Pittsburgh Trip - Day 2

I realized very early today that my cold was almost completely gone!  Actually, I really hadn't noticed it yesterday either but it felt good to "return to normal."  My morning began when I woke up at 0600 (before my alarm) at the Staybridge Suites (Pittsburgh).  I had time for reading, puzzles and Duolingo exercises before I got online for work (0615).  After checking my email and clearing work items from my desktop, I went to breakfast in the Lobby of the Hotel (0645).  There were a LOT of people there from something called "Trinity Solar" (they were wearing matching shirts) but, luckily, I found a chair to eat my food.  Back in my room, I returned to teleworking and then got ready for my Installation activities for the week.  Outside, it was very rainy and cooler (high 30s).  At 0800, I departed the hotel and drove through the weather (mostly on I-376 Business) for about 15 minutes to the north.  Before long, I reached the Pittsburgh International Airport.  This was the first time I visited this place since I'd landed on the runway a few times while in the Navy.  Entry into the airport complex was a lot different by car, though, and I was glad that I left early because it gave me a chance to check out the access requirements.  Since I was there early, I was able to talk to everyone on site before the rest of our Installation crew arrived (0830).  Once we got started with our project, we dealt with badging issues, space dilemmas (where to put our stuff?) and logistical challenges.  In the end, we had to carry pallets of stuff up a few flights of stairs but we worked through all of the issues.  This was my first time working with Damien (Site Installation Lead for our Contractor) and I found him to be quite easygoing and knowledgeable.  I also got to meet Stacy, one of the Program Manager types from company headquarters.  The only other members of the team that I'd met before were Lorenzo and Charlie.  Among the group, we had a good chat about lessons learned since we'd last been together.  Things have been going pretty well but there have been a few hiccups (for various reasons).  Crossing my fingers for a lack of drama at Pittsburgh...  For a lot of the day, I tried to assist the on-site rep, Gavin, who had never been involved in anything like this.  He was eager and interested, though, and even watched a lot of our unpacking and testing.  Most everything went just like it normally has but there was one scare - some equipment that was installed on site back in the 2012/2013 timeframe could not be located.  Since I'd seen this issue before, I worked with the local personnel to track down the items - eventually we located the old computers in a cabinet.  I guess it's a good thing we are doing this technology refreshment...  When we were finally done with all our Installation preparations and had coordinated our system outage for the following night, I left the airport (1500) and returned to the hotel (arrived at 1515).  Once in my room again, I resumed teleworking and stayed at it until I reached my 8 hours for the day (1600).  The rest of the afternoon included catching up on blog stuff, working on finances and continuing plans for my upcoming European Adventure.  At 1730, I went downstairs to the lobby to join the nightly social hour.  This time, there were green beans, rice and pork chops.  The food was very good!  There were also some flat bread slices and a free beer (I got a Yuengling again).  I was still eating in the Lobby of the hotel when Scott S (a former Navy Shipmate) finally got back to me about getting together for dinner or a drink (1755).  Despite the late hour (and the fact I'd just eaten), I told him I still wanted to meet up.  He suggested the Industry Public House, which was so close to my hotel that I was actually able to walk (across the Sam's Club parking lot) to it.  Even though it was raining, I was glad to get the extra steps - my umbrella was mostly effective...  At 1815, I arrived at the restaurant and found Scott and his sons.  After nearly 25 years, it felt like old times as we settled into sea stories.  Even though I was mostly full, I still ordered a snack (buffalo chicken and macaroni flatbread pizza) and local beer (Copper Ale from IPH).  Understandably, I didn't finish much of my new food - it will be nice to have leftovers tomorrow.  Overall, it was great to visit and catch up.  Scott's sons weren't too enthusiastic but I guess they had no say in whether they came with us.  We stayed at the restaurant until about 1915 and, after saying goodbye, I walked back (no rain this time) to the hotel (arrived at 1930).  In my room again, I spent time relaxing and trying to psych myself up for more activity.  Frankly, I wasn't very motivated... Finally, at 2140, I went to the hotel Fitness Center and biked for 20 minutes (4.1 miles).  Along the way, I finished my step count goal - yay!  Back in my room, I tried watching movies but the network quality of the hotel WiFi was as bad as I've seen at any hotel in months.  Oh well... Instead, I read and watched short videos (on YouTube) on my phone until going to bed (2330).  I've got a LONG day/night coming up again tomorrow but I'm stoked to get another airport tech refresh done!

