Today's thoughts

Category: TRAVEL (Page 9 of 45)

Retirement is not without Hassles: Wordle #2160

Tomorrow will mark my 200th game of Wordle, the New York Times daily puzzle that has become part of my routine. Since they only provide one game a day, it’s not something you can get obsessed about, although there is Quordle (four puzzles at once) and Octordle (eight puzzles at once) where you can play as many times as you wish. I have a 98% solve rate with a one-time 76-game streak. There are two ways to stop a streak, either by failing to solve the puzzle in six attempts or by forgetting to do the puzzle on a given day. I’ve be subject to both, as my current streak is only at two after somehow spacing out on doing it a few days ago. Normally, I do it right after my morning run, so it should be automatic considering that my current running streak is 5,025 consecutive days. I certainly have yet to forget the running part of my day even though they often times blend together. 

We’re currently docked on Kodiak Island, one of the largest in the world. I’ve opened a Diet Coke, that I now limit to just one a day, as I sit at the keyboard. It looks like another chilly, rainy day here in Alaska, although we’ve also gotten a surprising share of sunshine. Last night, as we were having dinner, we experienced our first Alaskan sunset over the mountains we were cruising by. It was just before the big Viking 25th Anniversary dance party on the pool deck. It’s not easy to dance when the ship is rocking, so we left early for bed on Day 11 of this journey. 

Early this afternoon, we’ll head into town to tour another museum before tomorrow’s long day at sea on the way to Dutch Harbor. We’re looking forward to another great dinner tonight at the Chef’s Table followed by the Austin pianist performance that was cancelled the other evening due to rough seas. There is still no power at our Florida home and we’ve yet to get word on our Schnauzer pup, Tally. We’re sure she’s fine but phone and internet service are spotty in the Venice area. Flooding has prevented crews from getting in to do repairs. 

I will miss another Saturday of football, unless one of the bars in town has a satellite dish and will wait on word of Aaron Judge’s efforts to top the Roger Maris and Yankee home run record. Tomorrow, of course, will start with checking scores, strength exercises in the onboard gym, and another run on the treadmill, followed by (unless I forget) the much anticipated 200th game of Wordle.

Retirement is not without Hassles: Sunny Side of the Street #2159

We got off the boat this morning to go to the Alaska SeaLife Center. It was very foggy but the sun was trying to peek through the clouds as a steady rain fell. We were hoping that it wouldn’t be like yesterday with another wet morning or little to see or do followed by a boring afternoon between feeding times. The two museums that we visited in Valdez were disappointing and everyone wondered why there were two in town or why we even stopped in Valdez at all? We ended up going back to our cabin to watch the movie, Paris Can Wait, a film we’d apparently already seen 5-years ago that had long left my memory bank. 

While the boat set sail, we watched it continue to pour down rain from the Explorer’s Lounge with one of our favorite musicians, Laurence, on guitar. Dinner was at Manfredi’s where I once again overdid it on the Cabernet. We’re trying our best to get the most out of the Silver Spirits premium liquor package. As a result, I will need to take the next two days off from overindulgence to dry out. We then almost made it through the main lounge act before the vocalists broke out in an unbearable Queen medley that moved us quickly to the exit doors. We’ll try again tonight to stay awake during the Viking: 25 Years of Exploration presentation and dance. 

We averted another disaster this afternoon when my wife finally found her missing driver’s license that had inadvertently slipped out her pocket in one of the downtown Seward shops.  We had actually given up trying to find it after retracing her steps this morning to the bus, aquariums, and a few of the stores back to the ship with no luck. However, when the sun finally came out later in the afternoon, we went back again and thankfully found it. It was her second moment of relief of the day, since my son had called earlier with good news about the condition of our Florida home. 

We were apparently on the “Sunny Side of the Street” with no structural damage. I feel bad,  but all our neighbors on the other side of Borrego Street suffered considerable damage to their pool cages, not to mention all the massive destruction to others in our community. This was because Hurricane Ian had a reverse spin from previous storms and the front of our house took the brunt of the wind while those homes on the opposite side of our road got hit from the more vulnerable back side. The streets are still flooded and there is no power or water but my son reported only a puddle of water that came in under our front door. He also  rescued most of the frozen food from our refrigerators, so that is no longer a worry because no one knows how long the power will be out. It’s great news to be on the right side of the neighborhood – The Sunny Side of the Street:

“Grab your hat, baby
Leave your worries on the doorstep
Just direct your feet
On the sunny side of the street

Can’t you hear a pitter-pat, babe?
And that happy tune is your step
Life can be so sweet
On the sunny side of the street

I used to walk in the shade
With those blues on parade, ba-ba-bo
But I’m not afraid, baby
My Rover’s crossed over, ay

If I never have a cent, babe
I’d be rich as Rock-e-fellow
With gold dust at my feet
On the sunny side of the street

Grab your coat
Get your hat
Leave your worry on the doorstep, ba-be-do
Just direct your feet
On the sunny side of the street, zay-zoo-za-ze-zo-zay

Can’t you hear a pitter-pat?
Oh, the happy tune is your step, ba-be-oh
Life can be so sweet, oh, ba-be-bo-ba-bay
On the sunny side of the street

I used to walk in the shade
Baby, with those blues on parade
Oh, but I’m not afraid, baby
My rover!
My rover crossed over!

