Category: The DayBook

St. Matthew Island is absolutely in the middle of nowhere. Except for a Coast Guard Loran Station during WWII it has never been inhabited. The Island Humans Can’t Conquer . Read about it if you’re curious.

They told us that more people summit Everest than walk on St Matthew Island in any given year.

The reason for coming was to see McKay’s Bunting. I didn’t see one. Or I didn’t recognize it. I saw some gulls and some sand pipers.

This little plant is much loved by trendy chefs. The fuzzy leaves have a vague oyster taste.

When I got back to my cabin I was exhausted and still had to get out of my gear. 

After escaping from my gear, I retired to the bar for an excellent hot dog and a beer.

The captain just said we going to St Paul Island tomorrow. I wonder what’s there. Birds I bet. Maybe a puffin. I think one of the bird people mentioned a red legged kittiwake. Be still my heart. 

Food is great. Weather superb. Bering Sea calm. Life is good. 

I didn’t stay awake long enough to see the midnight sun, but I did see the 11:30pm sun.

Today, I was really tired. But it is sea day. So, it is all good. And so far so good with the Bering Sea. Not more than 2 meter waves.

It takes 14 or 15 laps around the ship to equal 3 laps around The Asylum.

And like on the northwest passage trip, the cake looks better than it tastes. I will be using my calories elsewhere. But, I had to be sure. 

One more required briefing this evening. Dinner at 7:30. Tomorrow we may or may not go ashore at St Matthew Island. To look at birds. Nothing says I have to get off. I really don’t care  about McKay buntings. Puffins would be another story. 

 

The day was spent getting from Seattle to Nome. Seattle’s TSA is among the worst. And I got the extra special security treatment again.

Then I packed up and headed to the Hurtigruten staging hotel. I gave them my luggage and became a homeless person until 4pm. Today and tomorrow are long tiring days for an old person.

I killed some time going to Volunteer Park. It has a fine green house and the Seattle Asian Art museum is there. Didn’t do my homework. The museum and greenhouse are closed on Monday. I got my steps in.

I will soon gain access to my hotel room. Tomorrow…well it will be long…but all I have yo do is be at the right place at the right time.

The only downside to ultralight travel is laundry. I just get in the shower with my laundry. That way we both get washed at the same time.

I have decided to take it easy today. I didn’t even ask ChatGPT’s opinion. I took to light rail to Columbia City. Some years ago I discovered Columbia City when I had a very bad plane connection and a 14 hour layover.

It has interesting shops, cool coffee joints, old book stores and thrift shops. Plus a social conscious.

I brought a sandwich back “home” for dinner and will most likely go for ice cream. Or maybe affogato.

Moving to the hotel that Hurtigruten is paying for tomorrow. I went to find it this morning. About 6 blocks away.

First. Breakfast. ChatGPT had a suggestion. And the damn thing was spot on.

Thus fortified I headed out on a $5.10, round trip, adventure. Take the ferry to Bainbridge Island.

I rather liked that.

Don’t think i would knowingly eat a varnish clam anyhow.

I decided to have “linner” at 3pm.

6.49 miles. 15,665 Steps. Thank you legs. Oh and you too lungs and heart. Seriously, I am grateful.

So, first thing this morning I had to make a decision. Eat breakfast at the airport or come into the city for breakfast. There are plenty of awesome breakfast places in Seattle. Fortified with a granola bar and a cuppa hotel brown sludge, I made the one hour journey to my Seattle hotel of choice.

I gave them my luggage and went out for the day. Now at 4:30, I am about done for the day. Apparently, the Seattle fireworks are not visible from the hotel roof. Which is just as well, because I doubt that I can stay awake late enough to see them. The sun sets here at 9:10 today.

It love signs. Here are my favorites so far.

Today I found 3 quarters. A sure sign that I have Carlton’s blessing for the crazy adventure.

Gratitude

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Grateful that I can still get out on an adventure.

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Been to the dentist. Got past TSA. Had lunch. Let the waiting begin.

On my walk this morning, I found two very beat-up pennies in the road. I picked them up and considered them a message from Carlton, who always picked up pennies. (Also, dimes, nickels, and quarters.) It’s only fitting that the pennies are very beat up. Because I am too.

First task. Finish up the packing. The big problem is resisting the “Just In Case” stuff. And actually, if I do have problems along the way, I am fairly certain that a sweatshirt or proper PJs will not help. My “Just In Case” items with rationale for taking:

1. 1. 1. Swimsuit – the ship has hot tubs and saunas. And it’s not a Japanese ship so one needs to be “covered.”
      2. Gym shorts – to wear over the aforementioned swimsuit while in transit to the hot tub. Wouldn’t want to scare anyone.
      3. Rain pants. I had them from the NW Passage trip in ’23. They were used but still expensive. Trying to get my money’s worth out of them.

I have been on the sister ship, MS Fridtjof Nansen. 

We rendezvoused with the Roald Amundsen somewhere in the Arctic Ocean to trade European life vests and Zodiacs for US-approved life vests and Zodiacs. And it was a fun event.

Good to go. I may not post anything tomorrow. Long travel day. Lots of potential for delay. My flight was 7 hours late yesterday. That degree of lateness is as good as Amtrak’s. But as Carlton would say…Don’t live in the wreckage of the future.

Thank you, Carlton. But, trust me, you aren’t missing anything; you got out in time. 

What to do but walk downstairs and go outside and look for the storm.
The wind picked up considerably. And I went back up to the Old Bat’s Cave.

On July 5, the Tour de France starts. Matteo Jorgenson, from Boise, Idaho, is the only American who has much of a chance to win a stage. 

Packed my clothes today. Decided to take my “real” suitcase. But, it will still weigh less than 15 pounds. Even after adding the toiletries, drugs, and electronics. I decided to take the “real” suitcase for the wheels. A concession to old age.  Accept and Adapt. 

No, I didn’t run out of coffee. I had to visit the bloodletter this morning at 8:30. It was a very long time between waking up and coffee time. Got the results back before lunch and indeed I have blood. And the blood is OK for an old woman.

I asked my buddy ChatGPT to make a little map of my upcoming trip for a blog post. Well, this is cute. The geography leaves much to be desired. But still…it pretty damn cute.

This is my usual lame Google Maps hack job.

Lazy summer Sunday. My watch said that I should take it easy today and I was happy to oblige.

The “wilderness” trail was infested with mosquitoes. That reminded me that I still had to make another purchase for the trip to Alaska. Off to the grocery for Dramamine.

Better to have and not need than to need and not have.

While tending the orchids this morning, I realized how important they are to the Old Bat Cave’s feel.