The Westward Ho was the first hotel I ever stayed at in Las Vegas – must have been nearly 45 years ago. It closed 15 years ago. I thought of it this morning as we boarded our Alaska flight to Seattle, apparently the only way to get from Tampa to Oakland. We did enjoy the convenience of walking directly from our Marriott room to the gates along with TSA-Pre boarding. Since construction surrounded the hotel, I used the fitness center to get my quick early morning mile in, extending The Streak to 4,554 consecutive days. It’s the first time I’ve run on a treadmill in years, but sometimes the only option when you’re traveling. There was one other person in the gym at 4:30a. This blog is my other daily discipline that I’m in the process of completing while waiting to board at 6:30a.
It will be a long day of sitting on planes during the ten-hour duration. I’ll pass the time reading the book Fracture, although it’s a two-volume story that I partially already ruined by mistakenly starting on the sequel called Vengeance before realizing the error. My seat naturally is next to two large people with little maneuvering room. It’s only 5 hours of claustrophobia to contend with, while my wife is comfortably across the aisle with an empty middle seat. The joy of flying!
I hope to meet up with a college friend once we finally reach our final destination of Oakland. My wife will be spending time with her daughter while her husband works from home. After a couple of beers, the four of us will then get together for dinner at their new home. I’m looking forward to uneventful flights. A nap or two would be nice. Wheels up – Westward Ho!
We do have a travel agent that is used primarily to assist on our bookings. She has been helpful in rearranging flights and cancelling reservations in these pandemic times. However, we have yet to have her book a vacation for us, since we primarily use the Marriott Vacation Club, Marriott Hotels, or Viking Cruise Lines for most of our travels. I do most of the busy work in arranging our trips. For example, I just scheduled us for Pittsburgh in late September using Spirit Airlines and hotel points for my entire family. My son made plans for the Cubs vs. Pirates tickets as part of our excursion. No, I haven’t yet actually made any Time Travel arrangements!
I’ve used a lot of Marriott points (See Post #1585) over the past few weeks that were essentially Covid accumulated. It’s finally time to travel again and we’ve made lots of plans, starting today. We’ll drive to Tampa this evening, stay at the Airport Marriott and leave our car there for a week in Oakland, Portland, and Eugene. The convenient part about this particular Marriott is that it’s actually inside the Tampa International Airport, where we can walk directly from our room to the terminal. I actually used it one time for just a workout and shower after an overnight flight. When we return late in the evening from Pittsburgh, we’ll stay there overnight again before collecting our car from their lot and driving back home to Venice.
Over the past few days, I booked my daughter-in- law for a couple of “free” nights in West Palm and my 70th birthday accommodations on the beach after the Tampa Amphitheater Santana/Earth, Wind, Fire concert. I also cancelled an August Marriott Vacation Club reservation that I made by mistake in Panama City and moved it to Singer Island just before the 60-day window to avoid penalties. In fact, I was lucky to discover that I made the error and fortunate that the correct resort still had the dates available that we wanted. I was the travel agent to blame but it turned out favorably. So, West Coast in June, West Palm in July, Tampa in August, Tahoe in September, Pittsburgh in October, and Disney World, celebrating 50 years, in December, all arranged for this year. We also booked a Japan/Russia/Alaska ocean cruise for 2022 and an Indiana Jones-like, Egyptian, Nile River adventure for 2023. All I had to do was put on my Travel Agent hat.
We’ve been filling out a lot of forms since we arrived in Florida. Even on the way here we were dealing with title company, car repair, insurance, finance agreement, and medical forms. Every time I turn around there’s the hassle of another form to complete. I’m in the process of entering the details of a damage report to the moving company and had to fill out paperwork for Florida plates and a driver’s license. I also needed a new passport for future travel, medical records had to be transferred, and new patient forms submitted. I haven’t been inundated with this volume of paperwork since before retirement. Some of the on-line forms help speed up the process, but I’m still drowning in paperwork.
