NW DCE Confrence Day 3 (Seattle)

Jamie and I awoke early for the final day of DCE Conference in Leavenworth. We had breakfast and once again were serenaded by the alpine horn on the deck of the hotel. We then went into closing worship.
Closing worship was one of the most powerful things. I’m not sure if it was the music, or the simple gospel message of re-assurance that touched my heart but it was fantastic. To wrap things up we has communion. We stood in a circle and proceeded to pass around a common cup and wafers, for which each DCE would commune the person to their right side. It was beautiful.

Breakfast!

Closing Worship

Communion

The group. The NW District DCE's who attended the confrence

We then said our goodbyes and hit the road. Since our arrival two days previous Leavenworth had 13 inches of snow. We were warned by the front desk upon check out that we might not be able to get across snoqualmie pass as the patrol was stopping vehicles and allowing chained tires only.

Jamie and I walked around the cute little tourist shops one last time and then were on our way. We turned on the radio and heard that they were now allowing “winter tired vehicles” to pass but oversized vehicles were prohibited.

As we started on our drive this seemed strange since it was clear skies and dry roads. About a half hour in as we made our accent over Snoqualmie pass. As we descended on the other side of the pass the snow turned into freezing fog and freezing rain making for slippery roads. By the time we were on the flat and nearing Seattle it was partly cloudy skies. It was strange to drive through such a variety of weather in a short period of time.

Clear skies and dry roads, what were they talking about?

More snow, wet roads but still not bad...

Entering Snoqualmie Pass-sleet/freezing rain

Freezing fog and icy roads...

Seattle--partly cloudy skies and dry roads

We arrived in Seattle with six hours before our flight left back for Alaska. So we did what any good tourist would do and headed for the famous Seattle Space Needle. Finding parking was atrocious but we managed to find an open ramp. From there Jamie and I walked several blocks toward the towering spectacle. We purchased two tickets to the top and headed on our way.

Headed to the Space Needle

At the top looking over Seattle

The Seattle Skyline from the top of the Space Needle

Fun facts for you all, contrary to popular belief the whole top does not spin. There are two levels at the top. One is a restaurant the other is the viewing for tourists like myself. Only the restaurant spins, but of the restaurant only the exterior ring nearest the window moves. The restaurant kitchen and pluming area at the center of the needle does not move.

Other fun facts:

• When the Space Needle was built in 1962 it was the tallest building west of the Mississippi River.
• The Space Needle sways approximately 1 inch for every 10 mph of wind. It was built to withstand a wind velocity of 200 miles per hour, doubling the 1962 building code requirements. When winds around the Needle reach high speeds, 35 mph or higher, the elevators are designed to reduce their traveling speed to 5 mph for safety reasons. During the 1993 Inaugural Day storm, wind gusts reached 90 mph and the top house was closed for an hour and a half.
• On a hot day the Space Needle expands about one inch.
• There are 25 lightning rods (24 actual rods plus the tower) on the roof of the Needle to withstand lightning strikes.
• The Space Needle was built for the 1962 World's Fair, during which time nearly 20,000 people a day used the elevators, with over 2.3 million visitors in all for the World Fair.