Mr Smashy!

Robotica '98 Weekend (our trip to Seattle)

Instead of driving to San Francisco to attend the inaugural Society of Robotic Combat meeting, we decided to go to Seattle. Why? Well, Fred needed a vacation, Gill likes shopping in the states, and I wanted to visit the Boeing Surplus Store in Kent. Plus, Seattle is much, much closer (under 3 hours) so we could do it all in one day. We had a fun time and it took my mind off of the cancellation of Robotica.

Click on the thumbnails for the larger picture.

On the way there, we spotted this Gospel bus full of happy Christians. They had their destination board on their bus set to "Heaven". We on the other hand, made a pact with the Devil and ended up in "Evertt, muthaf**ka!" (as moustache sportin', pickup drivin', teenage locals told us). In our agreement with Satan we were forced to eat only fast-food during our stay in the good ol' U.S. of A. We started with some McDonalds breakfast burritos.

If you have never been to the Boeing Surplus Store, you should make a point of trying to go there. They had mad amounts of stuff that would take you hours to look through. We all bought safety glasses (which Fred is sporting in the pictures below) for 10 cents a pair. They only took American funds, and they only took cash, so we spent our combined $1.52 and left. Very cool place, and I will have to return with more money next time. (Titanium: $8/pound)

Here is Gill and Fred at our lunch stop, Taco Bell in Bellevue. Fred is filling out application to work there. They gave him a Spanish one, so he was trying his hardest to fill it out correctamente.

The official beverage of our trip was "Zima". Now you must understand that we can't buy this drink up in Canada, so it really was quite a treat. We drank it out on the Taco Bell patio while soaking up the WA sun and enjoying our Nachos Belle Grande, with Taco Bell's new "Beefier Beef".

Denouement:

After leaving the Taco Bell, we attempted to hitch a Ferry to Whidbey Island, but in an attempt to cut in line in the traffic jam to get on the ferry before our due turn, we were caught by a State Trooper and were asked to join the back of the line. Knowing that we could out-smart the be-hatted long arm of the law, we attempted to find a back route in. We were unsuccessful as we were spotted at every turn, and we settled for the rush-hour traffic leaving Seattle instead of the Ferry.

We had our final fast-food meal at the Burger King in Blaine WA, filled up the car with cheap American gas and returned home to Canada with our safety glasses and half a bottle of Zima. With all the hustle and bustle of eating and driving, we never ended up going into the actual city of Seattle. That didn't end up mattering though, because a good time was had by all. God bless the United States of America.
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	On the way there, we spotted this Gospel bus full of happy Christians. They had their destination board on their bus set to "Heaven". We on the other hand, made a pact with the Devil and ended up in "Evertt, muthaf**ka!" (as moustache sportin', pickup drivin', teenage locals told us). In our agreement with Satan we were forced to eat only fast-food during our stay in the good ol' U.S. of A. We started with some McDonalds breakfast burritos.
	If you have never been to the Boeing Surplus Store, you should make a point of trying to go there. They had mad amounts of stuff that would take you hours to look through. We all bought safety glasses (which Fred is sporting in the pictures below) for 10 cents a pair. They only took American funds, and they only took cash, so we spent our combined $1.52 and left. Very cool place, and I will have to return with more money next time. (Titanium: $8/pound)
	Here is Gill and Fred at our lunch stop, Taco Bell in Bellevue. Fred is filling out application to work there. They gave him a Spanish one, so he was trying his hardest to fill it out correctamente.
	The official beverage of our trip was "Zima". Now you must understand that we can't buy this drink up in Canada, so it really was quite a treat. We drank it out on the Taco Bell patio while soaking up the WA sun and enjoying our Nachos Belle Grande, with Taco Bell's new "Beefier Beef".