Roslyn, Washington - August 2016

An outdoors opportunity took me back to the small town of Roslyn, Washington (population 895) where I had last visited five years ago.  Roslyn is located about 90 miles east of Seattle and is still known as the exterior filming site for the 1990's TV show Northern Exposure which took place in the fictitious town of Cicely, Alaska.   I've noticed as years go on though, less have heard of it.

The famous mural on the wall of the Roslyn Cafe  which was seen on the opening of the TV show.  During the show's run, the mural was slightly modified to say "Roslyn's Cafe" and the scriptwriters worked a "Roslyn" character into the history of the show.  Back to normal these days:

Many scenes were filmed along Roslyn's Pennsylvania Avenue, it's main street.  Looking west first, and then east:

 Village Pizza was also seen on the opening of the show but never used or mentioned:

The site of Dr. Joel Fleischman's office, with the (white shoe polish?) sign still in the window:

And Ruth Anne's store, on the corner of Pennsylvania and 1st St.  Inside, the cash register is still is in the same place:
 

The town of Roslyn tries to preserve their Northern Exposure fame to attract tourism even though it wasn't all fun and games for the residents with the filming crew around and streets being blocked.  This is the radio station KBHR which was a central component of the show and which still occupies a storefront on their main street:

It's been rearranged a little since I was there last, a little more tidied up:

This is new from my last visit:  an explanation of the radio station to those perhaps too young to remember the show:

Northern Exposure used the name and exterior of Roslyn's "The Brick" tavern but not the interior.  Those familiar with the show are sometimes surprised that the inside doesn't look like what they saw on TV but the inside scenes were filmed on a set near Seattle:

Maggie's Pantry, also new since my last visit.  Hmm, there was a central character in NE named Maggie, any relationship?

And a few non-Northern Exposure related pictures.  First, the Marlon Brando mural:
 

Being in the foothills of the Cascades puts Roslyn in a good position to capture some of the outdoor / recreation market including those looking to make a getaway from Seattle.   Basecamp Books is new since my last visit and they have a coffee shop too, and also great recreational and trail maps of the area:

The bike shop (including rentals) may be new also, since I was there last:
 

Remembering Roslyn's coal mining heritage:

Beautiful small house, probably a miner's house at one time:

And a perfect day for a small-town Saturday morning softball game at Pioneer Park:
 

Another great visit to Roslyn topped off with four wonderful days of blue skies and no rain!
 

April 2015: London and Manchester, UK

Another trip to the UK, first landing at Heathrow and then taking the train to Manchester.  I figured the London underground (subway) would be empty when I landed on a Sunday at 6 AM but it happened to be the morning of the London Marathon, and runners were everywhere.

I had some time at London's Euston Station before my train to Manchester, so I wandered around the neighboring University College of London (UCL) area and Gordon Square Park on a misty morning:
 

 A Laburnum tree, all parts poisonous: 

A few hours later after a three-hour train ride, I was in city center Manchester.  Expecting the usual dreary early-spring Manchester weather, I was pleasantly surprised with blue skies and what seemed like the whole city outside enjoying the sunshine on a Sunday afternoon.

Musicians and performers everywhere:
 

One of many Manchester canals, remnants of its industrial age.

Five days later, on the eve of my departure, the skies are still blue:

The April 25 Nepal earthquake had just occurred a few days ago:

June 2015: Nashville, TN

My first time ever to Nashville.   Enoyable, for sure, but somewhat uncomfortable from the lingering Tropical Storm Bill moisture in the air along with 90 degree temperatures.

The tourist area on Broadway:

which is home to Ernest Tubb's Record Shop:

The Music City has plenty of monuments to remember its heritage.  Owen Bradley in the small park named after him, in the Music Row neighborhood:

The replica of Webb Pierce's famous swimming pool at an apartment complex, right over the wall from Owen Bradley Park:
 

Chet Atkins statue at Fifth Avenue North & Union Street:
 

 The grand Union Station, built in 1900.  It's a hotel now.

Another new state capitol visit for me:
 

Entombed on state capitol grounds is James Polk, the 11th President of the USA:
 

Back to the downtown area, the Cumberland River and the Tennessee Titans football stadium:

Back on Broadway:

I'd go back again but preferably during cooler weather.  Except for the tourist areas, Nashville seemed to be a little empty. It's a big metropolitan area (population 1.7M) but like other large southern towns, it drains out to the suburbs.  I saw a few cyclists but it's mainly a driving town at least in the summer, no doubt due to the sweltering humidity.  Finally, Nashville could use a large park or two in its city center.  These, and greenery in general, were noticeably missing. 

Portola Redwoods State Park

With half of a Sunday in the Bay Area available, I went to see some redwoods at Portola Redwoods State Park in the Santa Cruz mountains.  I was pleasantly surprised that there were no crowds.

A fallen redwood over Pescadero Creek:
 

I'm always amazed by these grand trees, some of which are 260 feet tall:
 

Lots of good trails in this park, I hiked up "Old Tree Trail" but there are many more that I'll need to visit in the future.

On the way back down the hill, sprawling Silicon Valley sits below: