I had some issues with the internet in the transition from our Sheraton Wall hotel room to the Viking cruise ship Orion, delaying the timing of this post. We were one of the first couples on board after my run this morning discovered the dock location at Canada Place. It’s a beautiful, sunny day to start our adventure to Alaska. We had lunch along with our welcome Champaign and toured the ship that is similar in layout to the boat we took from Venice to Athens last spring. It was then exhausting to unpack our six suitcases and find room for them and their contents in our Deluxe Veranda. Fortunately, the suitcases all fit nicely under the bed and there is plenty of closet and drawer space. Our patio faces to the East so we can enjoy the sail up the Canadian coast. The nicest thing about a cruise is that you don’t have to move hotel rooms or constantly pack and unpack.
I had a disturbing e-mail from the Canadian government once we went through customs. My mobile phone was not set up for international travel, knowing that we would only be on foreign ground for one day. It was not until we got settled in our hotel room and had access to the internet that the e-mail came through requiring me to take a mandatory Covid test at the airport as part of their random screening of visitors. Why me and why use e-mail to select their victims?
All the testing sites were at the airport, so it would not have been a problem if I had seen it before we made the long, pricy drive to the hotel by taxi. However, after already paying for the eMed tests and testing negative the day before, I did not understand the need to take another test. They naturally have their own preferred providers, so the other tests don’t apparently matter. I didn’t have a phone connection to call them, and they did not provide an e-mail link, so my responses simply bounced back from these threatening messages of fines if not administered within 24-hours of arrival. I was not about to pay to go back to the airport to get their official test when I was leaving the next morning anyway. I’m sure there’s a warrant for my arrest, or I may never be allowed back in the country. My picture is probably posted on a wanted poster as a Canadian criminal!
We arrived in Portland just before midnight and have been on the go ever since. I met up with a friend first thing on Thursday to make the drive to Netarts Bay. We spent the night there with two small mishaps. First, the bed in the camper collapsed on me in the midst of a drunken stupor, causing me to humorously wake-up disoriented on the floor. Secondly, the cat bit and clawed me to raise concerns about “Cat Scratch Fever.” I was already feeling a bit of hypochondria, with the potential of a positive Covid test that could have ruined our cruise plans. The unprovoked cat attack just gave me something else to worry about. However, there was undoubtedly enough alcohol in my blood stream to prevent any virus or infection.
My time in Oregon was certainly blessed with good sports fortune. Hoosier football won an overtime thriller over the Hilltoppers while we were watching the Ducks beat BYU in a McMinnville bar called Two Dogs. The White Sox beat the Guardians and took two out of three from the Tigers. The Timbers tied with Columbus, while Oregon State Beaver football won in their stadium while theirs is under construction. Fantasy Football is leading going into tonight’s Bears vs. Packers game that could prove that the Monsters of the Midway are indeed for real after an undefeated preseason and opener. The only of my favorites to fall short were the Colts and the already eliminated Cubs.
We both passed our Covid tests today and will make our way to Vancouver tomorrow on another First Class flight. It will be an early morning run tomorrow after an eventful afternoon touring the Nike campus. I’ve managed to get my miles in despite the drastic changes in time zones and routine. Alaska here we come.
It will be difficult to keep up my posts in a timely manner over the next month. We’ll be in Portland, Netarts, Vancouver, or onboard a ship traveling into Alaska then bound for Hawaii. I’ll be eating and drinking my way from port-to-port, far away from neighbors, friends, and the boob tube. We’ll make new acquaintances, take in the scenery, enjoy some live entertainment, hopefully see some whales and experience the Northern Lights. Even Hawaii that I’ve visited many times will seem different when approached from the water.
We start our adventure tomorrow with a day on the plane from Tampa to Portland via Seattle. We’ll arrive late into PDX with some naps to fight the 3-hour time change. We’ll be staying with my wife’s daughter and her husband, with an early morning run followed by a drive to Netarts Bay for the night. It will be time together with two good friends, dating back to high school before I return to Portland for family get-togethers.
It will be impossible to fit in everyone I’d like to see. Saturday is another lunch with friends while my wife tours wine country with her daughter. She has friends and former co-workers to see, as well, before we fly to Vancouver on Monday, once again via Seattle. In the meantime, we have to pass a Covid test, the final obstacle in getting aboard the ship. Oh, the hoops this virus has us jump through.
Work continues on the outdoor kitchen. The grill is now in place and the plumbing set. We had to get new stainless steel doors for under the sink, so that took away plans for “Matinee Monday.” Once we got back from the Sarasota supplier, my wife and I each retreated to our separate TVs. I’ve got her hooked on Outlander, while I continue watching Sons of Anarchy and House of the Dragon. We probably won’t have much access to TV for the next five weeks – a good thing.
