Nomad Life - Day 224

For the first time in a week, I slept a bit better last night and woke up feeling in the guest room at Erin and Austin's (Virginia Beach) feeling a bit more like myself.  Even though the cold was dissipating, though, I was still feeling very fatigued.  I finally decided to wake up at 0700 and spent time reading, doing puzzles and completing Duolingo exercises.  Up to that point, I'd debated whether to attend church or not and I only decided at about 0800.  After rushing through getting ready, I left Erin's home at 0820 and drove to St. Nicholas Catholic Church so I could attend Mass.  It was another beautiful day (sunny, clear and temps in the 60s F).  When I arrived, I had trouble finding a place to park.  As a result, I got inside the church a bit late (0835) and then had trouble finding a place to sit.  The music was very pretty, there were lots of young families and the priest was very personable.  During his opening remarks, he mentioned that he'd been at the Parish for 15 years (he arrived just after our family departed Virginia Beach in 2008).  The Homily was rather long for Holy Trinity Sunday but I made it through to the end of the service (0930).  Afterwards, I went in search of breakfast and ended up stopping at Parlor Doughnuts (0940).  They had a good selection but it took a while for them to make my breakfast sandwich and breakfast tacos - fortunately, the donuts were already hot and ready.  At 1000, I was finally able to collect the food and return to Erin's house.  Upon arrival, my daughter joined me for the meal and commented on how much she liked the food (she also commented that she was surprised I'd stopped at Parlor Doughnuts).  For the next few hours, I worked on my travel blog - I was still trying to catch up but seemed like a losing battle.  There was time after that to relax and have more rousing conversations (family stuff and politics) with Erin - I think we both enjoy those.  During the course of the day, we took a few short walks with Kiki.  For some reason (forgetfulness?), I really didn't eat lunch (just some fruit).  Meanwhile, Erin went to do some errands and stopped for a visit with her friend, Elizabeth, who'd just returned from her Honeymoon.  All the resting and slow paced activities must have paid off because, thankfully, my cold was almost gone by the late afternoon.  This made it possible for me to follow up on Erin's suggestion that we attend a graduation party for some young men in the neighborhood.  With this goal in mind, we walked a short distance, gifts in hand, to congratulate two of her young neighbors (Matthew finished high School and James finished College) and join the celebration.  The party was great and we ended up eating some dinner, having some drinks, enjoying some cake and talking with all the attendees.  I'd met a few of Erin and Austin's neighbors but there were a lot more that had lots of questions about me - I did my best to answer and they all were very friendly and welcoming.  One of the highlights of the evening was when James told me about his new job.  He'd submitted over 200 applications but only got asked to interview for two companies.  The fact that he was hired before his graduation day was so impressive!  His ability to get a job right out of college (something that most Gen Z young men have not mastered) was amazing.  I wish him well and told him how impressed I was (I also congratulated his parents for how they'd raised such an amazing example of determination, persistence and grit).  At one point, Erin went to get Kiki and it was fun to watch her playing with the other dogs who were at the event.  Eventually (1800), Erin told me she was ready to leave and we said our goodbyes before taking Kiki on a longer walk than we had earlier in the day (still, I hadn't even reached half of my step goal).  Back at Erin's house again, we relaxed on her couch and talked some more about current events.  By then, she'd learned that Austin wouldn't return from his Pokémon Convention well after bedtime.  I thought that would mean that she'd want to watch a movie but, instead, she turned on some episodes of "The Middle" (TV show).  We'd also watched some of the same series back when I was visiting in April.  These 30 minute shows went on, one by one, until 2130.  They are very entertaining so I was happy to oblige Erin's binge-watching.  When my daughter (abruptly ?) turned off the TV, I went outside for more walking (to reach two miles for the day).  Back inside again, I spent time playing "fetch" with Kiki (she really liked that).  By 2215, I said goodnight to Erin and headed for the guest room to get ready for bed.  I had a little time for reading before I went to sleep (2230).  I didn't hear it, but Austin got home during that same timeframe.  This has been such a great visit with Erin - too bad it can't continue indefinitely!

Nomad Life - Day 223

After a restless sleep in Erin and Austin's guest room (Virginia Beach), I woke up at 0500.  Sadly, the cold was so bad by this point that I didn't feel like I'd slept at all.  Somehow, I managed to go back to sleep until 0800.  Fortunately, I felt better by then.  After that (since Erin was still asleep), I did some reading, worked on puzzles and completed Duolingo exercises.  Once I'd gone out to the Living Room, I spent time working on my blog - still felt like I was falling significantly behind... I also ate some breakfast (an egg and hash brown casserole that Erin had made).  Despite my best efforts, my whole morning was negatively affected the pernicious cold.  When Erin finally woke up (0930), she gave me some ibuprofen so that I might get better quickly.  With my condition and desire to go outside uncertain, the morning went rather slowly.  Thinking about it later, though, I realized that I probably needed the respite.  Just before noon, I started to feel better (ibuprofen?) and suggested to Erin that we might be able to take a drive.  She and Kiki happily agreed and we all departed from her house to visit First Landing State Page.  We arrived at the main entrance by 1230 and, after we passed through the gate, stopped at the Visitor Center so Erin could buy an annual Virginia State Parks Pass.  While I was waiting outside with Kiki, I truly appreciated how nice the weather was: sunny and warm (70s) and there was a light ocean breeze.  Once Erin had her pass (1255), I suggested that we order some lunch from the snack bar and Erin agreed.  We ended up getting a cheeseburger (for me), a chicken sandwich (for Erin) and some fries to share and then enjoyed our meal outside at a covered picnic table.  Done with our food, we went walking on the nearby beach.  There was a nice boardwalk available by which to reach it but, when we arrived, it seemed too crowded.  It was also extremely windy there (Erin said she'd never seen it like that) and there were windsurfers who were really getting a lot of air.  Most of the tents & umbrellas of the nearby bathers were barely staying in place.  Despite the conditions, we were treated to wonderful views of the Chesapeake Bay (it was covered with whitecaps).  Erin asked if we could go back into a more sheltered area and I agreed.  When I suggested that we could walk on the Cape Charles (Bike) Trail, Erin countered with a request to explore the campground for the State Park.  This was fine with me (and Kiki, with her short legs, probably approved too).   One unexpected bonus of Erin's choice was that there were lots of birding opportunities.  Deep among the campsites (almost all occupied), we found another boardwalk and were able to get much closer to the water.  Unlike at the other access point, it wasn't busy there.  Kiki enjoyed walking in the sand but seemed to be afraid of the ocean waves.  Returning to the campground access road, we walked further east until we found a Yurt.  Since it didn't appear to be occupied, we sat on the deck there and enjoyed the sheltered atmosphere. Beyond that restful experience, we returned to the car (by then, we'd logged about 1.5 miles of walking).  I was ready to continue exploring but Erin told me she wanted to get some ice cream.  We ended up stopping at the nearby Blue Cow (1430) and we enjoyed cups of their delicious selections (Erin treated).  Kiki was a big hit with the kids there.  Next, we drove back into the State Park but, this time, followed US-60 all the way around to 64th Street.  Erin told me she really wanted to visit a part of the park there called "The Narrows" and this turned out to be a wonderful idea!  Once we found an open place to park, we were treated to lots of good views of the waterway between Linkhorn Bay and Broad Bay.  While exploring the beach, boat ramp and a narrow trail area, we reached 2.5 miles of walking for the day.  Kiki was a real trooper!  Along the way, my daughter and I continued talking about her career plans, my recent trip to Europe and upcoming family events (e.g., Thanksgiving).  It's been really nice to hang out with Erin!  By 1530, Kiki seemed to have reached her walking limit for the day and we returned (via I-264) to Erin's house.  From 1600, we had several more hours to relax and talk - resting in Erin's living room was very nice!  Before dinner, we took Kiki for a walk in the neighborhood (I reached 3.5 miles for the day).  At 1900, we ate dinner (Erin cooked some gnocchi for us).  By then, I was starting to feel some fatigue due to the cold, the walk and the cough medicine that Erin had given me.  However, I didn't want to go to bed yet; instead, I suggested that we watch a movie.  At first, we had a hard time selecting one but then I noticed that "The Way" was available for streaming.  Since Erin had never seen this movie, I suggested we watch.  She reluctantly agreed but then really got into the story and the Camino de Santiago "life" - she even started asking me questions about my plans to hike it!  With all the annoying ads that were included in the broadcast, the movie went quite long.  As a result, it wasn't finished until about 2300.  I had just enough time to do some reading and Duolingo exercises before turning out the lights (2330).  Glad I was able to have such a fun day with Erin and Kiki - hopefully, the worst of the cold is behind me...