Pittsburgh Trip - Day 1

My work trip in Pittsburgh starts today!  Since I was already pretty close to the Steel City, I slept until 0630 (no alarm set). Even though my work day was predominantly going to be related to the travel requirements for arriving at the Pittsburgh Airport (10 hours allowed), I still got online at about 0700 and cleaned up email.  I went to "breakfast" (again, very limited) in the Lobby of the Super 8 (Pittsburgh/Monroeville) at 0800 and then got back online for some early meetings.  At 0920, I took another break to get a haircut at the Supercuts (my first time ever) across the street from the hotel.  Somehow, I'd gone almost three months without a haircut (last one was in Washington State back in mid December)...  I had more meetings in my hotel room between 1000 and 1100.  After that, I started packing and did a few personal items of business before checking out of the hotel (1145).  Outside, it was mostly cloudy (a gray day) with temps at 38 F.  To depart from Monroeville, Google Maps took me down a series of back roads until I was able to get on I-376.  Sadly, there was lots of traffic and construction.  Along the way, I passed through the Squirrel Hill Tunnel and then came out to views of Downtown Pittsburgh (1210).  Before long, I was exiting the Interstate on to a "spaghetti-like" series of ramps and bridges and ended up getting misled by the map app.  I had been looking for a place to park near "The Point" but Google Maps didn't seem to understand that - instead, it took me to a place without a parking lot (or even a place to pull off the road).  This situation required me to cross the Monongahela River accidentally.  On the other side, I found the Duquesne Incline but decided not to explore that landmark.  Instead, I backtracked across the Monongahela and (with no help from map apps) managed to reach the surface streets of the city.  Along the way, I noticed that almost all parking garages were too short for me to use (because of my cartop carrier).  Crossing my fingers that there might be street parking, I drove around until I found and open spot near the Gateway Subway Station.  I was able to pay for one hour on a kiosk (1220) but wished later that I'd added more time.  From my car, it wasn't a long walk to reach the area where Fort Duquesne and Fort Pitt used to stand (Point State Park).  When I arrived there, I walked around for a bit but then decided to go into the Fort Pitt Museum, which was built inside a recreated bastion of the original British fort.  I paid for my ticket at 1230 and, with the clock ticking on my parking meter, I sort of rushed through the displays.  There was lots of cool history and the exhibits were very professional.  Along the way, I got ambushed by an enthusiastic lady Docent (she was dressed in Kelly Green and wore a St. Patrick's Day tophat) who wanted me to join a "tour".  There were two other "captives" already with her and, admittedly, she did have some information that was interesting.  However, I really didn't have time to spend with her - using the excuse that I was feeling parched (not really a lie), I excused myself and, after getting water from a fountain, I continued the museum on my own (including a walk through the second floor).  In the end, I wrapped up my visit at about 1255 and then went outside to visit the Block House, which was the only original building on the property from the era of Fort Pitt.  I first walked down the Monongahela River, following something called the Three Rivers Heritage Trail, until I reached a marker (at the Fountain) that indicated where the Ohio River began.  Across the river(s) from here, I could see the Football (and Baseball ?) Stadium.  My friend Bob would like to know that I was here...  From The Point, I went upriver on the Three Rivers Heritage Trail, following the Allegheny River, and then cut across the State Park.  In the middle of a large green area, I encountered a cement outline (built flush with the ground) of the original Fort Duquesne.  It was great to get so much up-close history!  After that, I walked back towards my car.  With barely enough time on my meter, I decided to visit the original location of the Primanti Brothers  and found it nestled in an interesting old area with lots of brick buildings.  From there, I made it back to my car about five minute late.  What a whirlwind of exploring!  By this point, I was hungry and hoped I'd be able to find parking to get something to eat.  Erin had recommended I get lunch at a place called S&D Polish Deli so I drove uptown (along the Allegheny River) to a place called The Strip District.  Somehow, I found a place to park on a side street there - everywhere else was metered or cost an arm and a leg.  From my car, I walked to the deli found it to be an old time Polish Market with lots of character.  Inside (1340), I explained to the lady working there (there were no customers) that my daughter had raved about the pierogies and she directed me to their "hot & ready" area.  Fortunately, there was one order of "Cooked PCC Pierogi" available for purchase!  I also got the only other remaining item in the warmer, a container of "Heluski, Pittsburg Style" (noodles with cabbage).  I guess I'd made a good impression on the clerk because she suggested that I dip the pierogies in sour cream.  Also with her recommendation, I added a Juniper and Hops Black Currant (fizzy soda from Poland) to my meal.  Overall the food choices were excellent (I followed all the instructions) and, while eating my delicious meal, I felt very fortunate to have gotten some food because the place was going to close in about 20 minutes.  I sent Erin a text with photos and she told me she was jealous...  After I was done eating, I checked on my car and then explored the nearby neighborhood (I learned later that I was very close to a place called Polish Hill).  Along the way, I saw a huge banner for a restaurant that had apparently (per the sign) been featured on "Diners, Drive-ins and Dives".  When I reached the building, I was immediately distracted by the fact that there were several Whiskey Distilleries nearby.  Since I was full of food already, I decided to go inside the Wigle Whiskey Distillery and ordered a flight of four flavored whiskeys.  Most were just infused but there was on Bourbon among them.  No one else was in the place so I enjoyed the ambiance with some silence.  The establishment offered materials and utensils for straight, splash of water and ice cube options.  Brett, one of the Executives for the business (and today's bartender), explained that they wanted everyone to be able to try whiskey "as they like it."  After trying each option, I'm a believer...  Brett also told me the story of how Whiskey originated in Western PA and gave me a long (historical tale) that involved the Wigle family, Neville Family, George Washington and the Whiskey Rebellion.  What a great story!  After I was done sampling (1440), I bought two bottles: Wapsie Bourbon (made with special corn from Iowa and flavored with Maple Syrup) and Phil's Shadow Rye. Another fun thing I learned while at Wigle's was that there are now whiskeys being produced that are aged in barrels that previously aged beer (and previously aged whiskey).  What a recycling idea!  The best part was that this combination of aging yields "Teddy Bear Kisses" (involves beer from Upland, IN).  Overall, it was a great decision to visit the Distillery!  Once I'd reached my car, I made my way back to the west (along the Allegheny River).  On the way, I passed a marker for the Lewis & Clark Expedition - it was great to see evidence of them again.  Near The Point, I was able to cross the Monongahela River again.  Unfortunately, there was a huge traffic jam that was waiting to go through the Fort Pitt Tunnel.  Instead, I followed the route I'd earlier taken by accident (past the Duquesne Incline) and followed the opposite bank of (eventually) the Ohio River.  On this route, I was later able to turn south and get on I-386, which took me all the way to the area near my hotel (Summit Park).  During this time, my TPMS acted up again, with one tire showing extremely low suddenly.  Fortunately, I found a Sam's Club gas station that offered free air for tires - I pumped up the low one.  Right next door, I found my hotel, a Staybridge (by IHG) and was checked into my room by 1515.  After that, I resumed teleworking and stayed online until 1700, when I knocked off officially for the day.  During my "off-time", I read a bit and updated my "fans" on social media.  At 1730, I went down to the "social hour" in the hotel lobby, which ended up being a free beer (I chose a Yuengling), some chicken in a sauce, mashed potatoes and broccoli!  There was more but I was quite satisfied with that much.  After finishing this substantial "happy hour" meal (1750), I explored the hotel and discovered that they had free laundry machines!  Returning to my room, I read for a while and then got dressed to workout in the Fitness Center.  Between 1845 and 1905, I rode on the stationary (upright) bike, logging 4.2 miles in 20 minutes.  This is closer to my normal workout pace so I started wondering if the reclining bikes in the other hotels were set to Kilometers...  Back in my room again, I couldn't get inside because the door had an error code (lights).  When I returned to the front desk, I had some new keys made and then tried again - I got the same result.  With some persistence, though, I managed to get the door open.  Not wanting to get stuck outside, I went into my room and essentially became a captive.  Calls the Front Desk didn't yield satisfaction until after 2200, when the clerk brought me my third set of keys since arrival.  It turned out the problem was related to a sensitive "privacy" lock - hope this doesn't happen throughout the stay...  After this annoying interlude, I settled down for the night and watched movies until bedtime (2300).  What an amazing day in Pittsburgh!

