Another lazy day. I did wash all the rather smelly black clothes that I wore on the way to Kona.
How about a couple of nice bug photos. Taken with the 34mm lens.
Female Argiope appensa – hawaiian garden spider
These are very impressive spiders. The female is huge. Maybe 3 inches. They are not poisonous to humans and eat lots of bugs. They do bite if disturbed. So, they don’t make good pets. And they are not native to Hawai’i. But, they seem to be very happy here. And, they make splendid webs.
As the election gets closer, I get more and more concerned. How did this happen? There doesn’t seem to be much concern here in exciting downtown Kailua-Kona.
If the nation survives – next time I take the Empire Builder, I intend to get off in Glasgow, Montana. Both times, I have looked out the train window and wanted to get off for a looksee.
Glasgow Montana – From the window of the Empire Builder.
After doing just a few “chores”, I decided that I was “tired” and I took the rest of the day off.
I did take a couple of pictures. Using my cheap long lens and monopod. I am not really happy with the long lens. And, I have never used a monopod. A new friend gave me her dear hubby’s monopod. So, I mailed the long lens and monopod to Kona. And just maybe – the monopod will help the long lens. I really am too old, weak and shaky to handhold 600mm.
a’ama crab
Started cataloging and culling the photos from my train trip. I have lots from the Chihuly Museum.
Wednesday is “Boat Day” in exciting downtown Kailua-Kona. And, this is “my” view.
Another view of Kailua Bay
Last winter before I went to Samoa, I bought a $99 underwater camera. It is barely adequate. But, I took it swimming with me this morning. And, another view of the bay. I was swimming “laps”. And…
I was lapped by this dog.
I love the ocean. No matter how old, creaky and tired I feel when I get in – I am always better when I get out.
Getting my “kitchen” in order. I have English muffins, eggs, peanut butter and salsa on the shelf. This will suffice for any meal. Not to mention I am well supplied with star fruit and avocado.
First meal from the “kitchen”… eggs, salsa and avocado
I nuked these eggs 90 seconds. I think that 75 seconds will make a better product.
It got cloudy this afternoon – normal trade winds behavior. And the ship just blew the leaving soon honk.
As I suspected, absolutely zero interest in national politics here. Either way, we are screwed. But, out here in the middle of the ocean, it won’t much matter.
Fun between your legs – free at the hotel. And..$15 for fish gonads – well low fin chub nuts…
Oh, and tonight’s dinner – I received gift pears and avocado – so, I had pear and avocado salad for dinner. I dined out on my lanai.
So, what did I do today? Very Little.
Went for a walk with my good buddy, Billy.
Then went to Denny’s for “Senior Special” breakfast with Billy. Great views. Interesting local characters. Good theater.
Billy left me at Target – where I loaded up with shampoo, Tide, etc… your basic bath and laundry essentials.
Walked home.
Did some “organizing” and putting away.
Went for a nice 30 minute swim.
Rested and listened to an audiobook.
Assembled and ate dinner.
That is it.
Still cloudy, trade windy weather. Some early whales have been seen, the kolea or golden plover are arriving from Alaska, and the first big north swell of the season is expected on Thursday. Winter is settling in.
No picture here. Just entered the Cascade Tunnel, it takes about seven minutes to transit. We had a wait on a siding before entering the tunnel, and I craftily used that time to brush teeth and get packed up.
Sad to be finished with the train part of the trip. It has been great. The best way to travel. Thank you, taxpayers of America.
Notes to self
The raincoat is a good choice. It covers all the travel weary clothes and it is black. So. I look sufficiently urban.
For Amtrak travel, the backpack and little rolling bag work fine and fit in the sleeping coffin nicely.
Here we are, out of the tunnel. But, no connectivity. I’ll queue this up to go, whenever.
8PM – Seattle
The Space Needle from Chihuly Museum.
I am one tired old woman tonight. The train arrived at about 10AM. It was raining but Google said that my hotel was only 1.3 miles away. So, off I go. Well, Google didn’t say it was 1.3 miles uphill.
My hotel let me in my room when I arrived, a good 4 hours ahead of check in time. Heck, it was even before checkout time for Friday night. I took a nice long hot shower and was about to blow off my trip to the Chihuly Museum. It was raining. I was tired. But, I discovered that the Monorail from the 1962 World’s Fair was still operational and it was 4 (seriously uphill) blocks from my hotel. So, off I go. And, it stopped raining.
