I would need a couple of weeks to explore Seattle, and I cannot afford that time this trip. So I boogied straight on through to Tacoma. The Museum of Glass there is such a cool spot. The quality of the work on exhibit there is always top notch. I had visited in 2003, where I saw Bertil Vallien do a large casting demo. The demonstration floor is awesome - stadium seating with a mezzanine all around & closed circuit TV where they can really zoom in on what the artists are doing. I would really like to demo here someday.
That Hot Second passed, time to head on south. I spent the day driving through Washington, seeing what I could see along the way. I drove towards Mount Ranier, I heard that Paradise is on the side of that volcano. It was pretty rainy, although an exciting drive - I decided to turn around, and save it for a clearer day when I am not so rushed.
I seem to be having a difficult time these days committing to being somewhere at a certain time of day. The publisized events are not a problem at all - they keep me anchored in a way. Its the other stuff in between - I get torn between too many different options. I am not sure why this is. I almost freeze up, as though I am not sure what the right decision is. I call this "getting in my own way". As a result, things will happen like not letting friends know I am in town until about an hour before. This is what happened in Portland, where a friend of mine resides. All I really had to do was give a little more heads up. Like a couple more hours & we would have hooked up.
I did take a couple of ours to walk and drive around and check out Portland. Had a beer at Tugboat Brewing Company. Okay, I had two. They were really tasty. Took a little breather & got back on the road. I don't really like driving at night - I miss too much scenery. Rest stop & nap time. Woke up at 4:20 AM on 4/20. My workshop at BAGI was the next day, and I had some miles to put behind me. Especially if I was going to see the Giant Trees! I realized a little later that the scale of the maps in my atlas are not consistent - California is a Very Large State!
That being said, I didn't stop for much until I exited in Southern Oregon at Grants Pass to take 99 towards the Giants. I stopped at a coffee joint for some, and noticed that the tip jar was hand blown glass. There must be a hot shop around here somewhere. I started walking two blocks up turn right. Two blocks down the street I about to turn back towards the truck, when I noticed the word "Glass" written on the side of a building.
The group of artists at the Glass Forge were very welcoming. I ended up grabbing the truck & showing them what I was up to. I blew into a couple of my molds, and so did they. We all got on quite well - I could have stayed there all day! We traded t-shirts & I went on my way. I will make a point of coming back for a visit. I will be coming back this way I think - I didn't get a chance to see those trees. I didn't have time. It is okay, for I am a firm believer that all things happen for a reason. I have waited all my life to see the giant redwoods, today just was not the day. I had a class to teach the next day in San Jose. This is something I was really looking forward to. It is very special for folks to see what I am doing & that they want to be a part of it. It can be overwhelming at times.
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