Nomad Life - Day 178

Last day of "lollygagging across Pennsylvania"...  I slept soundly (despite still dealing with lingering effects of my cold) until 0730.  After that, I did some reading, Duolingo and puzzles.  At 0800, I went to "breakfast" (still very little in the way of food) in the Lobby of the Days Inn (Indiana) and then proceeded to the Fitness Center, where I rode on the stationary (recumbent) bike for 20 minutes (9.6 miles but I'm still not sure this could be accurate...).  Back in my room again, I did some more reading, Blogging and eBird; I also made reservations for the coming night's lodging.  I'd coordinated for a late checkout so was able to stay in my room until 1200.  At that point, I grabbed all my belongings and headed out to the car.  On the hood, I found little flecks of what looked like snow (or ice pellets?) but the weather didn't seem to match this image.  Perhaps it was colder overnight...  At about 1210, I departed the hotel and drove to the nearby campus of Indiana University Pennsylvania (IUP).  I located the northern terminus of the Hoodlebug Trail Extension which, when it was added to the original 10 mile trail, created an 11.6 mile total (all paved) rail trail to the town of Black Lick.  Unlike the longer (orginal) section, though, this extension was mostly on the streets - the only indication one was following it was the green paint (with an outline of a bicycle) on the driving surface.  From the corner of 8th Street and Church Street in Downtown Indiana (IUP Campus), I followed the Extension by car until I arrived in the area near the Rose Street Trailhead parking lot I'd visited the day before.  There were some sidewalks and a short paved section of the Extension there and I walked about 0.5 miles of trail (1 mile total).  Bonus: I was also able to do some birding and encountered some interesting species.  I forgot to mention that I saw lots of signs for "IUP 150", which I learned foreshadowed a huge celebration that will take place in June.  With the full northern section of the Hoodlebug Trail completed, I got back in my car and drove south (via US-119 and back roads) to Homer City.  This time, I parked at Floodway Park (1250) so I could keep working my way towards Blacklick.  By this point, the temps were 37 F and it was very sunny.  Before starting south, I walked north from the park (it looked like the Town Depot used to be located there) until I reached the turnaround point (Mazzi Street) from the previous day.  After backtracking and passing my car, I made my way all the way through the rest of Homer City until I was basically walking through a longer section of open land (paralleled US-119).  I ended up walking around 1.5 miles to the Red Barn Trailhead and enjoyed the section a lot.  Even if it had been boring, I was treated to another beautiful day and some wonderful silence at times.  Like I'd seen in Indiana, the birding was awesome.  When I turned around at the Red Barn, I saw a marker that said I was 6 miles from the Rose Street trailhead, which means I've completed 7.5 total miles of the overall trail - awesome!  On the way back, I checked out a historical cemetery in Homer City that had American Revolution and Civil War burials.  I arrived back at my car by 1405 (three more miles of walking) and quickly got back on the road.  I used US-119 to reach US-422 and then continued driving northwest until I reached Elderton (Armstrong County).  Wanting a break and some birding in a new county, I stopped at Plum Creek Park (1425).  Sadly, there weren't many birds there.  From that point, I was (mostly) all business in wanting to reach my new hotel.  The route included driving on PA-210 until switching to PA-156 and then following that road for a little while.  I reached the town of Apollo at 1445 and got on PA-66.  A short time later, I crossed the Kiskiminetas River and continued south on PA-380.  After reaching PA-286, I stopped for late lunch at Dairy Queen in Murrysville (1510).  I ate in the restaurant and, by 1535, was on my way south again.  At 1540, I arrived at my hotel, the Super 8 (Monroeville), checked in immediately and got settled in my room.  By this point, I was feeling really sleepy (a side effect of the cold, I think) so completed some paperwork and did some reading to seal the deal - naptime followed soon afterwards.  When I was awake again (1830), I ate "dinner" (snacks) and did some more reading (I had a book that needed to be returned to the digital library).  For the rest of the evening, I watching movies and didn't try to go to bed for real until 2300.  Unfortunately, I had lots of trouble falling asleep (probably due to the nap).  It's been a wonderful week of wandering in the Keystone State but work in the Steel City awaits!

