Smaller than a breadbox or Days Hotel Waterloo 3/23/2014

Following our long wait at the airport and our lengthy flight to London, we were met by our driver at Heathrow and taken to our hotel.  Since it was well before check in (around 8:30AM), our room was not ready.  The delightful desk girl happily stored our bags and said she would try to get us a room ASAP.

We went to one of the two restaurants of the hotel for continental breakfast; unfortunately, it was no better than the cold boxed breakfast offered on the British Airways flight.  Having just left 11 days of plentiful beautifully displayed buffets this was very pale by comparison. . . no comparison.

Sleep was the one commodity we were in search of at the time (little was had in the cramped seats of steerage) .  Even without the benefit of our room and comfy bead, we were able to attain a little sleep.  At about 11 AM we were approached by the lovely desk girl and told our room was ready--that was at least 3 hours  before the early check in time. Woo, woo!!

Fifth floor--top of the heap!  What luck.  Early to the room and top floor, what more could we ask for?

Our first glance of the room brought gasps and wide-eyed shock.  Could a hotel room costing this much really be so small?  This space was smaller than our cruise ship cabin which, itself, looked more like a closet. Eager for sleeping in a bed, we did not bother getting our luggage but fell to sleep almost instantly on our little, but comfortable, bed.   SLEEP, delightful!

After sleeping for several hours, Marshall retrieved our numerous bags from storage.  It was a challenge to find adequate floor space for all of the luggage, but where there is a will . . . .  climbing over bags, sorting through disarray, managing electrical challenges, and surviving the phone booth
sized bathroom without any mishaps provided great validation and exhilieration.

P.S.
There is truth to location , location, location.  What this place lacked in size was compensated by the great location.

Nuevo Vallarta 2014; Where it began

You are wondering what began here?  That will wait until the end.

This is looking up the river from our Grand Luxxe Villa. 







Well it was this place three years ago that made my mind up to retire.  I was not in Nuevo Vallarta at the time, but we were planning our summer vacation and I planned beyond the start of school.  Obviously I could not give that as a reason for missing the beginning of the school year, BUT it did
make a good beginning for a new life in retirement.

Ps. It is now 5 years into retirement!

Packing Nightmare for the Travel Glutton --3/2014

This is one of the unpublished pieces; I decided to add more out of the time frame would not catch the essence of the moment. You get what I did at the time.

Is there really enough travel?  You be the judge; I will try to figure it out, with a clouded mind.

When we first talked about the possibility of going on a Danube cruise, I kept saying it was just too expensive.  After having a stroke in early July, the outlook relating to price and time totally changed and I made reservations for the Danube cruise.  Naturally, we decided to stop by London to see Bethie, Charlotte, and Jason.  (Peter was not firmly on the radar at the time.)

Marshall had scheduled a Skipper Saver class for me prior to the stroke, so we went out on the Friday after my Monday incident.  My wonderful instructor, Bob, was very patient with me and made me comfortable being in charge of the 32 to 35 ton boat.

During conversation, Bob mentioned he and his wife were going n a cruise on HAL to the southern caribbean.  He said there were a few couples we knew who were going on the same cruise and said it would be nice for us to go along.  Already having a Danube cruise scheduled near that time, it  was an idea to pursue. .  .  and I did.

Originally, we thought a trip between the HAL trip and our Danube trip would be good and followed by a few days in London.  AS time progressed, the longer trip did not look so  great (we had been on a 42 day cruise with total of 2 months before).  AS it turned out, we--I, decided  we would do New York another time and shorten the trip by going to London immediately after the Caribbean--Before the Danube.

Where have you been?

I was asked about the gap in published entries on this blog.  The story is that I did write but either did not publish the entries OR I put them on a different blog.
My attention turned from travel tourist to health adventure tourist.  Also, I wrote travel under another name.
If you want to catch up, the blogs follow.
Sleepapneaadventures.blogspot.com
onegotoperson.com.     Or.   Onegotoperson.blogspot.com
There are also entries on the old misspelled site.  Theoptomistictourist.blogspot.com.

Now you know.