I’m expecting a call about furniture financing and need to phone-in my credit card number for repairs/refinishing. Lots of dollars are flowing out with little coming in. Social Security and pension payments won’t cover it all, so selling off more of the 401k is the only solution. I just hope there’s enough to last for the rest of my lifetime, especially after just booking trips to Egypt, Japan, and Alaska. There won’t be any money left in the end, just lots of pleasant memories of places we’ve been, the new home we live in, and the possessions we’ll leave behind.
We’re booked for San Francisco & Portland next week, a Singer Island weekend in August, Lake Tahoe for two weeks in September with a rental car, and Disney World in December. We haven’t left the States in two years now and won’t for another year thanks to Covid. In the meantime, we’ll stay home and enjoy the pool, lanai, and newness of home, spending money and filling out claim forms.
It’s day five of unpleasant unpacking, with more than 30 boxes still sitting in the garage. Fortunately, one of our cars has been in the shop all this time for repairs. The Lexus is patiently waiting in the driveway for the space to open up. I borrowed my son’s massive SUV last night to haul boxes and packing materials to the dumpsters. He also installed our living room TV and hung a few brackets, hooks, and racks. He’s been handy to have in the neighborhood.
The Cubs and Sox both lost yesterday, as I also watched the first day of Indy 500 qualifications. These were rare moments of relaxation, as stiff and sore muscles continue to cause discomfort. At least the chilly pool water gives them temporary relief. All the boxes are now open but only digging down will reveal their true contents. The descriptions written on each one have proven to be both vague and deceptive. I’m guessing we have at least three more days of sorting through everything before we get to the actual picture hanging process. That will take another week.
We are taking a travel break in mid-June to celebrate my wife’s birthday. We’ll fly into Oakland for a few days and then head to Portland. This will give her a chance to visit with both daughters. I’m still not sure if we’ll get tickets to the Olympic Track & Field Trials in Eugene, Oregon that was one of my original intents of the trip. We’ve held tickets for two years now, following the rescheduling of the event, but with limited seating capacity they started the process over again. We still haven’t been notified of the results – do we have tickets or not?
The state of Oregon still seems to be in a different world when it comes to Covid planning. First, it was the unavailability of vaccines, followed by indecisiveness regarding occupancy rates, and now mask usage protocol when it comes to those already vaccinated. Their ultra conservative approach does not seem to be generating results any different than those states that are fully open and functioning. I’m glad to be out of there, but am looking forward to the upcoming visit with family and friends.
We’re staying with friends on Marco Island for a few days. They came to visit us with initial plans of staying at our house, but without furniture this was not possible. As a result, we ended up at their temporary place, a Marriott Vacation Club. This morning I fought the humidity in a miserable attempt to run and ended up walking after two miles. It was one of my worst efforts in some time, with the feeling that my body was totally used up. I’ll know tomorrow if it was just a temporary set-back, or if I’m truly getting too old for this streak that now extends to 4,509 consecutive days.
This getaway to Marco Island was a last minute miracle, considering that only a few days ago we had no options for someone to take care of our schnauzer Tally. My wife met a woman at our neighborhood dog park, looking for advice on a groomer. She directed us to a couple that owns eight schnauzers. As it turned out, they were excited to board Tally for a few days so we could get away. To make matters even better, Tally seemed equally excited to spend time with their dogs, even after the grooming. She ran right into their house when we dropped her off, in sharp contrast to her last few visits to the dog spa in Portland where she shook in fear. My wife was relieved to find a great option for Tally when we travel.
We arrived on the island yesterday afternoon and took a walk on the beach. I spotted a tent with the IU Hoosiers logo and met some folks from the Evansville area who owned condos in the adjoining property. It reminded me to monitor the NCAA soccer tournament match against Brooklyn St. Francis later in the afternoon. The Cream & Crimson advanced to the Sweet Sixteen for the sixth straight year on penalty kicks. Hopefully, they can continue on to win their ninth National Championship – next up Marquette.