Nomad Life - Day 177

Even though it was Saturday and I'd stayed up late, I still woke up at 0600.  And I was still sick - yaay...  I spent some time reading, doing Duolingo exercises and working on puzzles.  One sobering moment was when I read the news that the USA was at war with Iran.  At 0745, I went to breakfast at the Days Inn (Indiana) - they barely had any food but I was lucky I got some because lots of other people came away empty handed...  Back in my room, I did some more reading, more relaxing and tried (desperately) to recover from my cold.  At 1255, I went to McDonalds (across the parking) to get some sandwiches and a Shamrock Shake for lunch.  While eating (back in my room), I took care of finances, blog, eBird  etc.  With this unusual "down time", I was able to get a lot of work done and didn't feel ready to depart from the hotel until about 1445.  Once I was outside, I was stunned to find that it was 55 F!  Like so many other Nomad Life days I've had, it was also quite sunny.  Before I took advantage of the spectacular outdoor conditions, though, I wanted to explore a bit of history in Downtown Indiana.  From my hotel, I drove a short distance to the Jimmy Stewart Museum, which was located on the third floor of the Indiana Public Library.  There were parking meters on the street but didn't pay, hoping my luck would keep me out of trouble.  I arrived at the ticket booth for the Museum at 1455 and was given a quick overview of the contents by a friendly Docent (lady).  For the next 45 minutes, I wandered through the very good displays, learned about the history of the Stewart family in Indiana and met several friendly people.  Like most Americans, I've always admired Jimmy Stewart and this museum was a great tribute to his life and accomplishments.  I especially enjoyed the Military section (lots of good artifacts).  Afterwards (1540), I left the museum and took photos of some historical markers (including a larger than life size statue of Stewart) in the area.  I also explored a bit of the nearby Philly Street district before returning to the area of the Hoodlebug Trail.  I began where I'd parked the previous day, exploring signage and trying to find the northern terminus for the trail.  In the end, I determined that there was a discrepancy in the maps, local knowledge and other data and gave up on trying to connect any trail dots (more research needed).  While there, though, I walked a little bit on the trail before departing for another section. I drove (via back roads) to Homer City and parked at the Yankeetown Access Area Trailhead.  By this point, tempos had risen to 60 F - whew!  Starting at 1610, I walked back (north) to the Homer City Asphalt Plant (where I'd turned around the day before) and then backtracked towards my car.  Along the way, I saw a family gardening in their yard, accompanied by a well-behaved pet pig!  At around this tame time, I figured out that Mass would be starting at a nearbyt Catholic Church nearby so modified my walk on the Hoodlebug to merge with a walking route (on side streets) to Homer City neighborhood that included the St. Mary's Holy Protection Byzantine Catholic Church.  I arrived at 1650 and Mass began at 1700.  This was the first time I've ever been to one of the "Eastern Rite" Churches and it was a truly special experience.  For one thing, the entire premise of the service was a series of chanting sessions between the Priest and Cantor.  This made it similar to the Orthodox churches I'd encountered in Eastern Europe back in 2024.  For another thing, the Altar was set apart, with gates and mostly "mysterious goings on" behind the "curtain".  The Order of the Mass seemed to be following a little booklet I found in the pew - it matched with the Mass format developed by St. John Chrysostom.  Still, it was hard to follow most of what was happening.  All around me, there were LOTS of pretty icons.  Overall, the service only had a few places regular speech but I got used to the chanting.  There was a lot of standing for prayers (rather than kneeling) and lead up to Communion was very solemn and respectful.  The biggest surprise was when the Eucharist was scooped on to my tongue ("Body soaked in Blood ?") with a little spoon.  The Priest served me, a "Servant of God", and I hoped I wasn't acting too far away from what he expected when I accepted it.  My fellow Parishioners were mostly older and I heard some other languages than English.  Beyond Communion, there was a kind of memorial service for departed church members (a Lenten tradition of the church, apparently).  The whole experience was very moving and I've so glad that I attended.  After Mass (1800), I made my way back (still walking) towards my car at the Hoodlebug Trailhead (arrived at 1815).  Next, I drove north on US-119 until I reached the Levity Brewing Company (1825).  The place was all decked out for a Mardi Gras Party that I'd heard about on the previous day and, when I went inside, almost all seats were reserved or filled with people.  The bartender, Ed (I'd met him yesterday), showed me a spot against the wall and I squeezed in there.  To get food or beer, everyone had to wait in a big line to get food or drink.  When my turn came, I ordered the special gumbo, some King Cake and a beer I hadn't tried the day before.  When the King Cake arrived, the lady who served it showed me that I'd "won" a free beer because I'd gotten the Baby!  I'm feeling quite lucky...  Later, the gumbo arrived and it was so good and had a bit of a kick.  For this reason, I had to get in line for another (this time it was free!) beer.  During that time, a New Orleans Style Jazz band started playing.  When I returned to my seat, I learned that a young man (probably early 20s) sitting next to me was the nephew of the band's Trombonist.  He told me the band members were all faculty of IUP.  My new friend himself was a student at the college and he told me about life on campus.  We had a good conversation while the band wrapped up their first set (and took a break) and I genuinely enjoyed this encounter.  At about 2010, I reluctantly decided I'd had enough fun for the night and closed out my tab.  Saying goodbye to my friend and his uncle, I left the Brewery and returned to my hotel (arrived at 2030.  Back in my room again, I took care of some online stuff before heading down to the Fitness Center (2100) to ride the stationary bike again (this time, I completed 9.3 miles in 20 minutes).  for the rest of the evening, I watched movies.  With my cold seemingly subsiding, I managed to set a deliberate bedtime for once (2330).  What a great day in Indiana, Pennsylvania!