I’m at a retina specialist, hoping my wife gets a clean slate concerning some flashes she’s seeing. She had laser surgery when we were back in Portland and wants to make sure there are no concerns before we leave on this trip. I’m writing this in the waiting room before I next head to the chiropractor for my appointment. They will probably dilate her eyes, so I will be driving us home.
We’ve both been doing some packing these past few days, making clothing choices to accommodate both warm Hawaii and cool Alaska. We’ll have plenty of down time on the ship to do laundry so we don’t need to bring more than four suitcases. I also need to print our First Class boarding passes, a convenience made possible through Alaska points. It’s not often that we get the chance to fly with such luxury. We’ll of course be staying at the Vancouver Sheraton before the ship sets sail, also thanks to Marriott Rewards points.
I’m not sure how to handle all the hype related to IU basketball’s upcoming season. Top ten ratings, high projected seeds, and all-American honors make it all seem too good to be true. I drank the Kool-Aid a few years ago with Hoosier football and the water turned poison. I keep expecting a disciplinary problem, recruiting snafu, transfer threat, or “God forbid” serious injury.
I know the talent is there, but through the last two decades, IU has gotten little respect. Now, all of a sudden, it’s through the roof for coaches and players. It feels good to be back in the spotlight again, but I can’t handle more disappointment. It would be better to experience a surprise and witness some proof of success rather than just trust expert opinion. Vaulted pre-season expectations have come back to haunt many a good sports program.
I’m also struggling with the come back capabilities of the White Sox. They have short spurts of success, just enough to boost expectations, followed by a equally bad set-back. Their 10-3 series ending loss to the lowly A’s last night when they could have pulled off the sweep proves my point. It all averages out to the .500 ball they’ve been playing this year despite grandiose pre-season hype. It seems to be the story for all my sports favorites. It’s no wonder I’m such a pessimist!
The Sox can’t seem to get by the division-leading Guardians and are running out of time. IU basketball has yet to play a game, but they’re already expected to win the BIG. To make matters worse, they’ve never won the BIG Tournament and haven’t had a solid run in the Big Dance for 22-years. They have a lot to prove on the court, just like the Sox have to find a way to win consistently on the field.
IU football has managed to salvage victories in their first 2 games despite the lowest of expectations. The same for my Bears that pulled off a 49er upset and an undefeated exhibition season. I prefer these kinds of surprises instead of the mere hype of what might happen. It’s all too often too good to be true.
There’s no point in even mentioning the Chicago Cubs anymore as they continue to fall to the bottom of the National League Central. The Chicago White Sox, however, seem to have found new life under the guidance of bench coach, Miguel Cairo. Tony La Russa continues to recover and could soon be back in charge. It could change the momentum of the team that has won 8 or their last 10 games and claimed second spot in the division. They are only 1 1/2 games out of first behind the Guardians with four games yet to play against the division leaders. They could still make the Playoffs despite the injuries and lack of clutch play that has plagued them all year long.
One of the highlights of this particular White Sox run was a ninth inning rally this weekend, after being held hitless through the seventh. Oakland held a 3-0 lead but the stubborn Sox scored five to keep their streak alive. Too many times this season they had failed to score with runners on base. It restored my faith in the team after giving up on them countless times throughout this futile season.
Fantasy football officially begins today, although Cooper Kupp has already given us a lead from his steady performance Thursday night against the Bills. Our opponent failed to outscore him using three players, so we have an advantage heading into the rest of this week’s action. My son and I drafted the team a few weeks ago at Buffalo Wild Wings here in Port Charlotte. We were able to use last year’s winnings to fully pay our participation fees.
I was swinging a golf club again yesterday, during an outing with my grandson at Top Golf in Ft. Myers. As expected, I quickly tired of the activity but it was a good bonding moment with my son’s 15-year old. It was a good thing that I had selected an indoor course because it was pouring down rain most of the time.
Hoosier football once again responded in the second half last night with another come-from-behind victory. This time it was Idaho that took an early 10-0 lead, but Indiana scored the next 29-points and went to 2-0 with a 35-22 victory. They next face undefeated Western Kentucky with decisive victories over Austin Peay and Hawaii, followed by Cincinnati, Nebraska, and Michigan in their quest to become bowl eligible. I can still see wins over the Hilltoppers and Rutgers to get five of the six necessary conquests. Nebraska and Maryland are possibilities, with rival Purdue as a longshot. Let’s get ready for some football.
I was supposed to pick up my 15-year old grandson from the bus stop at 3p yesterday afternoon. He sent me a reminder text because I was running late. It was pouring down rain and our street was flooded. I could barely see through the windshield and that was before it began to fog up. My car nearly ended up in a ditch and after numerous delays and detours I finally made it, although an hour late. Also, my texts apparently didn’t go through so he had no idea where I was – good reason to be upset. The ride share system that he has access to was also not available under the circumstances, so he was wet and mad once he got in the car.