My wife finally got a good night’s sleep last night, as we both enjoyed the soft beds. It was also refreshing to stay some place with comfortable furniture to sit on. We have one more nights to relax with friends rather than squabble about what needs to be done in our new home. Hopefully, we’ll hear from the moving company this week about a potential delivery date for our stuff. Life is good on Marco Island!
Our schnauzer pup Tally is not fond of the tough southern fauna, as opposed to the soft Oregon grass where she’s used to doing her business. The blades are thick and pokey in Florida, so it will take some getting used to in our move. We did finally arrive in Venice with no further delays. I thought of many things that could go wrong on our cross-country journey but never once kidney boulders. To be honest, I did imagine car break-downs, accidents, speeding tickets, flat tires, credit card problems, theft, and even snow. However, we were lucky to avoid them all.
There were many scary moments of pain for my wife along the way, but one funny story emerged from the adventure. She innocently asked the parking valet at our downtown Atlanta hotel last night where she could find some “green.” She of course meant a grassy area for Tally to pee, seeing nothing but asphalt and concrete surrounding us. He noticed our Oregon license plates and commented, “you have access to the good stuff back home, but I can hook-you-up if you want.” She chuckled and didn’t know quite what to say, but clarified by asking for directions to the nearest park. Far from what he was thinking! I did see that same valet later that evening sharing a joint with a buddy down the street. I guess we’re lucky to have been reunited with our car this morning, worried that he might have rummaged through the dirty laundry bags in the trunk looking for our stash. After all, we were looking for grass!
Tally is still looking for the “green,” scared by the loud clomping sounds of a horse pulling passengers along the brick street in front of our hotel last night. She was absolutely petrified! She then refused to lift a leg, tugging frantically on the leash to get inside and away from the scary downtown noises. I eventually had to lift her up into an elevated planter so she could ultimately do her business. She’s a worried puppy thirteen states from home and confused about the long car rides that used to be fun. Tomorrow, we’ll get her settled into a new home, but it will take some time to adapt, especially in anticipation of the further disruption associated with unpacking and new faces. Hopefully, she’ll find green pastures again!
We’re about to cross the Georgia-Florida line, as my wife takes over the driving responsibilities. It looks certain that we’ll arrive in Venice before our stuff, delayed because of the unavailability of drivers. North American Van Lines faces monetary penalties for not delivering according to the contract, while we will undoubtedly spend the first nights on our inflatable bed. Is this too all Covid related? Fortunately, we had the foresight to bring the blow-up on our last Florida flight a few months ago. It was the last live look at the construction progress that has since been solely through Facetime or photos. Tomorrow we move in!
Our schnauzer Tally does not yet realize that this will be her last full day in the car. Last night was an absolute hassle, staying at the downtown Residence Inn. We tried yo get a dog-friendly hotel near the home of my wife’s niece. With our ER and medical delays, we arrived at a time that interfered with her evening Asian conference call, so she was unavailable to visit. We spent most of our hotel stay arranging for valet parking and hauling our valuables up to the 20th floor. First, we had to navigate the uneven brick sidewalk and then lug our numerous boxes and bags up a set of stairs to get to the elevator. All this coupled with Tally’s dog bed and overnight supplies. Mother Marriott should have been paying us rather than an outrageous $100 pet charge and $50 for parking, plus tips for very little help. Hardly – dog friendly or even handicap compliant.
We won’t get to our new Venice address until after the gates are locked this evening and the office where we pick-up our keys was closed. This means another night in a hotel with more luggage hauling and pet fees, not to mention forking out inflated Spring Break rates for the crappy room. The bath towels will probably be like tattered sweat rags, and the neighboring Cracker Barrel will have to suffice for take-out since dogs are not allowed. The good news is that this is one Florida vacation where we will never make the return drive. Yes Tally – the dog days of long distance travel will soon be over!
Indiana, Kentucky, Tennessee, Georgia, and Florida are the last 5 states on our 13-state cross-country journey that started in Oregon. Atlanta, Georgia is tonight’s goal, as Tally continues to wonder where we are going? She looks content in the back seat bed, but it’s really boredom. She isn’t getting her long walks and has so little room to stretch. Occasionally, she’ll ride on my wife’s lap. We drive in 3-hour shifts between food and gas stops, putting more and more miles in the rearview mirror. This is her first day of not experiencing pain, following the kidney stone surgery in Indianapolis. I’m sure that’s a huge relief for her.
We continue to look forward to seeing our new home and addressing any unfinished business. At least two more nights of hotel living now stand in the way. We can pick up the keys on Wednesday morning, but still have now idea where are possessions are sitting. Presumably, they are still in the Portland warehouse awaiting a driver. At least, it’s not a frantic race to the finish line. We might even have a few days to get organized before the unpacking process begins. Plus, it’s another blue sky day for driving.
I got to visit with all my Indy friends and enjoy time with my wife’s family. They were very gracious about our extended stay, giving two sisters a chance to catch-up after almost two years of separation. It also gave me a chance to play my newest role of GUM -Great Uncle Mike. It was a good visit for all of us -long overdue. Back home again in Indiana with Georgia on my Mind.
We start the final 1000 mile drive tomorrow morning after a few extra days in Indy. My wife and I are headed to two separate restaurants this morning to meet friends – Wolfie’s and Izzy’s. It’s the final day of farewells before we hit Atlanta tomorrow evening – another eight hours behind the wheel. All of our travel days have been under blue skies, however yesterday it poured buckets as we tried to navigate the local streets. Last night, we dined at Murphy’s where my wife had the traditional Hoosier Tenderloin sandwich. I settled for a steak and two XXX martinis – a drink favorite I haven’t enjoyed in a bar setting for some time. Masks were still required although the state has made them a personal choice outside of Marion County.
The further south we travel, the more maskless individuals we’ll encounter. This will be a challenge for my wife who has yet to become eligible for the vaccine. We’ll finally get this taken care of in Florida, after going to a maskless birthday party for a 3-year old yesterday here in town. My wife wore hers, especially after just getting out of the hospital, but no one else did. Plus, we were all stuck inside an apartment with the downpour. It was an odd experience for us, and hopefully there will be no consequences. All of the young parents in attendance had already been vaccinated, indicating once again how far behind the curve we are in Oregon getting the vaccine in arms.
Mandatory mask use in Indiana was abolished effective yesterday and people were out in masses. It will be interesting to see how this plays out for business owners and the protection of their employees or customers. If you’re already vaccinated, a mask is no longer supposedly necessary to protect you. However, you can still spread the virus to others – so we still need to mask-up for folks like my wife that remain vulnerable. It all comes down to being polite – but that won’t go far without the law behind it. Please don’t go maskless!
We should have been back on the road today headed south. Instead, we’re taking a prolonged pit stop in Indianapolis, a month ahead of the “Greatest Spectacle.” The focus of the city has changed from basketball to Indy car with plans for fans in the stands. There were cars on the track these past few days as preparations begin for the Month of May. By then, we’ll be in our new Florida home watching the quals and race on TV, knowing we were just there. In fact, it’s my second trip into town during the past few weeks.
My wife is healing from her kidney stone battle and we’re good to go on Monday, following a birthday party and several bar meetings with friends. The surprise surgery only delayed us two days before we meet the moving truck in Venice. Fortunately, they have also been delayed getting out of Portland. We’re supposed to pick up the keys to our forever home on Tuesday and start the unloading process. However, we’ve yet to get an update on the van driver and his or her cross-country plans. If we arrive before they do, it could mean several nights on an inflatable bed, living out of our suitcases. Atlanta is our next stop. All of us are grateful to have had an extended break from the road.
Florida is calling and I’m getting itchy to start our new life there. It’s been so strenuous this past month getting ready for the move. At this point, I just want to get the entire ordeal behind us. By tomorrow, I’ll be really anxious to hit the road despite other engagements to keep me here in town. It’s always good to be back in Indy, but also time to get those last one thousand miles behind us. I don’t know when we’ll be back again in our once Indy home?