Nomad Life - Day 222

This morning, I woke up (unwillingly) at 0500.  I was already feeling worse (with the cold) than I had any previous day but I still started teleworking in Mollie and Alex's guest room (Fredericksburg).  My daughter was awake at 0800 (she and Alex didn't have to go to work early).  We talked about our plans to meet up the next day in Williamsburg so we could visit Busch Gardens before I departed from Virginia during the following week.  During this window, I took a short break to pack my bags and get ready - I also ate a light "breakfast" before resuming my work day.  There was also some time, along the way, to play with Maple.  t 1015, I started loading up my car.  By then, it was sunny and warm (70s) - nice!  Since Mollie and Alex were planning to depart for work soon (and I didn't want them to leave the door unlocked on my account), I only worked until 1050.  After saying goodbye to my daughter (she and Alex were getting into their car for the commute to work), I left Fredericksburg.  Initially, I drove south on I-95, I-295 and then headed east on I-64.  Fortunately, the traffic was not too bad - as a result, I made it to the Hampton Roads Bridge Tunnel without much trouble.  After that, though, the slow downs (mostly for accidents but also some construction) increased on the Norfolk side of the bridge.  Hoping to speed up my drive, I left the highway and went east in search of US-60.  However, Google Maps put me right back on the Interstate and into an actual traffic jam (from an accident).  Despite this, I still managed to get to Erin's house in Virginia Beach by 1320.  After greeting my daughter and Austin, I resumed teleworking.  Through the entire time since I'd left Fredericksburg and drove to Virginia Beach, I'd skipped lunch.  Somehow, though, I didn't really feel hungry - I guess I wasn't well enough to want something substantial)...  While I was still working Austin departed for a Pokémon Convention in Fredericksburg.  After saying goodbye to him (and playing for a short time with Kiki), I managed to telework until 1445.  By that point, I was exhausted but, with my hours completed, I felt justified in taking a nap.  I was hoping this "down time" would help relieve my growing headache and I did doze fitfully until about 1715.  It might be my imagination but I think I felt a little better when I emerged from the guest room.  After that, I visited some more with Erin - it was great to see her and learn about her recent graduation from Grad School!  During this time, I also checked out the Anheuser Busch website, hoping to reserve my free (Veterans Appreciation) tickets Busch Gardens.  Unfortunately, I learned that I'd already missed the deadline (back in early May) to complete the process. With this sad piece of news, I had to call Mollie to tell her that our planned visit in Williamsburg the following day was canceled.  Despite being sad, my daughter then offered to meet me in between her house and Erin's) to pass along some medications she'd just received.  As nice as this gesture was, I declined because I didn't really want to deal with the HRBT traffic again.  Erin was sad as well (even though she'd never committed to going with us) but we all decided to remember the wonderful times we'd had during the previous few years.  At 1830, I went walking with Erin and Kiki in their neighborhood.  It was breezy and cool (high 60s) and I enjoyed watching Kiki as she met up with other dogs and little kids.  When we reached Erin's, she ordered Chipotle and we ate dinner together after she'd returned from picking it up.  As usual (Erin and Austin usually get Chipotle for me at least once per visit), the food was good.  We continued catching up on family news (Grad School Graduation parties, her High School Reunion, etc.).  After we were done eating, I went out for my own walk so I could reach two miles of walking for the day.  I was successful in reaching this goal and felt a bit better about how I was working through the effects of the cold.  When I returned, Erin suggested that we watch and movie and eventually selected "And So it Goes" from her streaming services choices,  All I can say about it is "meh."  When the film was over, I headed into the guest room and (after some Duolingo) went to bed at 2300.  Looking forward to some time at the beach tomorrow!

