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Day 42 Washigton State
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Day 42 Washington State
A few small interpretive problems again between GPS Mandy and Rick, but other than that we found our way through the road networks to Everton the home of Boeing.
Booked ourselves on the 11am tour that gave a little time to look at the gallery of flight information, this included simulator flights, cockpit of 747, a 3d short movie of the creation of the centre, and planes over head of various types.
The tour began with a movie relating the history and the projects happening within Boeing,
Then onto a tour bus to the largest uncover building ever!
It would hold 2140 homes or Disneyland could fit inside the building and still have 12 acres of undercover parking.
It is nearly impossible to take in the size of the building.
The assembly line we looked down on with 747's being built was hard to look down on and absorb.
From there we went to the next assembly line producing 777's in a moving assembly line, and next door is the new 787 the new Boeing baby. It definitely is not a baby, and the order book is really full with one airline company ordering 50 of these and they are yet to be in commercial use. The first is still rolling out, expected off the line in August this year. At 30% deposit on order, then 30% when the aircraft begins assembly and the final payment in cash when it rolls out, at a cost of $180 million each, I suppose that means you require a deposit of 60 million for one plane, I guess you require a good banker.
It apparently is 40% more fuel efficient and clearly a long way from the
Wright bros plane, which, incidentally could fly inside a 777.
We were suitably impressed and had lunch and moved on to the Outlet shops that somehow Mandy KNEW immediately where to take us. (Could be Karon and her had a chat while the boys were distracted!)
We left there with two pair of new shoes for Rick (2/3rds the price for 1 pair priced before we left home) and 2 pair for Earnie. Thankyou Karon for being patient with us and letting the boys take their time around the wonderful outlet shops, we do not know why you couldn't find anything for yourself!
We rolled the castle onwards and northwards, destination; Alaska.
We have found another KOA at Burlington a little south of Bellingham, pulled in at 6:30pm and had bacon/eggs/tomatoes cooked on the barby by 7:15, Gee have we sorted this journey or NOT?
It is easy to bring the comforts of home without paying through the nose.
A good example of this would be the tour of Boeing, We found brochures about the tour from Seattle, (35miles to travel to Boeing, pick up at hotel and return) the cost; $50 per person. The actual tour cost for us $15 per person, It would be cheaper to hire a car for a day, do the tour, and have some change!
The way we have set ourselves up with the Rolling Castle and the internets, to enable the research to be done allows for feeding three people for the cost of one meal at a hotel, and also research the options for tours. It certainly has opened up the choices and allows us to make the $'s stretch a long way.
Well time to have the Castle serviced tomorrow, Yep we have travelled 4000 miles already and we are only into day 42 of around 200, I don't believe we really want to do the sums. It is what it is, and we accept that, it is also fun, as I reckon you may have picked up in the reports that we do find something to smile about each and every day.
Where I stayed:
Burlington KOA
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