We typically have afternoon showers here in Southwest Florida, but this deluge was the worst I’ve experienced since moving here. Plus, it didn’t stop for hours. Hopefully, it will be clear when I pick him up today. Running conditions were comfortable this morning but my stomach had me on the toilet once I got out of bed. I decided to shorten the course to the minimum mile. More and more often, I find an excuse to take the easy way out, searching for the motivation to keep going. My legs are heavy and unstable so every step is a challenge.
After getting my grandson home dry and safely this afternoon, my wife and I intend to go to the movies. Our Regal Unlimited passes are not paying off with all the travel we’ve been doing. There’s also not much out to see right now, but we’ve got to try and get our money’s worth. After the movie, we’ll go to dinner as part of “Date Night,” another deposit into the Love Bank.
I was struggling to find some entertainment for my grandson this weekend, knowing that it would be too hot for golf outdoors. I made a reservation at Top Golf in Ft. Myers, a bit of a drive. We can get a bite to eat, and I can watch him hit some balls in air conditioned comfort while taking a few swings for myself. This afternoon I have lunch at the ballpark with a neighbor friend and tomorrow night is Date Night. We might even catch a movie. It’s the last weekend before we depart for Portland, on our route to Alaska.
Work continues today on the outdoor kitchen. Lumber and stone are in piles on the lanai while the appliances/venting wait in the garage. It should be all put together by the time we get back in five weeks, the last home improvement project of the year. Next year, we’ll add more landscaping, have the pavers sealed, and begin construction on the master closet. It seems to be a never ending process and will probably force both of us to seek part-time employment.
We have a lot of packing decisions to make over the next week. Portland rain, Alaska cold, and Hawaiian heat will require some thought with regard to clothing choices. We’ll be able to do laundry on the ship but will also need some more formal clothing for dining. It’s time to to get ready to rumble. The travel clock is ticking.
One week until departure, as time flies by. We’ll be in Portland for five days before ship embarkment from Vancouver and then North to Alaska. In the meantime, we’ve started the outdoor kitchen project and I’ve set-up lunches with a few of my neighbors. I was also back to my routine 3.1 mile run this morning, feeling the strain of day 5,001. Soon, I’ll be with my chiropractor for a weekly adjustment and back in front of the TV for more Sons of Anarchy or House of the Dragon.
I really lead a very boring life with the exception of these bursts of travel. Weeks away from home make me long for the comfort of my office chair, as I feel the exhaustion of life outside the routine. Although our pup Tally seems to enjoy her time at Schnauzerville, she also misses my chair. This will be the longest we’ve ever been away from her and her longest stint from home. Taking her out is the first and last duty I have every day. Our only other interaction seems to be the constant struggle for possession of the chair.
Lunch tomorrow is with a guy that I see most every day during the course of my run. He has two dogs, Snoopy and Duke, and I learned his name at last year’s Tomahawk 5k. He’s not a regular runner but decided to do the race last year, and has signed up again this year. I will miss it because of our trip to Kauai. He sent me a note last week that he was returning home, after I wondered why we hadn’t crossed paths recently. I’ll find out more when we see each other at the Tiki Hut tomorrow noon.
I need to find a project for my grandson and I to do on Saturday. It will be blazing hot for golf but that seems to be his only interest outside of computer games and apps. We sadly have little in common so it’s always a challenge to keep him entertained. I have to try harder to get to know him because he’s already 15 and time flies by!
This morning I reached the 5,000th consecutive day mark of my running streak that started nearly 14-years ago. I was only able to squeeze in the minimum mile since my son needed me to drive him to a doctor’s appointment. However, I typically tend to average about 1,000 miles a year, shooting for 5k a day. My pace in the early morning Florida sun is very slow, but I carefully trudge on.
On this particular journey, I’ve now only crossed the halfway point of circling the earth. It will take me at least another 14-years to get back to where I started. I would be surprised if I make it at age 85, so this is likely one of my final hurrahs. I also never expected to get this far, thinking that maybe one year of running every day would be a satisfying accomplishment. My name would then be listed on the United States Running Streak Association (www.runeveryday.com) site. Thirteen years later I’m still running every single day, ranked #225 in the world, and have somehow been able to avoid serious injury.
I obviously haven’t yet found the right excuse to stop, earning a Forrest Gump-like reputation. It will be tough to get my miles in during the upcoming four weeks of travel. Conditions at sea may restrict me to a treadmill and flight schedules will make it impossible to establish a routine. Run, Mike, Run! All I can say is tomorrow is another day.