Nomad Life - Day 221

As I feared, I've developed more of a cold...  When I woke up at 0630, I was still not feeling well (sniffles transitioning to full blown congestion).  Regardless, I started teleworking in Mollie's guest room (Fredericksburg).  One things was clear, though: I should not to go to volunteer at Mollie's school.  Even if this was the "smart" idea, it still made me sad.  I shared the news with Mollie when she woke up (0720).  At my request, she showed me how to use her SodaStream machine (to assist with my sore throat).  We also discussed details about the upcoming evening (more gaming by Alex and the chance for her and I to go to dinner).  Mollie also helpfully showed me where her box of medicines was, in case my cold didn't improve.  That was very nice of her!  Mollie and Alex departed for work at 0745 and I continued teleworking.  I took a short break for breakfast and then (much later) another break for lunch.  Ats 1240, I went walking with Maple - after a few wet days, the weather was very pleasant (sunny, 80s, breezy).  By 1300, I was back online and continued teleworking while Maple slept under the bed in the guest room.  I stayed online until my full work day was complete (1700) and then spent time catching up on my blog and reading.  Mollie and Alex got home from work at about 1730 and, with Maple happily occupied with her owners, I departed from the apartment to work out in the Apartment Complex Fitness Center.  Between 1740 and 1820, I rode their Stationary Bike (recumbent) and logged 8 miles (I also reached three miles on my pedometer).  After getting done, I returned to Mollie's - almost immediately, Mollie and I started discussing potential dinner plans.  At 1830, Alex went into his room and started gaming (he had more games for his tournament).  Meanwhile, Mollie and I left the apartment (she drove) so we could have dinner at a place called Park Lane, an English Style Pub.  We arrived there at 1845 and got started with some good appetizers (boneless wings and fries).  For my meal, I took advantage of the cheaper beer and lower priced entrees that were on special for Thursday night.  From among several good options, I chose a (rather large, as it turned out) pizza and a new beer I'd never tried before.  Mollie got Bangers & Mash and a "berry bramble" drink.  Before we were finished eating, we also ordered Alex some dinner (a burger) to go.  At 2000, we departed the restaurant and Mollie tried to do some errands nearby.  Unfortunately, we found that lots of the stores had just closed.  Somehow, Mollie's persistence helped her find some wine and other supplies at a store she'd never tried.  Back at the apartment (2015), Mollie and I played some more of "Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream".  By this point, I was quite interested in how the game worked and Mollie let me build some new terrain features, reorganize the map and experiment with the characters.  When we got bored, Mollie and I resumed watching the movie "Treasure" and enjoying some of the wine Mollie had bought.  We were nearly finished with the film when Alex wrapped up his gaming (2215).  After he joined us in the living room, Alex informed us that his team had lost the tournament.  I think Mollie was kind of relieved until Alex added that he had a chance to play in the consolation round the following week... For the next half hour, we all visited while wrapping up the film - Alex actually got into it too!  At 2245, I headed into the guest room and, after doing some Duolingo exercises, went to bed (2330).  Despite this cold, I'm having a good time with Mollie, Alex and Maple!

Nomad Life - Day 220

This morning, I woke up at 0550 (before my alarm) at Mollie and Alex's home in Fredericksburg and started teleworking immediately.  Unfortunately, I noticed that my throat was sore - hopefully, I'm not getting sick... At one point (around 0700), Mollie appeared in the kitchen and I asked her if I could go to the gym in her apartment complex had (she gave me her key fob and told me to let her know if it worked).  Meanwhile, it was raining steadily outside.  I guess my streak of being the "bringer of good weather" has ended... Mollie and Alex departed for work at 0750 and I took a short break for breakfast.  After that, my telework day got much busier, with lots of meetings, and I wasn't able to take another break (for lunch) until around 1230.  When I noticed that it had stopped raining, I took advantage of this fact and took Maple for a walk.  Along the way, I chipped away at my step goal for the day and had almost reached a mile when I finished this walk.  Even though the rain had let up, it was still overcast, wet and the temps were in the low 70s.  By 1300, I went back to teleworking.  Even though Maple normally lives in her crate during the day, I let her stay out in the living room in her little dog bed (and, when I wasn't looking, the couch).  My meetings continued for most of the afternoon.  As my colleagues started dropping offline (1600), I decided to try to squeeze in a workout at the gym - for the next 45 minutes, I rode the Stationary Bike (recumbent) and logged 9 mile.  With this exercise, I reached three miles on my pedometer.  At 1645, I got back online and wrapped up my telework day about 15 minutes later.  While waiting for Mollie and Alex to arrive, I did some Duolingo exercises and then read and worked puzzles.  A majority of my later afternoon activities included printing about one month of receipts and bills (whew!) - I used up an entire print cartridge before I finished.  At 1730, Mollie and Alex got home.  By that point, my throat had moved from feeling itchy to what appeared to be a full-on cold.  I kept thinking about how it was probably the kids at Brenna's school that passed this wonderful gift along to me...  Mollie made me a SodaStream drink that made me feel a bit better.  During this window, we chatted about the possibility of me volunteering at the Middle School Field Day the following morning.  Even though I wanted to help, it sounded like I'd either have to agree to work the whole day (and take a day off from work) or go very early (arrive at 0700) to help set up.  Neither of these ideas seemed good and there was almost no certainty that I'd even see Mollie for the entire day. I agreed to think about what I wanted to do.  Since Alex has a video game night planned, I returned to the guest room to wrap up all of my online work - by 1815, I'd moved out into the living room.  Soon after that, we all ate dinner together.  I forgot to mention that Mollie had been cooking something in her crock pot all day - it turned out to be a delicious venison stew that we ate with fresh baked French Bread.  At 1830, Alex went into the guest room and started gaming (he had a "playoffs" style tournament).  Meanwhile, Mollie and I played some more of "Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream".  Like the day before, we had fun (lots of laughs) watching the different characters evolving their lives in real time.  Even though I'd thought about going outside for some more steps, we ended up squandering the evening with the game.  Meanwhile, Alex's game night extended well into the evening.  As a result, I couldn't go to bed in the guest room when I wanted.  Worse, though, my throat was still feeling uncomfortable and sinus pain/blockage had begin.  As a result, I told Mollie I'd likely miss the Field Day volunteering the next day (she said she was OK with this).  When Mollie and I got tired of the Tomodachi game, we shifted to watching a movie called "Treasure" (with Lena Dunham), which told the story of a woman traveling with her father to learn more about their ancestral roots.  Surprising to both of us, it turned out to be rather good! Alex was finally done with his gaming at 2240.  Mollie stopped the movie at that point and I gratefully headed into the guest room to get ready for bed.  I did do a few Duolingo exercises but went to bed soon after completing those (2300).  Crossing my fingers I'm not in for a long illness - ugh...