Nomad Life - Day 176

The (common) cold is really taking its toll - case in point, I woke up at 0500 without an alarm - feeling horribly congested...  I managed to start teleworking almost immediately but my heart wasn't really in the work.  I took a break for some reading, Duolingo and puzzles and later (0745) went to breakfast in the Lobby of the Quality Inn (Johnstown).  There were some (annoying) loud talkers in the lobby but I managed to ignore them before returned to work.  All morning, I kept fighting the cold (headache and congestion).  When my last meeting was complete (1100), I decided that four hours of work was enough (I balanced out my day with four hours of leave).  After loading up my car (I saw a South Dakota license plate in the parking lot!), I departed the hotel.  It was (again), a marvelous day: sunny and 43 F!  My next destination, the town of Indiana, was located to the northwest of Johnstown so I used PA-65 and PA-403 to drive through the old downtown area.  Several of my friends are from this area and it was very familiar (Mollie and I also visited the nearby Johnstown Flood NPS site in February 2020).  Beyond the edge of town, I followed US-22, PA-65, P-954, US-422 and PA-286 until I reached my new hotel, the Days Inn (Indiana) at 1150.  It was too early to check in, so I went in search of the Hoodlebug Trail, a nearby rail trail that was (at least) 10 miles long.  I located the Hoss' restaurant on Rose Street (see FEB 2020) at 1200 and parked in their lot (I didn't realize there was a trailhead parking area across the street).  With great weather, I headed south on the paved bike trail.  There were plenty of other walkers with similar ideas and I encountered lots of birds too.  In the end, I walked almost three miles and only turned around when I reached an informal trailhead next to the Homer City Asphalt Plant.  It was warm and sunny - it seemed so much like Spring!  During my outbound leg, I'd noticed the Levity Breweing Company and decided to stop their (for lunch) during my backtrack.  Started at 1350, I ordered a flight of beer and a delicious fish sandwich.  Everything was delicious.  The bartender (Ed) invited me to return for the Mardi Gras party the following night - it sounds interesting!  At 1420, I left the Brewery and walked back to my car after nearly 6 miles (3 new miles of the trail) outdoors.  Since it was now possible to check into my hotel room, I drove back to the Days Inn and was settled inside by 1445.  Even though my work day was done, I still checked on work computer to make sure I hadn't missed anything important.  After that, I did some reading and watched movies until I felt tired.  Between 1630 and 2030, I took a nap from 1630 to 2030.  This may not have been the best idea because it screwed up my sleep schedule.  Still, I felt better.  I did some more reading and also ate a late "dinner" (snacks).  At 2200, I went down to the Fitness Center and rode on the stationary (recumbent) bike - I didn't want to miss out on the opportunity to get some more miles!  In 20 minutes, I logged 9.4 hours - it felt good to keep up with my fitness goals.  I then returned to room and worked on Blog.  For the rest of the evening, I watched movies and didn't go to bed until about 0045.  Being sick is not pleasant but I must admit that I maximized my body's potential today.  Hopefully, I'll start to feel better soon...

Nomad Life - Day 175

Even though I suspected it might happen, I really hoped I wouldn't succumb to the common cold for the second time this winter...  Unfortunately, the scratchy throat and runny nose caused me trouble overnight and, even though I hadn't set an alarm, I was still up by 0645.  Dang...  Before getting out of bed, I did some reading, completing Duolingo exercises and working on puzzles.  During this time, the birds were singing loudly outside my window and I took advantage of this easy Merlin App capture to start my daily birding statistics.  At 0700, I began my telework day.  About an hour later, I took a break and went to breakfast in the Atrium of the Super 8 (State College).  Once I was finished eating, I went to the Fitness Center and rode their stationary (recumbent) bike for 20 minutes - somehow, I logged 7 miles!  After that, I walked on the treadmill for 1 mile (17 minutes) before returning to my room.  The cold symptoms started to wear on me and, when I reached the four hour mark of work, I'd had enough of the hotel room and computers.  Despairing of being able to get some good outdoor adventures under the circumstances, I left State College at 1200.  The weather was good (sunny, with temps at 38 F) again!  I stopped for a gas fill up at Unimart (cheapest gas around) before getting on US-322, which I used to reach I-99.  I then followed the Interstate until I could switch to US-22.  This road took me from Centre County, through Blair County (1225) and into Cambria County (1255).  Before long, I was on US-219 and was making my way towards Johnstown, my destination for the night.  Upon arriving at the exit for my hotel (1320), I spotted a Primanti Brother's franchise at the Johnstown Galleria (mall).  I'd heard this was a "real Pittsburgh" experience so decided to check out the venue for lunch.  I was fortunate in this decision because the restaurant had a lunch special of a HUGE corned beef sandwich, lots of fries and a drink.  The knife in the soft bread was a good touch and the price was very reasonable.  And, of course, the food was great!  I was finished with my meal at 1345 and started a work call while I drove a short distance to my hotel, the Quality Inn (Johnstown).  Between meetings, I was able to check into my room (1400) and resume teleworking with barely a hiccup.  I stayed online until 1600 and then unloaded the rest of my car before continuing my teleworking.  At 1715, I hit the 7.5 hour mark for my hours and I decided to return to the Primanti's Brothers for their "Half Price Happy Hour".  Unlike what I'd seen during the lunch hour the place was packed! I was pleased to find that they had good deals on large beers and some cheap pizza slices - I got one of the former and two of the latter.  Due to my cold, my enthusiasm level was low and I only lasted until 1810.  Hoping to make it to my 10K step goal, I drove across the parking lot to the main building for the Johnstown Galleria and went walking inside the Mall.  It was warm and spacious and I was easily able to get lots of steps.  Once I was finished, I returned to my car and headed back to my hotel.  In my room, I finished up my last 30 minutes of telework and then worked on eBird and my blog.  For the rest of the evening, I watched movies until it was time for bed (2300).  With the nasty cold progressing, I had a hard time imagining a good night of sleep.  This sucks...

