life in the old lane

It was an action packed day. Plane, 4, busses, 2 trolleys and 2 trains. Fitbit says 6.35 miles. And now I am on the train in LA, waiting for the bar car to open. 

Almost out of battery. So, that’s it for today.

Nice surprise – friend Billy called at 6am and hauled me for one last beach walk, talk and coffee. 

I have since then attended to to mail and donate piles. And the trash, pack, leave piles are 95% done.

I just finished off the last of my food – a peanut butter and banana sandwich. 

All the travel documents have been printed. And the toys are being charged. All the empty spots in my luggage have been filled with my favorite granola bars. Plenty of audiobooks and Kindle books are downloaded and there are a couple of 1950s sci-fi movies on the iPad. If I am bored – it will be because a Carrington like event. 

Here is the plan: Fly out at 9:45 to LA. Fly LA to San Diego. Train back to LA. (don’t ask. plane ticket craziness.) Train to Flagstaff. Bus to Grand Canyon. 3 nights in Grand Canyon. Bus to Flagstaff. Overnight over a saloon. Train to Chicago. Train to DC. Metro. Bus. Walk. Home. 4PM March 7. The Goddess willing. 

The Blog will be updated as often as connectivity permits. I think that even cell is iffy in Grand Canyon. 

Time to charge up the Airness…

It was all downhill from breakfast. Time to get serious about leaving – in about 25 hours from now I should be heading out of the hotel. 

How hard can it be. Five piles: Trash, donate, mail, take, leave. Somehow, I am managing to make a production out of it. 

When I called a halt to the breaking camp madness – I was bored. I am never bored. I consider boredom a character defect. So, I cleared the images off my phone. Now I have room for trip photos. And, I looked in the “Happy Stuff Folder” on my computer.

Where I found this picture of Carlton.

And, I one of my Facebook friends posted this – in total seriousness. 

You know what? I have been trying to DO reincarnation for the longest time! I just can not seem to get the hang of it! Fortune Cookies??? Fortune Cookies??? Really. 

Needless to say, I am over being bored. 

Seriously cloudy today. But that didn’t stop the early morning swimmers. 

Every Saturday, old dudes bring their old cars to breakfast at the hotel. 

The nice shiny cars and trucks provide fun opportunities for selfies. I figure if I ever want to replace Mr C – this would be a good place to hunt for a man. They are age appropriate and know how to take care of old equipment… But, I am so not in the market…

Working on those five piles:  trash, donate, mail home, take home and leave here. 

Checking the weather in Flagstaff and Grand Canyon. Much snow on Monday and Tuesday in both places. Seriously cold on Wednesday – when I arrive. The just plain old cold for the rest of the time – I’ll leave at 5:30 AM on Sunday. 60° and sunny in San Diego. I’ll spend about 6 hours there, before catching the train to Flagstaff.

I thought Wednesday was the last cruise ship day. And today the Westerdam showed up. It is 833 feet long and with 1800 passengers and 800 crew.

The little boat behind is the Safari Explorer, 145 feet, 36 passengers and 16 crew. 

I did “spring” into action. I am starting to break camp. I divided my stuff into 5 piles:

• Trash
• Donate
• Send Home
• Take Home
• Leave Here

Yesterday, I addressed the hardest “trash” issue. What to do with the “Carlton Dust”. Regular readers will remember that Carlton was a “member” of the 2016 Class at Georgetown Medical School. Mr C came back from Georgetown in a heavy plastic bag in a sturdy black plastic box. The plastic box came to Kona via UPS with my wetsuit. I put most of the ashes in the Bay next to a fine fat puhi at 19°38’21” N 155°59’40” W back in November. But, the box and bag were dusty. With “Carlton dust”. The box and bag have been in my room. Waiting on me to “do something”.  It didn’t see too respectful to just toss those dusty containers in the dumpster. It didn’t seem right to rinse them out in the bathroom, either. So, yesterday morning, down to the bay.. for one last swish of ocean. Today, I took the label off and pitched the containers. 

