We're off on another adventure. The cruising industry hasn't settled down after the terrible Covid virus scare, so we'll stay in the USA.
Last update to this trip diary was made 01 Sept 2021.
Cousin Fran & husband Duane invited us to Seattle to stay in their condo and cat-sit again while they take an Alaska cruise. Sounds great, since our daughter lives there and we know the cats.
Then our 2022 cruise from Tokyo to Singapore to Athens (round the world trip, our way) was cancelled by Azamara due to Covid uncertainties. So we scheduled a cruise to Alaska just like F&D's but the week prior to theirs.
We WERE going to do several railroad (Amtrak) segments on this trip. But the route from Jacksonville westward to New Orleans isn't in service so we'll go to San Diego by air via Dallas, as shown above. Then the Coast Starlight route from LA to Seattle we wanted to take was interrupted by a wild fire in Northern California that burned a trestle, among other things.
The whole Amtrak Route Map is shown here in a new page. However, now our only train will be Seattle to Chicago on the Empire Builder. We'll return home from Chicago by air since there's no good route by rail.
AA 876 JAX-DFW 9:34a 11:14a.
AA 2747 DFW-SAN 2:46p 3:43p.
The first flight was perfect. Unfortunately, DFW had bad weather yesterday causing many cancellations. They (AA) were still trying to catch up today. Several people we talked with had been there since yesterday.
So, there was a great deal of confusion. We moved from one terminal to another using the Skylink little train. A couple leaped in at the last moment, him carrying a small dog with a vest saying Service Animal. The dog appeared to be the smartest one in the group.
Our gate was changed twice. But finally, three hours late, our plane showed up and took us to Lindbergh Field, San Diego.
We got the rental car & drove to Glenn's house. After a glass or two we prepared steaks, baked potato and salad, and ate. We talked some more but eventually grew tired and went to bed.
We started slowly, just yakking. Then Glenn got the idea of having lunch with Hal & Marge, and I thought to include Bing and Saidia in the miix. So we all got together in their favorite little plaza next to Point Loma Seafood at the foot of Emerson. Hal brought the cooler, everybody brought wine, so we drank and ate and chatted and took pictures of the group.
L-R, Owen, Dolores, Marge, Hal, Glenn.
D had the fresh halibut sandwich, I had a shrimp salad with Sauce Louis. Very good even after a lengthy wait. The pigeons enjoyed the crumbs. Nice and cool down on the harbor.
As it happens, all of the guys were at some time involved with the same submarine pre-deployment and research effort for the same navy intelligence outfit, so there were many do-you-recall stories.
Everyone looked pretty good for the stuff we've been through. We resolved to keep doing what we do best.
L-R, Saidia, Bing, Owen, Dolores
As the group split, we went off to the NEX at Ballast Point to buy wine for the house - never know who might show up. We took a look at our first married home, 4811 Bermuda #7, which is still there and looking not too bad for 50+ years. The steps down to the beach have been blocked off, however. Probably should have been blocked 40 years ago.
Then we came back to Glenn's place to get ahead of the rush hour on I-8.
Continued
A few photos
Back at the ranch…. we chatted some more. Glenn returned from his infusion at the chemo-doctor, saying it wasn't too bad though they had used a different entry point.
Then Glenn's daughter Carla & her son Daniel came in and more chatting on several subjects and persons ensued. Husband Paul came in and dinner preparation began. Baked chicken, potatoes, peas-and-carrots, all very good.
We started sipping the wine with dinner and kept that up until around 10pm when they left. We continued chatting with Glenn till almost 11pm then finally crashed.
20210804
Picture out of Glenn's kitchen window down the valley toward El Cajon.
Still in Lakeside CA. We woke, did coffee, and started combat with the world.
HollandAmerica sent a note that a form must be completed with a link - when we used the link, they replied that they are unable to perform the required function. Called them, they're "working on it. " Right.
Glenn said he was startled this morning at 0600 when an alarm on a radio in the garage went off very loudly. He suspects Daniel.
It was decided that this a day of rest for Glenn (and us). Emmy & Jake are supposed to drop in, but not for dinner.
While we fight HA, Glenn's battling American Airlines helping Carla get to a friends wedding in next month.
A further check with HA, no change.
…
and that's how it went. Later, Emmy & Jake cancelled their visit to the house, so Glenn & D & O had the whole house all day. We had a light lunch in the house and later went to La Palapa for a mexican food dinner. La Palapa is still a fine little place, now doing a roaring business serving the town.
We talked of old mutual acquaintances, like Tracy Ball & Morris Akers, and old funny things that happened to us in the now-distant path.
Glenn is doing well under his chemo infusion treatments of a newer drug combination that is showing some signs of extended life with cancer. He's essentially a guinea pig for this new treatment. His oncologist is quite hopeful. He'll have another infusion in a month, then a waiting period, then a CAT scan to determine the cancer's progress, which started in the esophagus but migrated to the liver, if I have it right.
We went to bed sort of early - around 10pm.
and that's how it went. Later, Emmy & Jake cancelled their visit to the house, so Glenn & D & O had the whole house all day. We had a light lunch in the house and later went to La Palapa for a mexican food dinner. La Palapa is still a fine little place, now doing a roaring business serving the town.
We talked of old mutual acquaintances, like Tracy Ball & Morris Akers, and old funny things that happened to us in the now-distant path.
Glenn is doing well under his chemo infusion treatments of a newer drug combination that is showing some signs of extended life with cancer. He's essentially a guinea pig for this new treatment. His oncologist is quite hopeful. He'll have another infusion in a month, then a waiting period, then a CAT scan to determine the cancer's progress, which started in the esophagus but migrated to the liver, if I have it right.
We went to bed sort of early - around 10pm.