Nomad Life - Day 219

After another night at Brenna's apartment in Harrisonburg, I woke up at 0615 and started teleworking immediately.  During one short break, I ate breakfast.  At 0800, Brenna came out of her room to say goodbye (she was heading to work) and we agreed to meet later at her school.  Beyond that time, I teleworked until 1015, when I completed packing up my belongings and departed Brenna's apartment.  On the way to her school, I stopped for gas at Walmart (1025).  Prices had increased by $0.10 overnight...  When I arrived at Brenna's school (1035), I checked in at the Main Office and headed to my daughter's classroom. The kids knew me (from my visit in April) and ran to give me hugs (much to Brenna's chagrin).  This was one of the last few days of school for the year and the mood was light and fun.  I got to help with some reading, assisted the kids in making clay pots, ate a tasty lunch from the Cafeteria and had fun during Recess.  Along the way, I got lots of high fives, fist bumps and hugs. At 1305, I wrapped up my wonderful (but short) visit and said goodbye to my daughter and the kids.  In the parking lot of the school, I teleworked for a little while (reached 4.3 hours for my work day) and then departed from Harrisonburg, enroute to Mollie's (1320).  I mainly used US-33, VA-20 and VA-3 to reach Fredericksburg.  During the drive, the weather was overcast with some light rain at times (temps in low 70s).  Actually, there was plenty of fog on the Shenandoah ridge but the rest of the route was just wet.  The best thing about the drive, though, was that I encountered very little traffic.  At 1520, I arrived at Mollie's apartment and took Maple for a walk (reached 1.5 miles for the day).  By 1530, I was teleworking again.  Mollie and Alex arrived home at 1715 and I took a break to greet them.  However, I then got back on my computer and worked until my full workday was finished (1845).  Afterwards, I turned off the digital mailbox in New Hampshire that I'd opened last July - it is no longer needed after the successful transition to my new one in South Dakota.  When I emerged from the guest room, Mollie gave me some of the mail I'd received at her house and also gave me a Birthday / Father's Day gift (the carved wooden S-3B Viking plaque she'd told me about the day before).  We speculated about who had made it and Mollie even contacted an artist in San Diego who appeared to make similar products (he replied that it wasn't one of his).  At around this time, Mollie started playing her Nintendo Switch game, "Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream", which included simulations of nearly everyone in our family (and several of her friends) living in a virtual world.  This game was a funny diversion.  It was finally dinner time at 1930 and we had some of Mollie's homemade Italian Wedding Soup - it was very good!  When the meal was over, we started watching the movie, "Nuremburg", a very serious and thought provoking film.  Alex fell asleep in the middle but Mollie and I watched until the end.  At 2130, I went walking outside (to reach 2 miles for the day).  By then, conditions were muggy but it wasn't rainy.  Back in the guest room, I spent some time reading before heading to bed (2230).  Excited to spend time with Mollie!

Nomad Life - Day 218

When I woke up this morning at 0630, I was pleased to find that I was well rested after a night on Brenna's couch in Harrisonburg.  Before really getting my day going, I read, did puzzles & Duolingo exercises and generally relaxed for almost two hours.  Eventually, I ate a light breakfast and waited for Brenna to emerge from her room.  This took longer than I'd expected so I started getting ready, organizing and cleaning.  When my daughter finally appeared (1020), she didn't seem in a hurry to go anywhere.  When I pressed her on our plans for the day, she asked if we could wait to depart until Jesse was able to join us.  I agreed to this request and returned to reading and relaxing.  At around noon, I ate some more food (a light "lunch").  In anticipation of her boyfriend's arrival, Brenna started cleaning madly... In the end, Jesse didn't arrive until 1300 and, about 15 minutes later, we finally departed.  Brenna had earlier suggested that drive to the Rockingham County Fairgrounds so we could attend the 11th Annual Memorial Day Community Celebration (sponsored by Wingfield Ministries) and I replied that it seemed like a good idea.  Outside, the sky was very overcast and temps were in the 70s - it definitely looked like a storm was coming.  The family-friendly event, which definitely had a religious flavor, was free and this explained the large number of attendees from Brenna's church (e.g., we met up with Pastor Wes).  During the few hours we were at the event we ambled around, looking at displays, checking out food trucks, etc.  Fortunately, some events were indoors, which provided a bit of insurance for fun if the weather turned nasty.  Brenna and Jesse directed me to Strite's Donuts (their "favorite donut truck") and I found that they were offering one free to Veterans (score!).  During our wanderings, we also met up with some of Brenna's former students from her school - that was fun for me to watch (they love her).  Later, we checked out some old cars that had set up in a field near the main attractions.  The wide range of 1950s to 1990s cars was kind of humorous...  Overall, I liked how there was so much in the way of Veterans appreciation (displays, signs, etc.).  Brenna kept remarking on how much she enjoyed the signs about Jesus and the many prayer opportunities.  I agreed that the event was very wholesome and would provide a positive environment for families.  Later, we again saw Pastor Wes and, this time, we found him with Pastor James.  I visited with them for a bit while Brenna chatted with several more of her students.  Eventually, Brenna got hungry and we got some lunch (she got BBQ and I got a hot dog) from a food truck.  While we were eating in the covered picnic table area, it started to rain A LOT.  Even after our meal was completed, we stalled in the area, hoping the weather would improve.  When it didn't, we managed to quickly walk across the soggy Fairground and get inside another tent.  This venue turned out to have more games and entertainment than the others we'd seen.  Along the way, we played a "dart game" with soccer balls, listened to some country music being performed (live) and sampled honey& maple syrup (met the proprietors).  We waited out the rain until about 1545 and then decided that we should depart.  By then, I'd reached one mile of walking.  Brenna ran to her car and got it started - Jesse and I joined her shortly afterwards.  After leaving the Fairgrounds, Brenna drove us into Harrisonburg so she could pick up some items from Lowe's.  She told me she needed some supplies (lightbulbs, cleaning tools, stand for a hummingbird feeder) and we all wandered through the (nice & dry) store while also checking out flowers, household decorations and several knickknacks that none of us needed.  With Brenna's supplies procured (1630), we drove back to her apartment to set up her hummingbird feeder.  Once that task was completed, there was time to rest for a while - at one point, I looked up from my book to find Jesse and Brenna reading too.  It eventually came time to decide what to eat and we started looking around in Brenna's refrigerator and freezer.  By 1730, we'd all agreed that the best idea for food was for us to go to a restaurant.  That led to a discussion about "the best options."  Hoping to break the tie, I searched online for a nearby brewery and found one that Brenna and Jesse seemed to like.  At 1745, we departed for the Pale Fire Brewing Company (in Downtown Harrisonburg) - upon arrival (1800), we ordered pizza and I got a flight of beer.  The food was good and we had a nice conversation.  The ambiance was nice and we didn't hurry through the meal.  After dinner ended (1930), Brenna, Jesse and I started a walk in Downtown Harrisonburg.  During this time, we were partly following the route for one of Brenna's recent Road Races.  Along the way, we learned about Blacks Run (a creek that runs through the city) and some military history of the area.  While marveling at a new monument to Vietnam Veterans from Rockingham County who'd died in service to their country (near the Courthouse), I found an error (ENC Simmers was listed as ENS Simmers).  I wonder if anyone else will ever realize the mistake...  While walking, we saw lots of interesting street art, including a huge "LOVE" sign (I took Brenna and Jesse's photo there).  We also encountered some interesting domesticated Mallard ducks (black with white patch on neck).   By 2030, we finished our walk (2.5 miles) and headed back towards Brenna's apartment.  Suddenly, both Brenna and Jesse got a craving for ice cream - the resulting detour to McDonalds for McFlurries was a surprise to me (especially with all the other options I've seen in the 10 years since Brenna came to live in Harrisonburg).  The resulting purchase led to a funny discussion about the ice cream maker urban legend.  Back in Brenna's apartment again, we played a Nintendo Swatch game called "Overcooked", which required us to find food, prepare it and assemble orders.  What a fiasco!  In my defense, I had no idea how to play it and this was obviously the reason my performance inspired a tremendous amount of laughter.  Eventually, I (sort of) got the hang of the controls and my daughter gave me her tentative "thumbs up".  When the playing wound down (2145), I took a short walk (0.5 miles) in the parking lot while Jesse and Brenna said goodbye to each other.  At 2215, Jesse said goodbye and departed.  This allowed me to set up on Brenna's couch again and do some Duolingo exercises.  Meanwhile, Brenna headed to bed and I watched movies by myself.  I didn't end up going to bed until 2330.  What a nice day with my daughter in "Rock Town"!