15 May On the California Delta Post Script to Friday 13th cruise

15 May  On the California Delta Post Script to Friday 13th cruise

Upon arrival at the Delta Marina in Rio Vista, our captains and crews met on the patio dock for snacks and libations before heading to The Point Restaurant for a delicious dinner.  Following much socialization everyone tumbled into their respective bunks for a well deserved rest. 


As the roosters crowed, Saturday morning started with little fanfare except the howling winds.  Good fortune was on the way, the winds were to calm and almost cease before noon.  In the interim, we had a wonderful potluck breakfast on the docks.  With  deck chairs lined up against the perimeter of the dock, people enjoyed their food selections as the sun broke through the clouds. Was it the sun that warmed everyone or  the delicious custom made bloody Mary’s and crisp champagne? 

Our afternoon was glorious.  Many members of  IOBG/IOBGA district 19 began arriving around noon.  We met at The Patio and adjacent lawn area for beverages  and snacks.  Following several hours of socialization, Julia and her crew had dinner ready for all.  There was so much food that people not only had seconds, but they took food home, too.

The crowds dwindled as evening drew near and and the shadows of evening fell. The remaining contingent of good humored companions continued their merriment until the last finally hit the sack. 

Buzzzzzzzz!  Time to get up and have another wonderful day on the California Delta.  After showers, coffee, and a brief look at e-mails, we joined the remaining members who boated in on Friday for breakfast at The Point courtesy   of our leaders Sandee and Zane.  Every thing was delicious and everyone left the restaurant full and happy.

No time for a post-meal nap, though.  It is time to get the boats ready to leave the marina and head home.  All of the remaining 5 boats were promptly ready to depart the marina and meet up at the 3 mile slough bridge for opening.  After passing under the bridge and through the slough, each captain deterred their respective course for home port. 

Another successful cruise completed in and on the glorious California Delta.

Smooth sailing!

Cruising Down the River- - - in the California Delta

Friday, 13 May—Cruising Down the River— and other adventures on the California  Delta

The sun is out, the sky a light blue, and the winds have kicked up to 35 MPH creating wind waves (on the usually serene waters) rough and tumble.  Naturally the waves are moving eastward while we are traveling in the opposite direction.  It is reminiscent of having the winds against ones umbrella on a blustery day.  For the most part we glide over the tops of the waves, but there is the occasional bump and jerk as the water, wind, and boat surfaces come together.  This is  only one short trip, but the conditions can make the trip seem much longer than it is in reality.  Today’s trip is not for the novice boater or one with a squeamish stomach; those who are psyched about motion sickness would definitely be loosing lunch by now.  If luck is with us, the winds will trail off before we reach our destination.  Perhaps the massive action will stop when we leave the main river channel and divert to one of the sloughs or reaches before waiting for the bridge to  open onto the Sacramento River.  Going to go down to the galley—that’s kitchen for  non boaters, and get a snack for the captain and crew—that, me.

That was an adventure.  The warnings that your are given on an airliner about holding on while walking about the cabin hold true for today's adventures in boating.  Looking out the galley windows the waves look to be about 3 feet high and 10 feet apart.  That makes for a very bumpy ride at best.  I can see a sailor enjoying the wind in his sales as he heels dramatically to the port.  It must be quite exhilarating as well as pure terror!  If he is not scaring himself, he is doing a good job for me.  Snacks are completed and we will soon turn on to one so the smaller water ways of the Delta that connects the San Joaquin and Sacramento Rivers called 3 mile  Slough and the lift bridge. 

As we slowly make our way down river to the hum of the twin Hino diesel engines, I make note of the few other boats we have seen out  and the lack of chatter on the radio this fine Friday, May 13.  Hmm, has everyone chosen to pull the wool over their heads out of superstition or do they not like the wind or maybe they have to work.  Yes, the radio just squawked  and some of our fellow travels have made it to the destination point.  Oh, I do wish we were with them and closer to the docks.  The electric wind turbines are in the distance near our destination.  They don’t appear to be  moving much.  Maybe we will be lucky and the winds will slow by the time we reach the Sacramento River.

