Postcard from Pacific Northwest USA.

In September 2019, my brother and I did a two week hiking trip through the Canadian Rockies (amazing). When we finished up in Vancouver, we hired a car for a week and drove a few hours South to cross the border into the US. Our family has 3 generations of aviators, so for us there was no way we could travel all this way and NOT visit The Museum of Flight in Seattle or the Evergreen Aviation and Space Museum near Portland. The two other things on my 'must do' list was to visit the largest bookstore in the world (I am a nerd at heart), Powell's in Portland - which takes up an entire city block! - and the Museum of Pop Culture in Seattle (the home of grunge music.) NONE of these places disappointed. 

In Seattle we went on board the first Air Force One Boeing VC - 137B to walk the same aisle as presidents such as Eisenhower, Kennedy, Johnson and Nixon. I also got to sit in the cockpit of Lockheed M-21 (Blackbird) - the world's fastest plane, which has a very fascinating history. 

The Pop Museum awed me as I looked over the original songwriting books for Pearl Jam and Nirvana, candid photos taken by the bands. Kurt Cobain's Fender Stratocaster guitar.... be still my beating bogan heart. 

For me the highlight of this leg through, was when my brother and I video-called our Dad back in NZ, from the inside of THE Spruce Goose. He is a huge aviation history buff and was so beyond chuffed. It was such a special moment to share with him. Until you see it in person, it's difficult to fathom to it's size and imagine the feat of building of the body of a mammoth aircraft from wood (interestingly, mainly birch over spruce). 

We finished up by going to  a professional baseball game in Seattle to watch the Seattle Mariners play the Cincinnati Reds. Queue the organ music and staff walking around flinging popcorn and nuts. We got to see a rookie hit a home run and overall it was just a great afternoon. 

If you've never been to the US Pacific Northwest it should 100% be added to your list, there is something for everyone and it is such a beautiful location.