Nomad Life - Day 174

Unlike most of my Nomad Life weeks, it doesn't look like it would be a good idea to stay in one place for a few days.  Instead, I'm going to try to make my way lazily west (in the general direction of Pittsburgh) and see what I can see in short, overnight stays.  This morning, I was up at 0630 (no alarm set) and started teleworking.  I had meetings for most of the morning and spent the rest of the time catching up on lots of work from the preceding Installation trips.  I took one break (0815) for breakfast at the Super 8 Mifflinville.  After that, I kept working until 1130.  The forecast had said that there would be snow overnight but none ever felt where I was.  It was, actually, mostly sunny.  Also, the temps seemed very pleasant (38 F) and it seemed like Spring while I was walking around in the "courtyard" of the hotel.  Once my car was packed (1140), I departed my hotel and drove across the street to get lunch (to go) at Burger King (1140).  I waited to eat and repositioned my car from Miffliville (east side of the Susquehanna River) to South Centre (on the west side).  I parked at Columbia Park and, between 1200 and 1300, I went wandering around on trails near the river.  On such a beautiful day, I found LOTS of birds!  Even better,  I logged two miles of walking.  I encountered a deer carcass during my exploring but I don't think there were any major predators around - the area was residential.  Before departing the area, I finished my lunch and joined a work telcon (1300).  While listening to that, I made my way to I-80 and drove west.  As I entered Montour County (1315), I started to see snow again.  The Susquehanna River paralleled the Interstate in this area and I crossed it more than once. This part of the drive was punctuated by lots of curvy roads, fast trucks and narrow canyons through the hilly country.  I lost signal on my telcon but regained it less than five minutes later.  Signs along the highway warned of a major exit closure (for I-99) so I followed Google Maps' advice and exited I-80 at PA-64.  After following that road for a while (very little traffic), I reached PA-26 - from that intersection, I merged on to I-99.  Before long, I had reached State College and I exited on to US-322 (towards the south).  Soon after that, I got off the Interstate at College Avenue and made my way (via side streets) to my hotel, the Super 8 (State College).  With a conference call still going on at that point, I waited in the parking lot until it finished (1440).  Immediately after that, I checked into my room and resumed teleworking.  I stayed online until 1630 (when I reached my 8 hours).  Next, I went to the Lobby and printed documents at the hotel business center.  By 1700, I was ready for some fun.  Leaving the Super 8, I was stunned to find that the tamps were in the high 40s!  Following recommendations from the clerk at the hotel, I drove to the PSU campus and was able to find parking at the East Deck. (arrived there at 1730).  Next, I walked to the Penn State Berkey Creamery and ordered a Peachy Paterno ice cream (bowl, with cone on top) at 1740. I ate my delicious "dinner" inside the venue - I was surrounded by young ladies in small groups - they all seemed to enjoy the location for its comfort food.  After that, I went walking around the campus and logged another two miles (met my step goal for the day).  Like I've been seeing since Scranton, there were only snow remnants to indicate that Winter was still out there somewhere...  The air was very pleasant and I was treated to a pretty sunset.  I saw some interesting looking ski areas in the distance.  While I was walking, I got photos of football stadium, watched students playing pickleball and lacrosse and got a better feel for PSU.  When I reached my car again, I left the garage (1820) and drove a short distance to the west.  My target was the local Marzoni's Pizza and Brewery.  When I reached the bar, I ordered four of their brews (6 oz each).  A nearby couple, originally from the UK (Northumbria region) engaged me in conversation - it turned out that she was a PSU professor.  We had a good chat before we were all finished with our drinks (1940).  Feeling quote good about my choices this evening, I drove back to my hotel (arrived at 1950).  After quickly changing clothing, I went to workout in the Fitness Center (20 minutes of biking, 6 miles total).  Back in my room, I blogged, logged eBird entries and watched watching movies before going to bed at 2300.  This was my first visit to State College since I'd brought Erin here (see AUG 2015) and I really enjoyed the vibe!