Chihuly Exhibit Ceiling
The exhibit was wonderful. No crowds. Now waiting. And, I had a fine lunch. Then back on the monorail. Back to the hotel. And out again to checkout the neighborhood.
The Very First Starbucks
I found the original Starbucks. I did not set inside. The line was too long. Maybe early tomorrow morning. While I was out I picked up some yogurt and a scone for dinner. I could tell that going out to dinner was more than I was up too. So, I head back to the hotel.
From the Hotel Roof Deck
Snagged a coffee from the lobby and went up on the roof to await sunset.
I did not go to Nordstrom’s. I did not buy a fish at the fish market. I met two people on the roof who had bought fish that they were having shipped home to Houston and Atlanta. My compliments to the salesman at the city fish market, across the street from the hotel.
So, I am tired. Leaving for the airport at 1PM tomorrow. Wonder what will be open early on Sunday morning?
We arrived in Minot an hour early. So, we stayed in Minot for an hour.. this is more than enough Minot.
We just started rolling again. 9:06am. Best get this posted while I still have a connection.
It is about 3PM mountain time. And there hasn’t been cell coverage for most. of the day. Coming to the end of the flat part of Montana soon. But it will be dark soon too. So, I might just miss the Rockies.
This morning I did my Halloween reading. Ray Bradbury’s The Halloween Tree.
May as well do today like yesterday. Post when I’m able to get online.
The train seems to be about an hour late. That isn’t a problem. Since I have no plans for my layover in Chicago. Well, except to score some Sudafed.
Had a lovely dinner last night with Tom, who was going home from the Amtrak board meeting. Who knew that Amtrak had a board. Ten members. 9 appointed by the President and the Secretary of transportation.
Breakfast this morning with a lady who has a life path that mirrors mine. Right down to the long hair. That she trims herself every fall. She recommended a trip on the OE2 from NY to Southampton.
44 degrees and 8:50 on a siding in South bend Indiana. Chicago in less than an hour. So, I’d best get packing.
Train went through Gary Indiana real slow. Lots of abandoned industrial buildings. I wanted to get off and take pictures.
Stashed my bags and went for a walk. Got the Sudafed along the way.
Chicago is all decked out for Autumn and the Cubbies. I really like Chicago, as long as it isn’t winter.
Just got an email from Kona. Mt C arrived yesterday. WiFi has slowed, so I think it is time to read. More later. Or not.
2PM and on the train…30+ cars.
No WiFi in the train loading area. But good cell coverage. That will end soon enough. I would show you around my sleeping chamber, but what’s to see. It is about 24 sq feet. In theory, 2 people fit in here. Let’s just say they need to be very good friends.
I have had very bad bus karma the last twenty four hours. But, it did lead me to Halloween. And the fitbit is happy. It will not be happy again until next week.
Went to the last yoga class of the early fall series. Did a little work. Came home and started charging up the toys. And wrapping up the KOA2DO list.
Train leaves tomorrow at 4pm that only leaves a couple of hours of daylight – since the train will be in the Appalachian Mountains – dark comes earlier. If the train stays on time there is only a couple of hours of daylight before I get to Chicago on Thursday.
As far as Chicago goes – I am not sure that there is anything that I want to do in the 4 hours that I have between trains. I may just hangout at the station. As I recall, the station isn’t anything special.
My friends had a lovely little Coffee, Chocolate and Key Lime Pie party for me. And the office sent me off with best wishes and lots of healthy treats to eat along the way west. I’ll be too fat to fit in my wetsuit by the time I get to Kona.
I took Carlton to the Post Office this afternoon. Plan was to take the bus to the Post Office and get some much needed steps by walking home. Well, buses being buses – I ended up doing it the other way.
Thanks, Carlton, for repairing my little old lady grocery cart just before you died. That thing took lots of stuff to the Goodwill last summer. And, it got you to the post office just fine this afternoon. My “new” neighborhood is sort of “pedestrian hostile”. The old neighborhood had a walkscore of 94. My new locale scores 60. So, walking to the post office isn’t a pleasant walk in the park or even on a sidewalk.
Oh, and a little Sporting News, Carlton – the Nats didn’t make it to the Series. But, the Cubbies did. Last time the Cubbies were in the series – I was 2 years old.