Nomad Life - Day 217

Fortunately, I had a very restful sleep and woke up (no alarm required) at 0630.  I spent a little time reading, doing puzzles and working on Duolingo before eating breakfast at Brenna's apartment.  After getting ready, I left Brenna's (0740) and drove to Downtown Harrisonburg so I could attend Mass at Blessed Sacrament Parish.  When I arrived (0755), I couldn't find parking (there were now passive aggressive signs in a closed business across the street).  After driving around for a bit, I ended up parking blocks away.  The day was overcast, cool (high 50s) and a bit breezy.  I finally got inside the church a few minutes after they started (0805).  Even though I'd been at this parish before, I had forgotten that it was a VERY High Mass.  Added to the normal pageantry, it was the Day of Pentecost.  There was lots of singing, extended length prayers and incense.  One interesting experience was then some parishioners led the Prayers of the Faithful in several languages, including ASL.  I left the service at 0900 and drove back to Brenna's - I had a nice call with Mollie on the way.  When I came into the apartment, I discovered that Brenna was not awake yet.  With the extra time, I did some bag repacking and car reorganizing.  I also had a chance for some more blogging and eBird while waiting on Brenna to be ready for her own church service.  After I got to witness Brenna in one of her whirlwind preparations for leaving, we departed (1020) for a short drive to Horizon Christian Fellowship and arrived just in time for the 1030 service.  I don't think there could have been two more distinct church experiences (Blesses Sacrament versus Horizon) but it was clear that everyone involved at both places was a very faithful and enthusiastic Christian.  The young people at Horizon led most of the worship (announcements, music, prayers) and then there was a long sermon by Pastor James.  All told, we were there for about 90 minutes and there wasn't one slow moment.  On the way out of the door, Brenna introduced me to Pastor Wes and then we headed back to her apartment so we could have lunch.  We also talked a lot about our outdoor exercises options.  I'd hoped to go to Shenandoah National Park but a rescheduled Young Adult Group meeting at Brenna's church gave me pause.  In the end, we decided to walk on the nearby Friendly City Trail.  After Brenna accidentally drove us to Hillandale Park again (where we last walked on the trail in April), she repositioned us to Bluestone Elementary School (1335).  From there, we walked through Hillandale Park and then continued on to Thomas Harrison Middle School.  The weather was agreeable (70 F - overcast) and I liked the "golf ball dome" that protected bikers and walkers on the trail section within the Heritage Oaks Golf Course).  By the time we were finished (1500), we'd completed the entire (4.4 mile) walkway and I'd reached my 10K step goal for the day (3.9 miles was on the Friendly City Trail).  We then returned to Brenna's and she spent the rest of the afternoon resting and relaxing in her room.  Meanwhile, I read and watched YouTube videos.  I'd thought my daughter would be heading out a Young Adult Group meeting at 1700 but she didn't actually depart until 1820.  For the next few hours, I continued resting, reading, watching movies, blogging, etc.  During this time, I made dinner for myself and also did some chores for Brenna.  My daughter finally returned home at 2100 and we got to visit for a short time before she went to bed (2130).  For the rest of the evening, I watched movies - bedtime (on Brenna's living room couch) was at 2230.  Even with the unpredictable weather, this is turning out to be a good visit to the Shenandoah Valley!

Nomad Life - Day 216

Woke up on Brenna's couch (in Harrisonburg) at 0615 this morning and got some breakfast.  Outside, it was rainy and temps were in the 50s.  Brenna herself didn't stir until 0900 and then took several hours to feel ready to go.  Meanwhile, I read and did puzzles and Duolingo exercises - I also worked on my travel blog and added eBird entries.  By 1130, I began to think we would never leave and started making lunch.  Finally, at 1245, we departed and drove to the Shenandoah Heritage Market.  Brenna had raved about the place, which was full of "country" stores.  When we arrived, we wandered through the huge building, checking out all the businesses inside.  I was surprised to find they had lots of Confederate gear.  There were also places that sold horse stuff, antiques, dishware, art, clothing, fabric, knickknacks, etc.  It was an interesting place!  Before departing we got some candy from Grandma's Pantry.  During checkout, we talked to the Grandma of "Grandma" (funny).  By 1400, we were back at Brenna's car.  Sadly, it was still raining and this precluded going to any outdoor venues for walking/steps.  Brenna suggested that we check out another, similar, place and drove me to the town of Dayton.  Once there, we parked at The Dayton Market, which was like the earlier place but smaller.  Our first stop inside was at The Cheese Place (they had less cheese than I supposed).  Wandering through the rest of the facility, I discovered that they also had stores for art, furniture, and food.  Along the way, we met a nice lady and her daughter - they were the owners of the North River Loft (clothing store).  During our conversation, we talked about farming, 4H & FFA and school districts.  Eventually, Brenna bought some clothes from them.  Before leaving, we checked out another part of the store (my idea) and stumbled across some distinctive artwork (used as decoration for special plates and dishes) from Nora Fleming - Brenna got very excited to see one item that was apparently only sold in stores (not online).  She managed to reach Erin, who collects these knickknacks, and ended up buying a special one for her sister.  Next, we drove north again to Harrisonburg and stopped at the Sentara RMH Wellness Center (Brenna's gym).  After we arrived (1555), I got a day pass and we spent the next few hours working out on the equipment.  First, I did 20 laps on indoor track (2 miles, 40 minutes) - Brenna walked with me for a little while.  Then, I did some biking on a Spinning Machine (15 minutes, 3 miles).  Finally, I did some lap swimming in the pool (48 lengths in 45 minutes, 48 lengths).  Meanwhile, Brenna was running on a treadmill nearby.  Unfortunately, due to the gym's weekend hours, I felt rushed throughout and don't really feel confident in my times/etc.  Finished with our workouts, we met up in the lobby again (1800) and drove a short distance to El Charro (our favorite restaurant in Harrisonburg).  Our dinner was great (as usual) and we capped it off with some sopapillas.  Brenna even had some healthy (veggies) leftover and I suggested we use them for s subsequent dinner.  After finishing our meal (1900), we drove back to Brenna's.  I'd thought we might watch a movie but Brenna asked if she could have some time to rest in her room.  She stayed in there until 2000 and then we watched "Lost in Love", a movie about two people getting lost in Turkey with no money or phones.  Brenna liked the film (which ended by 2200) but then pleaded "tired" and went to bed.  After she was gone, I spent time watching another movie, eventually heading to bed (her living room couch) at 2345.  Even though it was a rainy day, I very much enjoyed spending quality time with Brenna!