And if I never have a cent
I’ll be rich as Rock-e-fellow, hey
With gold dust at my feet
On the sunny side of the street”

Source: LyricFind
Songwriters: Dorothy Fields / Jimmy McHugh
On The Sunny Side Of The Street lyrics © Reservoir Media Management Inc, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC

 

Retirement is not without Hassles: Valdez #2158

We are very fortunate to have escaped the ire of Ian. The two of us are safe in Alaska while our home appears to be unscathed, according to the neighbors. We’ll still have a lot of moving around to do when we get back and all our frozen food will probably spoil unless power is soon restored. There currently is no phone or internet service either, and flooded streets to contend with by those who did not evacuate. All could be much worst since several neighbors lost their pool cages to strong winds but ours somehow seemed to survive the wrath of Mother Nature. We have yet to hear from Schnauzerville about how Tally reacted to her first hurricane. I’m sure it was scary for her!

The Viking Orion is docked in Valdez, home of oil spills and earthquakes. The town appears to be deserted with two small museums that provided little entertainment. Rain has fallen since we arrived and the chilly, damp air made our cup of hot chocolate with marshmallows taste even better once we arrived back onboard ship. Last night’s piano performance was cancelled due to choppy seas. I could not walk a straight line down any hallway both before or after drinking. We did enjoy our Chef’s Table meal but it was early to bed and early to rise. My Ring camera notifications kept disturbing my sleep, so I was on the treadmill before the sun came up this morning. 

We are a captive audience here in Valdez without much to do for the rest of the afternoon. Since we are not at sea there are also no cooking classes or bridge games to keep my wife engaged, so we are sitting here staring at each other. The boat will depart for Seward later this afternoon. So far, it’s not our favorite day in Alaska, but still a thousand times better than being stuck at home with no TV, internet, or food to eat. We’re thankful!

Retirement is not without Hassles: Hubbard Glacier #2157

When you’ve seen one glacier, you’ve seen them all. I’ve used this disrespectful quote before when it comes to trees, animals, and other forces of nature. Just like with food, I’m simply not discerning enough to appreciate  the finer things in life. We’ve seen about 25 different glaciers on our Alaskan tour so far that in my feeble mind are nothing more than dirty snow sliding down a mountain. They have kind of an ugly blue tint to them that reminds me of Tidy Bowl. I simply can’t seem to get my mind around all the years it takes to form one of these ice slides nor can I seem to appreciate the years it takes to grow a tree. Admittedly, I’ve seen a lot of beauty on our Alaska cruise, but I’m not yet ready to become a nature lover. 

Today, the cruise ship stopped at the base of the Hubbard Glacier with its 400 foot wall of ice that sent giant fragments violently crashing into the ocean below. I stepped outside on the deck this morning to admire the blue skies, dark sea, and the white chunks of ice floating by me as we faced this mountain of moving ice. I felt like I was looking into a giant cup of Diet Coke without a straw big enough to take a sip. The entire bay was surrounded by towering mountain peaks that glistened in this apparently rare moment of Alaskan sunshine. 

While others stood for hours admiring nature’s work, I was ready to head inside to get my miles in on the boring treadmill. The deck was too cold and slippery, so I ran on a virtual beach that reminded my of Oregon with giant rocks just off shore. Horses trotted beside me and people walked by without waving as I navigated the artist created route. It was as close to a hike that I’ve taken on this trip, without the worries of loose sand, wet shoes, or any threat of an ankle injury. In the last week, I’ve ran on a fake track, through a fake woods, and on a fake beach. I can’t wait for tomorrow.

 

Retirement is not without Hassles: Rushed #2156

Another rushed morning getting ready for our wildlife tour. I only had time for a mile-and-a-half virtual beach run on the treadmill. My main concern is our Florida home now in the direct path of hurricane Ian. Neighbors have been helpful moving urns, plants, and our fountain to safer spots as Category 4 potential threatens the community. While we were on the boat this morning taking in the sights of the Tongass National Forrest surrounding the city of Sitka, rain was starting to move into our Venice hometown. The next 24-hours will tell the tale of structural damage, flooding, and power outages.

We did have a lovely lunch of crab legs, prime rib, salmon, and potatoes after seeing whales, bears, eagles, sea lions, and shore birds from our tour boat.
We’re now back in our stateroom with spotty internet, television, and phone service. I’ve had to write these reports on my phone until I can download them to the web. I’m already three days behind as we cruise through the mountainous Alaskan countryside.

Evening performances in the on-board theater have been a disappointment and we’re already into repeats. Fake ABBA was the only show we sat through the entirety while the ventriloquist, guitars, and magic were reasons for early-to-bed. Last night, even the TV was not working, so late night reading was the only entertainment option. Just give us anything to keep our minds off the threat to our home and property.

Retirement is not without Hassles: Berg Bits #2154

We were fortunate to be on the maiden voyage of the Viking Orien through the icy narrows of Glacier Bay National Park. We could see most everything from our stateroom balcony but also chose to venture to the top deck for a broader view. We experienced Johns Hopkins Glacier, heard the crash of ice, saw dolphins and an Orca, plus navigated around chunks of ice that were not big enough to be icebergs. Instead, they were referred to as berg-bits. We cruised near Lamplugh Glacier, Russell Island, and Composit Island, as well as Grand, Drake, Willoughby, Beardslee, and Strawberry islands. Mountains and cascading waterfalls provided the background for this spectacular tour before we headed off to Sitka, the former Russian capital.

We’ve been at sea now for a full seven days with brief stops in Ketchikan, Juneau, and Skagway, In the next few days we’ll land in Valdez, Seward, Kodiak, and Dutch Harbor before the week-long trek to Kauai. As I write this, Hurricane Ian is headed to Florida and expected to hit in our area. Heavy rain and sustained wind will threaten our home. Construction still continues on our outdoor kitchen but most of our lanai is safely stored in the garage. We’re, of course, hoping for a direction change but prepared for some damage. Maybe it will only be a little bit while we’re safe and dry in Alaska?

Retirement is not without Hassles: Bridges #2153

We’re experiencing very bad internet service in Skagway. I can see where the Colts and Bears both won today but can’t get any details. The same is true with my E-Bay auction that ends today for the Sherm Lollar Lanes match book -pretty sure I’ll get sniped at the last minute but it’s not worth more than the $20 bid I made. It ultimately went for $20.50 as I feared.

We spent the morning in a fog, missing most of the sights along the White Pass Summit Vintage Railroad tour. It was amazing to see how this route was built through rock and over fjords to establish a goods exchange between the city of Skagway and its Canadian neighbors. It runs along the narrow rocky trail that prospectors used during the Klondike Gold Rush of 1899. I was concerned that the Canadian Mounted police might board the train as we circled back just over the boarder, demanding my surrender for not taking the mandatory covid test that I was randomly selected to undergo (See Post # 2147). Once the threat never materialized, my wife counted over 60 waterfalls along the way back until she lost interest and began to focus on downtown shopping.

I had a Alaskan beer yesterday afternoon at Juneau’s Red Dog Saloon complete with swinging doors and sawdust floors. It was my first beer since our Portland Leadership Meeting at Two Dogs Tavern – a dog theme is apparently forming when it comes to bars. Three Dog Night is probably next or the Dog Sled Saloon. I’ve mostly stuck to premium red wines or Chef’s Table pairings, Champagne, Limoncello, and Cranberry juice/Tito’s Vodka spritzers on the cruise.

As we crossed the treacherous bridges and trestles along the way, my wife was feeling squeamish and wondering why I was’t? Well, she had me all psyched for yesterday’s Brotherhood Bridge that turned out to be just street level, plus heights don’t seem to bother me in an enclosed area like the train car. It was built to celebrate the joining of the Huna Tlingit eagle and raven clans through marriage, as it is unacceptable to marry a fellow clan member. We learned all about Alaskan tribal clan houses, Potlatch parties/hats, and totem pole lore in Ketchikan.

It made me think of all the bridges we’ve crossed just in the past few months. These include Alabama’s Selma Bridge, Michigan’s Mackinac, Florida’s Skyway, Hope Memorial in Cleveland with the Guardians, the L&I over the Ohio River linking Indiana and Kentucky, the Venice Island drawbridge in our hometown, and the many bridges that span the canals in our Islandwalk neighborhood. Tomorrow, we’ll spend some time exploring Glacier Bay where the only bridges are made of ice.

