist who wanted some samples and shot about 425 photos this afternoon.

|hey John, long time no see. how was your Mac trip?

 

Thanks for all the hotel info. I think I'll probably stay either in one of the upscale hotels in Bellevue or the Residence Inn By Marriott, which is right across from Marymoor Park, where the circus will be, and at $107 per night is sort of mid-scale.

Looks like Bellevue gives me a slightly straighter shot coming and going.