The water on the slough was much calmer than the San Joaquin River had been.  WE are turning about in circles waiting for the bridge repair crew to clear so the bridge can be lifted.  It really is an amazing sight to see traffic from both directions on state highway12 stop  for our bridge opening.  Every time I see one of the lift bridges go up, from land or the deck of the boat, it is an amazing sight. 

We are headed up the Sacramento River to Rio Vista.  This time we have a following wind that is pushing us all over the place. It is a short bit of time we will be ready to enter the harbor and calmer water and winds. 

We have arrived, are sterned into our assigned dock space, and tied down.  After the winds calm, the lines will be readjusted to the captain’s liking and all will be settled in for an afternoon and evening of merriment and good cheer with our fellow adventurers in the California Delta.

Making plans to venture out and be the optimistic tourist. “Locks are for honest people.” A. Clair Smith, circa 1960

In my early years, my parents had a cabin at the Odd Fellows Recreation Club on the Russian River in the California Redwoods.  Describing it as a cabin is almost a misnomer; it was, as my mother kindly put it, camping under a roof.  Mama also made it clear that other peoples’ “cabins” were more similar to their San Fransisco and Marin homes. 

The security system for our cabin while we were in the park was to shut the door and hook & eye lock the screen door.  On particularly warm evenings, the screen would be “locked” to keep the pets in and not tempted to take themselves for walks.  Nothing was ever missing and we felt quite safe.  When we were not in residence, the other 9 months of the year, the door—with a huge pane lass window—was locked with a skeleton key and the screen hooked shut.  The porch was left open with  everything in full view and only the gate shut.  Only once in over 30 years was anything missing and that was alcoholic beverages. 

I am guessing that Smitty was correct.  For all of those years the simple locking system kept things in the same place they were left.  Once in 30 years was not a bad record.

An article I read on a blog today brought the article title in focus.  It said to never put your valuables in the overhead bin on a plane; I would have thought they would be relatively secure but evidently on long haul flights things have been missing lately.  I guess we cannot screen our flights for only honest people even with our locked, overhead luggage.  Now we need to take security a leaps forward as we continue on the theme.

Locally we read about break-ins, robberies, and numerous kinds of thefts.  The simple  hook and eye lock does not work as a deterrent for today’s individuals with the intent of making what is your theirs. This brings me to the REAL topic of today.  What do you do when you are going to be away from your abode to secure your possessions?  This can be for the quick trip to the store, a day at work, or an extended holiday.  What will you do?

As for the optimistic tourists, we do take many precautions before leaving our house at any time and particularly when traveling.  Daily routine is to lock doors; this is not just when retiring or going out, but also lock doors after picking up the morning paper, watering plants, and any other quick trip out doors.  Make sure all front and side doors are locked when working in the back yard.  Entering the house and finding someone entered through an unlocked entry would be quite unpleasant. 

If you do not have an alarm system, get one!  Though the police may not come promptly, if the do come, the noise is a deterrent for the would be thief.  The alarm is also a reminder to you if any doors or windows are left unsecured as you are leaving.  It has certainly made me more aware of making sure the lock catches.  Police departments do charge for false alarms which is an incentive to make sure your alarm and system are in working order.

Who is going to watch over your home while you are away besides the person monitoring your alarm? Did you get security cameras installed?   Are you going to have someone stay at your house?  Will that house sitter care for the plants, pets, mail, and papers on the front porch? 

Are your neighbors aware you are leaving?  Have you shared contact numbers with your neighbors, closest relative and/or responsible party?  Is your pool maintenance person coming by on a regular schedule and checking that everything is “in place?”  The gardener has a regular schedule and can be called in an emergency to help out?  Someone watering your house plants?  Have you stopped the newspaper and have someone to check for flyers left in the drive?  Redundancy in doing all of these tasks is not a bad idea. 

I am grateful for all of the friends and relatives who watch over our home while we are gone and care for our “baby” so she believes she, too, is on vacation at the spa. It takes planning to have a successful trip and knowing your home is in good hands while you are away makes the trip that much more enjoyable.

Bon Voyage!