Nomad Life - Day 215

I actually slept all the way until 0630 this morning!  That was later than I'd hoped (because I'd wanted to get an early start on work) but it felt good to get so much rest. I started teleworking immediately but also took a short break to talk with David and Kim as they each departed for their own work days (at 0730 and 1000, respectively).  Along the way, I also grabbed some breakfast from their kitchen (in Falls Church).  It was raining and miserable outside, so I didn't mind working.  As the noon hour approached, I took another break to pack up the last few bags in my car and then ate some lunch (still at Kim and David's).  At 1200, I took a long break from my telework day and departed Falls Church.  At that point, temps were in the 60s and it was still raining.  Hoping to beat everyone out of town before the long weekend, I drove from NoVA (via I-66 and I-81) to Harrisonburg.  On the way, I had a nice conversation (by phone) Kerith.  Despite some annoying traffic, construction and the general dreariness of the day, I managed to arrive at Brenna's by 1415.  In Harrisonburg, it was still 60ish and raining.  As soon as I was in Brenna's apartment, I resumed teleworking and stayed online until Brenna arrived home from work (1700).  Fortunately, I'd logged enough time online to call it a work week and was able visit with her immediately.  Since Brenna had just done some shopping, there was plenty of food in the apartment and we ended up eating dinner (pre-cooked rotisserie chicken) about 20 minutes after my daughter got home.  We also had some great conversation during the next few hours after our busy Springs.  At 1930. we started watching a movie, "Project Hail Mary", and Brenna ended up really liking it.  Afterwards (2145), I went walking in the neighborhood since I really hadn't gotten any steps all day.  I was lucky that it had stopped raining but the ground and air were very damp.  Even more amazing, though, was that temps were in the 50s.  Somehow, I managed to walk about two miles (still not making my step goal each day...) before I was finished (2245).  Brenna had already retired to her room by then but I was able to say goodnight to her as I entered the apartment.  Before heading to bed (on the couch), I read and did some Duolingo exercises before heading to bed (2330).  Very excited to have time to spend with Brenna!

Nomad Life - Day 214

I'm starting to think I've recovered from my many time zone changes...  This morning, I was awake by 0515 and did some reading, puzzles and Duolingo.  After starting my telework day at 0545 and working for a few hours, I took a break for breakfast at Kim & David's (Falls Church).  After that (0800), I went walking near the condo.  This time, I checked out the schools, churches (and a synagogue) and some pretty neighborhoods in the vicinity of Haycock Longfellow Park.  It was overcast and cooler (high 60s) and there were opportunities for lots of birding.  Fortunately, the rain held off and I was able to walk more than three miles before I was done.  I was back online for work by 0915.  A short time later, I was triple scheduled with meetings ("Welcome Back!").  At 1300, I took another break for lunch at Kim and David's and then resumed teleworking.  My work day ended for good at 1630 and I spent time blogging and catching up on finances.  During the same timeframe, I continued making plans with my daughters for the coming weeks.  A1700, I departed from Falls Church and drove (via VA-7 and I-495) to Springfield so I could meet my cousin, Tim. at Kilroy's Pub.  On the way, I encountered HORRIBLE traffic.  It was also lightly raining, with temps still in the 60s.  When I arrived at the pub (1730), I looked around for a little while before choosing a booth in the back of the establishment.  Tim arrived shortly afterwards.  It had been a while since I'd seen my cousin so it was a nice to catch up.  During our great conversations, I tried a few local beers and ate some fish tacos for dinner.  Out visit was over by 1930 - hope it isn't so long before we can get together again...  When I reached the car, I found that two of my tires were recording "low" (dang TPMS) so I went off in search of free air from a nearby service station.  Fortunately, Google Maps recommended a Sunoco station in Falls Church - I had to drive east (from I-495) on US-50 (and, later, some back roads) until I could enter the parking lot from "the back" (the main entrance was located on Leesburg Pike, VA-7).  With a steady rain falling, I managed to properly inflate all of the tires.  Feeling better about my upcoming trip to Harrisonburg, I returned to Kim and David's home (arrived at 2015).  Upon arrival, I spent time visiting with both of my friends.  I thanked them profusely (again) for hosting me and caring for my car while I was away.  They seemed genuinely happy that I'd spent time with them and been able to recharge after my vacation.  At 2100, I said goodnight to them and went to the guest room.  For the rest of the evening, I read and watched YouTube videos. Meanwhile, it was raining steadily outside...  At 2300, I was ready to fall asleep - definitely a sign I'm completely in the Eastern Time Zone.  My Nomad Life gets back on the road tomorrow! 

Nomad Life - Day 213

Frustratingly, I was only able to sleep until 0400 this morning.  Even though I was able to doze off/on for the next two hours, I still began teleworking by 0600.  Despite the sleep disruptions, I still was feeling well rested somehow.  At 0745, I took a short break to eat breakfast (still at David and Kim's house in Falls Church) but soon resumed working online.  After a series of meetings (1200), I took another break for lunch before resuming my telework.  By 1630, I finished my work day, feeling quite productive.  Meanwhile, it was looking very overcast outside and seemed like it would only be a short time before it started raining.  Not wanting to repeat the developing habit of the last few days, where I didn't get even close to completing my desired step goal, I decided to take advantage of whatever time remained before the rain arrived.  In the end I was only able to get a mile of walking in the 94 F temps before the downpour began.  Back in the house again (1710), I made myself some dinner and waited out the weather.  There was time for some reading, puzzles and Duolingo but I was antsy to get more exercise.  Finally (1845), it seemed like the worst of the precipitation had ended and I ventured outside again.  By then, it was still overcast but much cooler.  Even though I didn't leave the immediate neighborhood, I managed to walk another two miles.  Getting to three miles for the day wasn't exactly where I wanted to stop but I still felt better than I had during the two previous days.  At 1930, I was back inside Kim and David's condo and was able to visit with them while they were cooking their own dinner.  It was fun to catch up on the things they'd been doing while I was away and I had another chance to thank them for being such great "pit crew" members in support of life on the road.  They also told me about a cruise they were planning during the upcoming summer - it was going to take them through parts of New England, the Canadian Maritimes and the St. Lawrence River.  It sounds like a fun time!  I thought we'd have more time to visit but then Kim told me they planned to visit their other condo in Mclean to do some cleaning.  So, at 2030, we said goodnight and they departed.  For the rest of the evening, I did some more reading and watched movies.  I was also able to catch up with Mollie during a nice phone call.  We made plans for my upcoming visit to Fredericksburg and possible Busch Gardens day. When 2215 arrived, I was ready for bed again.  Another productive day of assimilating back into my Nomad Life!