Nomad Life - Day 173

It was finally time to say goodbye to Connecticut and my wonderful friends - I hadn't expected to stay with Kelly & Steve in Glastonbury so long but but it has been wonderful!  This morning, I woke up at 0630 (without alarm) and started teleworking immediately.  Despite the terrible snowstorm, Steve had to drive into Hartford for work - I was able to say goodbye (and "thank you") as he was leaving.  I then took a break from my computer and ate breakfast before quickly returning to work.  Kelly had to run some errands so we made my farewells at about 1030.  For the rest of my time at their home, I teleworked, with only a short break for lunch.  At the seven hour mark for my work day (1345), I logged off of my computer, packed up the car and reluctantly departed Glastonbury.  It was a beautiful, sunny day and temps were in the mid 30s!  Using CT-2, I-91, I-691 and I-84, I headed west.  Along the way, I passed the time by listening to SiriusXM.  After I crossed the New York border (1450), I began to encounter significant traffic.  Fortunately, I kept moving along OK.  While in this area, I saw lots of snow along the side of the road.  I passed through Danbury, my old Appalachian Trail Hiking Zone (near Fishkill) and crossed the Hudson River near Newburgh without incident.  In fact, I made it all the way to the New York / Pennsylvania border without any problems and, for this reason, decided I had time to get off the Interstate for a short visit to visit Montague (Sussex County), New Jersey (1555).  After finding a little park (just off CR-653, south of the gas stations and NJ-23), I took a stretching break and did some birding.  At 1605, I got back on I-84 and crossed the Delaware River into Pennsylvania.  The drive on the rest of I-84 (to Scranton) went well and I transitioned to I-81 (headed South) at 1655.  I was startled to see that almost all of the snow was gone!  Temps were still in the high 20s but they must have had warmer weather to melt everything...  At this same time, the traffic volume steadily increased significantly (with no warning from Google Maps) until I was almost completely stopped.  With warnings from road signs and (finally) the map app, it was clear that the drive to the I-80 merge was going to take far longer than I'd hoped.  Not wanting to be "trapped" on the Interstate, I exited as I saw an opportunity.  For the first time in all of my years of traveling nearby, I got an amazing view of the Montage Mountain Resort, just to the east of my location.  Ignoring all the map app suggestions, I weaved my way south on back roads (mostly paralleling I-81) until I was able to get on US-11.  The choice I'd made didn't make the trip go faster (lots of traffic, lights and narrow streets) but I felt better because I was still moving.  Google Maps kept trying to get me back on the Interstate, even while reporting that "there is a 12 minute slowdown". I ignored the guidance and kept "feeling my way along" until I accidentally missed a turn for US-11 at Pittston.  This error didn't seem like a big deal at the time but, soon, the four lane road abruptly ended at a stop sign.  From there, I was able to follow (via South Township Road and Main Street) the traffic towards the south and, after cutting north to River Street, I found myself in downtown Wilkes-Barre.  In all my years of traveling along I-81, I don't recall ever being in this immediate area - there were lots of interesting buildings and monuments!  At one intersection, I saw a chance to cross the Susquehanna on Market Street and took it.  After driving a bit west, I rejoined US-11.  Passing through the town of Plymouth, the speeds opened up and I felt like I was home free from the traffic jam.  This route, with took me southwest along the Susquehanna, was very pretty and I got to see a beautiful sunset at the end of the valley.  Also, alongside the road, I noticed lots of signs about the Susquehanna Warrior Trail (bike trail).  While it was still a bit light, I passed a huge Nuclear Power Plant (Susquehanna Stream Electric Station) that was creating the only "clouds" in the sky.  Strangely,. there was still no snow on the ground and the river looked mostly free of ice.  Just after I passed the town of Berwick, I stopped along the side of US-11 (just before the I-80 junction) and was able to locate a hotel within three miles with availability for the night.  Reservation completed, I got on I-80 east for one exit (had to cross Susquehanna River again).  I found my hotel, Super 8 (Mifflinville), on the east side of the river and, after arriving (1855), checked in quickly and found my room. By 1900, I was online for work again and logged one more hour on my computer.  Afterwards (2000), I tried to do some walking near my hotel.  It was cool and brisk and the darkness didn't help - in the end, I didn't reach my step goal.  That's OK, I'm having a good month already...  At 2100, I logged on to one of my entertainment websites and spent the rest of the evening watching movies.  I was awake until 2330 and then went to bed.  Strange to feel that I've "escaped" from the Winter - it seemed so powerful in Connecticut but so tame in Pennsylvania.  We'll see if that continues as I make my way west...

