From plumbing Fumes to karaoke tunes: My last night in Seattle before heading to Fairbanks

Friday, October 11th

Local Eats and DIY Plumbing Adventure Before a Karaoke Night Out

After a lazy start to the day, I decided to explore some local eats. I found a spot nearby called 125th street Grill and settled in to try my first-ever Philly sandwich. The vibe was chill, and I enjoyed the food—classic comfort with a side of people-watching. I wasn’t up for the trek to downtown Seattle, so I searched Yelp for karaoke spots within reach.

Back in my room, things took an unexpected turn. An IBS flare-up hit me hard, and when I tried to flush, the toilet wasn’t having it. The real kicker? No plunger and no toilet brush in sight. I called down to the front desk and requested the tools—no way was I letting anyone in to help with that situation! This wasn’t my first rodeo, either. I had a similar incident at a karaoke bar in Oslo last year, but hey, I’m no stranger to improvising when needed.

Once I’d conquered my plumbing issues, I headed out to find "The Vibe pub and Grill" a dive bar known for its heavy-handed pours and karaoke nights every Tuesday and Friday. The vibe was laid-back, with a friendly crowd. I met a sweet old man called Marlon from New Orleans who kept an eye out for me all evening, plus a new friend, Chris, who joined me for a few songs. No Norwegian tunes, unfortunately, but we made do. After the night wrapped up, my two new friends insisted I Uber back to the motel, so I did just that. Got back around 1 a.m., packed my things, and crashed.

Saturday, October 12th

Chowder, People-Watching, and a Surprise Encounter with ‘Jesus’ Before Takeoff"

Checkout was at 11 a.m., and they inspected my room before I left—apparently, they had a policy to ensure nothing went missing. I’d had a pleasant stay, though; quiet, a comfortable bed, but I missed having a duvet. I took the bus downtown, initially planning to store my luggage, but hunger won out. After a quick stop on a bench to clear my head, I wandered to a café in the public market and had a delicious bowl of tomato chowder, almost like a Norwegian "lapskaus."

Not feeling up to sightseeing, I sat and people-watched for a while until I was approached by a man claiming to be Jesus, complete with a message of universal love and an Amazon book recommendation. Yes, apparently Jesus is now reincarnated in Fairbanks, and according to him, God is a woman.

I caught the city line to the airport for just $3. Fairbanks airport was crowded and surprisingly slow, but eventually, I found my way to my gate. Of course, I forgot to put on my compression socks, so my feet ached on the three-hour flight. I spent the time napping and trying to massage away the soreness.

Upon arrival, I spotted a woman with a cute dog and asked her for directions. She was incredibly kind—her daughter picked us up, and they gave me a quick lift to Billie's Backpackers Hostel. It’s a cozy, quirky place, and though I had booked a single bunk, I lucked out with my own room. The hostel staff were fantastic and even shared some Ukrainian borscht and wine with me. I turned in early, setting my alarm for an early start the next day.

This trip has been a whirlwind of new experiences, and I can’t wait to see what the next leg of this journey brings. Each day feels like another page in a book I’m still learning to write. So stay tuned for more stories, encounters, and surprises!