Nomad Life - Day 212

This morning, I had trouble sleeping past 0500 so spent time reading, doing Duolingo exercises and working on puzzles.  At 0600, I started teleworking and spent most of the morning continuing my catch up on tasks I'd missed over the last month.  I took one break for breakfast at Kim & David's house (in Falls Church) and then worked until about 1315.  At that point, I took another short break for lunch before resuming my work.  Following a series of meetings and document reviews, I wrapped up my online tasks at 1615.  With the work day completed, I repacked some of my bags and reorganized my car.  Surprisingly, I started feeling pretty good about the place where I was.  At around the same time, my daughters finally confirmed their intentions regarding my visits before June 1.  Kim was still around at that point so I was able to request that I stay with her and David until Friday morning (she was OK with that).  By 1645, I thought that it seemed like a good idea to go outside for a walk in the neighborhood.  It was a muggy day, with temps in the low 90s and skies partly sunny.  However, there were ominous clouds in the distance and the air seemed wet with moisture.  There were some interesting birds nearby and I thought I might reach my step goal for the day.  Sadly, though, I only managed to get about two miles of walking in before it started raining.  Back in the guest room, I did some more organizing, took care of some finances and did some laundry.  After that, I visited with Kim (initially) and David (later), eating some dinner with them.  With my stay through Friday confirmed, I made some other plans with friends and family for getting together later in the month.  At about 2030, I started feeling tired and asked my friends that they excuse my early retirement for the evening (they were fine with this).  In the guest room, I did some reading, Duolingo and puzzles and then spent the rest of the evening watching movies and YouTube videos.  I had to struggle to stay awake as the evening wore on and it took a lot of effort for me to reach bedtime (2215).  I'm starting to feel like I'm in the "correct" time-zone but residual effects of the seven hour time change since Saturday are still noticeable.  Hoping that I'll feel "normal" again by the upcoming long weekend...

Nomad Life - Day 211

After a month of traveling, it was very strange to have to get up for work.  Since my time-zone was still not reset, I work up a few times during the night before finally getting out of bed (at Kim and David's home in Falls Church) at 0530.  Immediately, I started teleworking.  Since I had hundreds of emails, documents to review and several important meetings to prepare for during the coming day trying to catch up on everything.  At 0900, I ate breakfast and then returned to teleworking.  David had left home very early but Kim was in/out throughout the day (we chatted briefly several times).  Along the way, I had a work meeting which, although it was one I've had on my calendar for years, had a new format, different content and several new attendees (including one from my own company).  I took another break (at 1330) for lunch (leftovers from last night's dinner) and eventually wrapped up my work day at 1600.  After that, I took care of finances (catching up on all the expenses from the trip and ongoing bills), sorted through some of my luggage to get a better feel for repacking and updated my physical activities records (Prouty Goals).  With very little to eat in the house (and Kim and David coming and going), I departed at 1800 to get some dinner.  Kim suggested I pick up a sandwich for David and I did this (along with a wrap of my own) at Santini's New York Style Deli in McLean (1815).  Next, I went across the street to the Giant Supermarket and picked up beer and chips (1830).  Armed with all this food, I made my way back to Kim and David's home.  Along the way, I realized again just how different everything is back at home from what I'd been seeing for a month away.  Right now, I'll admit that I'm not a fan of lots of the human behavior I'm witnessing.  This goes for email and text communications too - several folks are giving me long pauses between responses and it makes things difficult for planning the resumption of my Nomad Life...  Oh well - I need to remember to ride the high of my recent vacation to sustain me through these minor frustrations...  After I sat down in Kim and David's kitchen, I began enjoying the food I'd bought while Kim conducted a music lesson (via Zoom) in the other room.  David returned shortly after 1900 and I ended up eating and talking with him.  Since I still hadn't gotten a green light from my daughters about their schedules, I extended my stay (with their blessing) at Kim and David's until later in the week.  They have been such great friends to help me so much during the last five weeks.  At 2000, Kim told me they had to leave to check out an issue at their nearby Condo so I said goodnight to them.  Adjourning to the guest room, I read, did Duolingo exercises, worked on puzzles and watched movies.  During this time, I realized I'd only walked about a half mile during the entire day (i.e., nowhere near by 10K step goal).  I suppose that's OK, given all the amazing physical activity I completed during my trip to Europe... Actually, it seemed like old Nomad Life Times!  I finally went to bed at 2300.  Glad to have gotten the "first day back from my vacation" under my belt...

Scandinavia Trip - Day 30

My journey (that started in Helsinki the day before) continued overnight as I made my way (extremely slowly) towards Washington, DC - I was still sleeping on the train (still in New Jersey) at midnight.  We arrived in Philadelphia at 0115 and the train parked there for three hours.  I'd known about this plan but, by then, was having trouble sleeping because the seats weren’t very comfortable, the lights were never dimmed and my fellow passengers were quite loud (even the "the quiet car").  Still, I managed to doze off/on for about two hours.  At 0420, the train started moving from Philadelphia to Wilmington and, at each subsequent stop, we stayed in the platform longer than usual.  More people boarded and the train was soon nearly full - this meant that we got lots of people (including small children) who didn't follow the rules of "maintaining Library-like silence".  The sun came up and all the other passengers started getting really loud before we arrived in the District of Columbia at 0620.  I felt good to be getting closer to my car and walked to the Metro platform.  There were no restaurants open so I gave up any notion of eating breakfast.  Since it was a Sunday morning, the WMATA train spacing was huge that I had to wait until 0635 a west-bound train to arrive at Union Station.  I took the Red Line to Metro Center (arrived at 0645) and then switched to the Orange Line.  At 0715, I got off at West Falls Church Station and began the slow, methodical walk to Kim & David’s house.  Fortunately, it was still rather cool but the humidity and sunlight implied a much warmer day was coming.  I took my time and stopped often to rebalance the bags I was carrying.  Fortunately, there was a sidewalk all along the roads I traveled.  At 0750, I reached my friends' home - whew!  I did a little bit of visiting with Kim before she left for work (0815) and then took a shower.  From 0830 to 1430, I took a much needed nap in their guest room.  When I woke up, I did some reading and relaxing before heading downstairs to visit with David.  It was great to talk with him (we have similar professional backgrounds) and I told him how much I appreciated how he and Kim had so lovingly watched my car while I was away.  At 1910, I left Falls Church to attend Mass at Marymount University in Arlington, where Kim was playing the organ.  By then, the temps had reached into the high 70s and the humidity was palpable.  The service lasted from 1930 to 2025 and I got to enjoy both Kim's playing and some amazing vocal and violin performances by her students.  I also got to meet the Campus Chaplain, Father Gabriel, who was very interested in my Nomad Life story. Afterwards, I went with Kim (in her car) to a nearby Silver Diner (still in Arlington).  Kim entertained me with her ordering, food selections and special requests - it was like old times.  We had a good conversation and the food was tasty (like I remembered from when I used to take my daughters to this chain while we all lived in NoVA).  After getting done (2150), we drove back to Marymount University and I picked up my car.  From there, I followed Jim to her house (we arrived at 2215).  In Kim and David's condo, I spent the next hour visiting and telling them about my trip (they don't use social media).  Since I hoped to get back on "normal time" after being away for so long, I said goodnight and retired to the guest room again.  Before going to bed, I did some reading and Duolingo - it was lights out at 2300.  It's been 30 days since I last slept in this bed and everything that I experienced in between seems like a blur.  One thing is certain, though: it was a GREAT vacation!

