No Place to Work on Your Tan-Snoqualmie, WA July '08

Snoqualmie, WA—Salish Lodge

Every Independence Day for as long as Judith and I have been together (9 years), we have gone to the local Independence Day Parade in Evanston. The process begins when lawn chairs are allowed to be placed along the parkway of the Central Street parade route 2 or 3 days ahead of time along with other items to mark your “dibs”. Veteran parade goers place their items close to the reviewing stand in order to witness bands actually playing music instead of just marching by and securing the shady side of the street. Then food is ordered or prepared. On the 4^th, the car is loaded with additional lawn chairs, a portable table and a couple of ice coolers, one for food and one for drinks. The trek must begin early enough to secure a parking spot within 4 or 5 blocks. You can imagine the rest of the work required.

The parade is really nice and patriotic themes abound and in the liberal community of Evanston, the Republican float and the Right to Life float are rightly politely booed, giving a feeling of community to us so inclined. But, his year, we had relief from this pleasant ordeal.

Judith is frequently asked to sit on various review boards where federal NIH grant requests are picked apart to fund only those deserving, by a majority of the reviewers. To Judith this is an opportunity to go somewhere nearby and spend a weekend at some luxury surroundings, spending all the money she makes as a reviewer.

The reviewers meet in Seattle and Judith books us at the Salish Lodge, overlooking the Snoqualmie Falls, just 35 miles outside of Seattle. And we leave on July 3^rd, leaving the 4^th open for something unstructured.

The Salish Lodge was built in 1919 and completely remodeled in 1988. It was used in the TV show Twin Peaks as the Great Northern Hotel. We have one of best views of the river as it starts its descent.

The Lodge is written up in several travel magazines and is listed in the book “1000 Places to See Before You Die, USA version.”

It has a gourmet restaurant and there are several tables with views of the falls. So for about $50-60 per person you can eat very well with entrée, starter, wine, and a shared dessert. The food and presentation were outstanding and the staff was so well trained. I could not help thinking that the young staff people would carry their experience forward in their lives to their benefit.

We also enjoyed the spa and each had a message after hot-tubing. The real attraction, of course, is the falls. It is 288 foot fall, more than 100 feet longer than Niagara.

For the Snoqualmie People, who have lived for centuries in the Snoqualmie Valley in western Washington, Snoqualmie Falls is central to their culture, beliefs, and spirituality. A traditional burial site, to the Snoqualmie, the falls are "the place where First Woman and First Man were created by Moon the Transformer" and "where prayers were carried up to the Creator by great mists that rise from the powerful flow.” The mists rising from the base of the waterfall serve to connect Heaven and Earth.

Clearly, the Snoqualmie had/have a different view of the world.

Watching the mist rise and disperse in the surrounding is akin to watching fire. The mist ebbs and flows, constantly moving and creating its own little eco-system. At times the mist rises about 350 feet from the river below, challenging photographers to time their shots if a clear view of the Lodge is wanted.

And with a little enhancement from Photo Shop, a more dramatic photo can be produced.

This photo was taken the first evening we were here. We only briefly saw the sun again. This is no place to work on your tan.

So on the 4^th, we drive to the small town of Carnation to enjoy a small town 4^th of July celebration. We didn’t stay for the fireworks, however. It would involve staying about 4 more hours.

This is the town hall and nearby still working gasoline station. Take a good look at a dying breed.

There are pony rides for the kids (all girls).

And the monster car winner featured in their parade.

And the restored car show.

I remember riding a rumble seat once back when cars had running boards.

This Ford reminds me of my Uncle Frank’s car, minus the purple paint. This car was started with a crank. Notice the horn.

These cars had a manual choke on the dashboard, gear shift on the floor, automatic starter button on the floor. No radio, CD, or tape player. No cigarette lighter to hook into cell phone, iPod, computer, or GPS system.

I leave Sunday for home while Judith goes to work. I live a hard life.