Nomad Life - Day 172

Steve had been very worried about potential loss of power, due to the predicted "wet" snow overnight.  He assured me that he had a generator but I kept wondering whether I'd get to experience an old time power outage in New England like when I was a kid.  When I woke up at 0600 (with alarm), there was already LOTS of snow on my car (probably over a foot).  The power was still good so I started teleworking immediately.  I stayed at it for the whole morning, with only a short break for breakfast (bagel) at Kelly & Steve's home.  Meanwhile, it continued snowing and temps stayed near freezing - added to that, there was lots of wind.  Despite the rather scary conditions, I must admit that I enjoyed pretty views that I got from the window in Kelly's dining room - there were LOTS of birds!  My work day continued, with meetings through the early afternoon.  After that, I took a break to eat a late lunch (turkey sandwich).  Along the way, I could hear Kelly watching news stories about power outages everywhere.  It sounded like it was even worse in Providence and on Cape Cod so I contacted my dad to see how he was doing (power was out and he had over 24 inches of snow).  It occurred to me that I'd really dodged a bullet by having the Installation trip last week rather than this one!  Back to the present, though, I was finished working at 1530.  I'd thought that Steve would want some help with shoveling the driveway but he kept delaying the task, hoping the snow would stop completely.  While waiting, I went upstairs to the guest bedroom and did some reading.  Somehow, I ended up falling asleep!  At 1645, I heard Steve outside with his snow blower and I hurried outside to assist in removing about two feet of new snow.  Unlike most of the snow I encountered in New Hampshire, this stuff shoveled like cheesecake.  It was interesting to see how deeply my car was covered (I got lots of photos).  In the end, it took a LOT of work to get Nessie dislodged from the giant snow bank.  I worked with Steve to clear the driveway for his/Kelly's cars and, eventually, I was able to get mine out to the main street.  At Steve's request, I drove down to the cul-de-sac to further clean the car and was there for nearly 20 minutes - whew!  Meanwhile, Steve finished clearing the driveway.  When I returned, he asked if I'd clean the walkway and front step and I happily obliged.  During this project, I noticed that there might actually have been 36 inches of snow (some from previous storms).  While we were working, it got dark but we continued shoveling by street/driveway light.  Steve also had time to generously assist his neighbors (including letting one borrow the snow blower).  We were finished outside at around 1800 - or, at least, I thought we were.  Steve insisted on clearing the patio in the back of the house while I got warm in the house.  For a little while, I relaxed, watching news and doing some reading.  Before long, Kelly started making dinner (chicken with veggies, rice) and Steve and I joined her at the table at 1930.  As usual, the food was good and we had some nice conversation.  We wrapped up our meal at 2030 and, after I got changed, I went downstairs to complete my 10K step goal for the day (treadmill).  I was finished at 2145 and returned to the main floor to find that Kelly and Steve had already retired for the night.  After getting back up to the guest room, I did some reading until I felt ready for bed (2300).  What a day - it's been a long time since I was "snowed in" but it was great to be surrounded by my friends!

Nomad Life - Day 171

With a huge winter storm inbound and important Winter Olympics coverage on the docket, I had planned to get up early to maximize my outdoor time.  However, I again slept later and wasn't awake until 0715.  Fortunately, I had just enough time to get ready for Mass at a nearby Parish and left Kelly & Steve's house at 0745.  Outside, it was 31 F and overcast, with a light snow falling.  I only had to drive about 1.5 miles (it would have been quicker to walk across Buckingham Park (behind Kelly's neighborhood) to St. Dunstan's Catholic Church.  Mass began at 0800 and, after so many interesting and unusual services that I've seen as part of my Nomad Life, it was kind of bland.  When it was over (0845), I returned to Kelly & Steve's to find them already watching the Olympic Gold Medal Game between the USA and Canada.  The first period had just ended and the USA was leading 1-0.  While the second period was going on, we ate breakfast (Taylor Ham, bagels and cheese sandwich, with a side of hash brown casserole).  All the food was very good and we topped it off with Mimosas.  Megan came by at one point and watched the game with us and was on hand to see Canada tie up the game.  Everyone was feeling a bit apprehensive by that point but the tension was broken when Megan left to get her sister (Maura) at the airport.  The third period ended with the game still tied and I went into the other room to get some work done on my computer.  About five minutes later, Kelly and Steve started cheering loudly - the USA had won the Olympic Gold medal in Overtime!  From that point, the "hockey household" celebrated wildly and there was additional excitement when Megan and Maura returned. From now on, the names of Jack Hughes ("Golden Goal") and Connor Hellebuyck (goalie) will be on most Americans' lips... Apart from hockey, I had time (just before noon) to get some Duolingo exercises completed and read a bit.  In the early afternoon, I also worked more on the 2026 Nashville Thanksgiving Plan (got help from Mollie along the way).  With all this, I got distracted and almost missed my chance to do anything outside!  At about 1500, I started to realize this might be my only chance to get in some skiing while in Connecticut because of the huge storm.  Wrapping up my personal business, I got changed and departed Kelly & Steve's to the north (using CT-83) at 1600.  I stopped for a gas fillup at Gulf in Manchester (1620) and then headed back south (towards Glastonbury) to park at the Manchester Country Club.  Starting at 1625, I took Steve's advice and skied around on the fairways.  It was not very easy due to a combination of deep (unpacked) snow, ice in places and a lack of broken trails.  The cold was a bit of an issue in the beginning but my blood warmed up with the workout and I was feeling fine by the time I got done (1725).  All told, I logged about two miles in one hour.  Not my best ski (even this season) but I'm glad I didn't miss my chance.  Back at Kelly & Steve's (arrived at 1735), I cleaned up and checked caught up on eBird and my blog.  Meanwhile, Steve started making dinner.  At 1830, I joined my friends and we ate a delicious dinner of chicken ranch tacos and rice.  The conversation and food were good and we stayed at the table until 1930.  After that, I went downstairs to use the treadmill so I could reach my step goals for the day.  This effort required less than two miles of walking and I was done by 2045.  Afterwards, I spent time visiting with Kelly and Steve in their living room - we watched lots of Olympic news (Closing Ceremonies) and ominous weather reporting.  I retired at around 2145 and spent some time reading before bedtime (2230).  Very glad to have gotten out on my skis today - bring on the Big Storm!