Here and there

In May I returned to the Pacific Northwest after being away for a year. I hadn't really thought about how long I had been away until I was headed up Highway 405. Suddenly it seemed like ages since I had been to the NW, almost a bit foreign. It took a few days for that feeling to disappear.

I returned to some of my normal NW behaviour. I did quite a bit of driving, hijacking one of my parent's cars for a good portion of the visit. I enjoyed a few rounds of good hits but inconsistent scores on the golf course. I watched sports teams lose. I took every opportunity to enjoy Mexican food (or any variation of it).

After a year away, I noticed things. Things that have always been there. Things that I started taking for granted. You might be thinking...like the striking beauty of the WA volcanos? Well, no. I think because the clouds hide those for a portion of the year, I never stopped noticing them and admiring their dramatic beauty.

What do I mean? The height of the trees along the side of the road. Have they always been that tall? No, they have had a year to grow. But in general, yes. I'm not talking old growth. These are just the trees along freeways, in backyards...gorgeous cedars and hemlocks.

And when did those small towns that I grew up near suddenly become cities? It has been happening for years. And yet, they seem to have a much more urban feel since a year ago. I can only hope that with this urbanization comes a more usable public transport system.

And the size of vehicles. Not a good thing. They are monsters! They seemed even bigger. Yet they can't be. They haven't widened the roads.

What struck me most is how dramatic and gorgeous it is to drive across the floating bridges. I knew they were some of the longest floating bridges in the world but according to my latest search, the bridge I call the Evergreen Point Bridge (Governor Albert D. Rosellini Bridge) is the longest, with the eastbound I-90 bridge the second longest. As you cross Lake Washington, you get an incredible view of the sailboats, water skiers, and waterfront. On one side of the bridge, the water may be smooth while the other side choppy. It is a pretty dramatic way to enter a city.

Back in the UK, I have been exploring more neighbourhoods in the city. I continue to be drawn to the variety and quality of the stone and brick construction. Cast iron gates. Houses built at a time when fires were the only option to heat them.

I wander by these homes, peering into their gardens, touching their stone walls, and imagining people living in these homes in different time periods. I am shy with the camera. It just feels a bit intrusive to take photos of people's homes. If you want to have a good look, check out a real estate site!

I sure would love to get my hands on some of these gardens!