A friend told me today that he still had those dusty boxes from his Mom and Dad. Grateful, I had the ocean for my little “purification ritual”. 

BTW: when I checked on the temperature in Grand Canyon it was 18° at 9AM canyon time. Went to the thrift shop and added a fleecy vest to my travel gear! The Grand Canyon detour might not be the best idea I ever had… Oh well, whatever happens is what I planned.

Today, very little was done getting ready to go back east. Today was about swimming.

My best find was a fine occupied conch shell. 

I didn’t have to bother it to know that it was still very much alive – it was hanging on to coral. 

Longnose butterflyfish are always fun.

 

Boat Day from Old Airport Beach.

Boat day from my lanai.

Fun day just hanging out. Getting covered with fur. Thanks to:

And Sake Kit Kat Bars!

Yes, they have a really strong sake (and white chocolate) flavor. 

Did zero zilch zip towards getting ready to leave winter quarters and head east. 

I had a panorama contest using Shamu the Phone. I let Shamu make a panorama. And I let Lightroom make one using the same photos. LR won. Maybe this is preparation for my trip to Grand Canyon?

If you are totally curious – you can see bigger panoramas by clicking on the images.

Yesterday, I over worked my wonky hip. Today, I went back to the really easy yoga routine and cut the walking back to 4 miles. And, I made an appointment to see an orthopedic guy.

And why exactly didn’t Delta have any “reservations” for me? Because my flight to San Diego is on United! I suppose I would have noticed that I was going on United when United sent me an email telling me to Check In Online Now. 

Wondering about deporting people. Exactly how does that happen? Isn’t what really happens is they end  up in private prisons costing money, becoming radicalized, and the strawberries will be left to rot in the fields?

Well, it is time for my dinner. Lasagna. With tomato and avocado.

 

This is actually a National Park. Kaloko-Honokōhau National Historical Park to be exact. Back in the day – it was the local “nude beach”. 

One week from right now, I’ll be getting ready to head out for a nice bowl of phở before heading to the airport for the plane part of the way back. 

Today was mostly devoted to getting my wonky hip back in play. Walked 5 miles. And did 30 minutes of pretty easy yoga. Not totally wimpy. But, easy. 

Billy and I went out looking for the akule school this morning. It was cloudy and the ocean was murky. We found the school, but:

But: I was happiest to see a reticulated reticulated butterflyfish. They are very common in Tahiti but not too often seen in our waters.

The reticulated butterfly is a lovely fish.

It snowed in Grand Canyon today. It might be nice to see a snowy Grand Canyon. I think I am good down to about 25 degrees. My dorky trusty old black raincoat is windproof. 

Wondering about “What happened in Sweden last night”… Did the Absolut Vodka plant explode? 

 

I heard the live aboard dive boat starting up – so I popped up for a look. Better safe than finely chopped bait! I am in the middle of the school and you can see it as the darker looking area on the lower left. 

Before the swim session, which, sadly hurts my wonky hip… I took by beloved lauhala hat to UPS for special shipping home. I love that hat. The man who made it for me died this winter. Just not worth risking it on one plane, 2 busses, and 4 trains… The rest of the excess stuff not needed on the one plane, 2 busses, and 4 trains or at Grand Canyon will be crammed into a flat rate box or two and sent home by the Postal Service. I am not a pack animal. Oh well, except for the electronics and camera stuff – that I schlep.  

I have had a very nice news (fake or real) free day. 

Earlier this week my always troublesome right hip was so wonky that I could hardly get my underdrawers on. I was considering cancelling my little detour to Grand Canyon.  But, a day of rest and massive amounts of ibuprofen seem to be getting it back to “normal”. Thank goodness. I did try a little very gentle yoga today. And, I logged my 5 miles on the Fitbit.

The Orange Lord is on a taxpayer funded weekend out of DC. Money well spent!!!

If you pray. I don’t. Please pray for the environment. I plan on increasing my contributions to environmental concerns. Thank you, Carlton, for making this possible.