 

Retirement is not without Hassles: Juneau #2152

We’re having a CAPITAL time as we head into Juneau, the second largest city in the U.S. by area but a population of only 32,255. It’s kind of like the half-full boat we’re on with plenty of space to call your own. The Viking Orion is designed to handle 900 passengers but with all the itinerary changes and Covid challenges less than 400 are on board for this cruise that ends in Honolulu several weeks from now. Our stateroom is on the Starboard side, meaning that in the direction we’re heading there are always great views from our room of the coast line, mountains, and settlements. Today, we’re going to spend some time on a glacier once we arrive in port about noon. 

This morning is not as rushed as yesterday, so I was able to get my full 3.1 mile run in. However, the treadmill is still my only option with high wind warnings on the outdoor decks. I remember back on our Athens to Greece cruise a few years ago when my windbreaker (windbreaker broke) ripped apart during an early morning run on the Prominade Deck. I have a secondary battle on this trip because of the much cooler temperatures. I have a feeling that most of my jogging will be in the fitness center with the slight sway of the boat adding to the chore at hand. I did move into the top 400 (now #399) on the all-time U.S.R.S.A running streak list at 5,018 consecutive days. That doesn’t count the 450,00 push-ups and sit-ups that I’ve done in just this timeframe as part of the daily exercize ritual. As long as I keep going, no one will ever pass me and I’ll continue to move by those that have retired their streaks. There are also those warriors that are on the list twice, having discontinued and then restarted again with a combined total of over 10,000 days. At my age, once I stop, I know I’ll probably never get started again. 

Mendenhall Glacier is our destination this afternoon, the only glacier in the world that is apparently still growing in size. There’s also a visit to Brotherhood Bridge that will likely test my fear of heights as we watch the waters of the Mendenhall River rush by. There may still be gold in “them thar hills,” as we’re entertained by our bus guide with stories of the Alaskan Gold Rush! Juneau what I mean!

 

 

Retirement is not without Hassles: Ketchikan #2151

Ketchikan holds the distinction of being Alaska’s first city. It’s actually an island accessible only be ferry. Even flight passengers have to cross the water to get into town. My first vision of the town was early this morning out of our sliding glass door windows. It was an eerie sight of gray skies, mist, and fog, giving it a haunted appearance. A few hours after arriving, I was up and on the treadmill looking across at Main Street before departing for our tour. A bus took us along the waterfront, while the tour guide entertained us with jokes and stories about the fascinating history of the area. 

Totem poles define their culture. These carved monoliths, some taller than 40 feet, are filled with folklore about the ravens, whales, fish, eagles, and bears that coexisted with the Native American founders and spot painted with the traditional colors of red, black, turquois, and yellow. Our first stop was at Potlatch Park featuring a large clan house with a fire pit, smoke hole, and thatched roof covered with plants, trees, and moss. There is also a carving center, whale bones, and cedar animal sculptures. These amazing structures could be moved to “greener pastures” when food got scarce. Each totem pole was fashioned around an Indian legend and you could visualize these stories being told around the fire. 

My wife spent a couple of hours downtown at the gift shop after the bus returned to the ship. After seeing an eagle and walking along muddy pathways, I had enough of nature for the day and viewed the surroundings from our cabin. The downtown area is complete with a mountain stream where the seals play and the fish jump. We watched another movie in the room just before the ship began to move towards the state capital of Juneau, our next rainy port. 

 

Retirement is not without Hassles: Hello Alaska! #2150

A satisfying day 3 to report of rough seas and gray skies that broke long enough for a sunny lunch on the aft-deck. We lingered for a while by the infinity pool to soak up another hour of Vitamin D. We then went back to our cabin for the movie “Cyrano” before the “Arctic Skies Above Us” presentation in the Explorer’s Dome. Between the swaying of the ship on that uppermost deck, the curvature of the planetarium screen, and the 3-D glasses, I was feeling a bit queasy. The walk down six floors of stairs had us staggering like drunken sailors by the time we found our seats at the Chef’s Table. Up to that point, I was not under the influence but after five courses and the premium wine pairings, I was weaving from side-to-side down the hallways without a care in the world. Hopefully, it will rock us like a baby into a good night’s sleep.

The lounge act last night was not easily digestible with a Broadway voice performing rock tunes. The flashy style of the vocalist did not mesh with the guitar player in their effort to honor the legends. Instead, they sent us to bed early with a potentially rainy tour of Ketchikan looming first thing in the morning. At least, we’ll be on solid ground and on American soil once again. I’ll only have time for a short run on the treadmill before we hook up with the guide. Once I step off the boat, I will earn the honor of crossing another state off my list, with just one of the 50 now left to visit. We’ll get to Maine next year along with Arizona, Mexico, and Egypt as the retirement adventures continue. For now, it’s temporary relief of our sea legs and Hello Alaska!

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