Scandinavia Trip - Day 29

Last day in Helsinki and of my fantastic vacation... For my last night in Europe, I was not as fortunate as I'd hoped in getting a good sleep - there was loud noise outside my window until very late.  Even without getting a ton of rest, I was still awake in the Radisson BLU Plaza (Helsinki) at 0645.  I spent time working on puzzles, reading and completing Duolingo exercises.  Next, I repacked my bags and managed to get everything inside like I wanted (whew).  I still had the issue of my duffel having some "sprung seams" but I planned to use that bag as a carryon.  For “breakfast”, I ate snacks I'd collected over the previous few days.  While getting ready to depart, I opened up the window shades to their maximum extent and found that I had a good view of the train station from my room - it was only visible on an angle, so I hadn’t noticed before.  I guess the desk clerk had taken me seriously when I asked for a view...  After checking in (online) for my Finnair Flight, I left my room (1010), checked out of the hotel and left two bags with the clerk so I could go exploring for a few hours.  After making specific plans with Inka and her mother, I started walking to the Kiasma Museum (1015).  Outside, it was overcast and sprinkling, with temps in the low 50s.  I used the same route I'd needed during the previous evening (tunnel under the train tracks to the north of the Train Station).  Along the way, I encountered lots of birds again.  I arrived at the museum by 1030 and sat down to read some news stories - as a result, I didn't see Inka & Kirsten arrived soon afterwards.  All together again, though, we toured the museum - there was a special exhibition about the Sami People (indigenous to Scandinavia and Arctic Russia).  This was an extremely interesting and through provoking and Inka was great help in interpreting some of the displays (she often travels in their native territories). The museum was full of interesting history and unique pieces. Along the way, Inka responded to an incredulous question I had about reindeer-drawn-sleighs - "Yes, they are real - didn't you know that Santa Claus is from Finland?"  That was a good moment!  Before departing, we checked out some other Modern Art exhibits in the Kiasma (not quite as interesting as the Sami part) and then departed at 1200.  Inka said she wanted me to try a genuine "Finnish Brunch" so we walked towards the southeast and (at 1215) arrived at Karl Fazer's Café (Kluuvikatu) and I was blown away by all of the Finnish cuisine options - most seemed very healthy.  The food was served buffet style and I tried a little of most of the offerings.  But then there were the plentiful chocolates and desserts - that was hard to resist and I sampled a few.  I'm not 100% but, apparently, this was the place where the most famous Finnish chocolate debuted in the late Nineteenth Century.  Meanwhile, we continued to have even more good conversation.  Inka and Kirsten have been so generous with their time and gracious with their stories and experiences.  One memorable topic today was on the Scandinavian practice of shopping for alcohol in neighboring countries "because things are cheaper there".  No matter where you are living, apparently, the grass is always greener in the neighboring Euro Country...  We finished our memorable meal at 1315 and exited the restaurant to sunny and warmer (17 C) conditions.  Inka wanted to pick up some items before she departed so I followed her into a little “drug store” that seemed to be full of kids items.  Inka herself was looking for a travel size toothpaste and was successful.  Afterwards, we walked a bit longer until we got close to the train station.  At that point, I said goodbye to Inka and her mom - they were so nice to me and it was hard to leave them!  Then I went back to Radisson BLU Plaza to retrieve my bags before backtracking to the train station again.  For some reason, it took me longer to locate an Airport-bound train but, once I'd bought a ticket from the little kiosk, I boarded one and then waited for it to depart.  We were moving by 1408 and it was strange to look at all the landmarks we passed with new eyes - most of them had been on my tour itinerary at some point recently and I got several angles of things I'll always remember.  The train arrived at the Airport Station at 1442 and I began the long walk to the terminal.  When I tried to "self drop" my bag, I was told that I needed to be in a different queue (possibly because I was flying to USA) and ended up having to wait for an available Finnair clerk to help me.  Even with trouble on checking the heaviest bag (14ish kg), I still was through first round of security by 1500.  After walking about halfway through the terminal in search of my gate, I got stuck in a HUGE Border Control line.  I had not experienced this before during my vacation (although I'd read about situations like this in Southern Europe) and it was a bit deflating to realize that I'd be stuck there for a LONG time.  While patiently waiting, I witnessed many ore impatient folks (of all nationalities) who simply could not fathom that they were expected to comply with this onerous process.  For my part, I tried to stay light hearted and, along the way, I met a nice lady from Shanghai and an older couple from Japan (Hokkaido Island).  Every time one of the larger international flights would reach 45 minutes until departure, the Security folks would "reset" the line, allowing those passengers to depart the long queue and enter the "EU Passport Holders" line.  This never happened to me but I eventually got through the checkpoint at 1605.  After that, there was even more walking...  Despite all these logistics, I was able to check into the Finnair waiting area at the gate and boarding began at 1645.  Because of where I stood inside the waiting area, I was one of the first people (behind the Business Class) to board and was soon sitting in my seat.  The aircraft was an A350 and I lucked out to have an empty middle seat for the long-haul flight.  We started taxiing at 1715 and got in the air at 1720 - wow!  I mostly passed the time by watching movies.  In the first few hours, we got a dinner service and I chose a Sandals Premium Lager (4.7%) beer (“signature beer of Finnair”), some blueberry juice (“signature juice of Finnair”) and the inflight meal of BBQ pasta salad, sweet & sour chicken with egg fried rice and Asian veggies.  Dessert was, appropriately, a chocolate bar from Fazer (I sent a photo to Inka).  Along the way, we flew over the middle of Iceland and Cape Cod.  During the last part of the flight, I got really invested in reading one of my books.  Altogether, the flight seemed to be rather quick and, since we were flying west through the timezones, it was only 1810 (local time) when we landed at JFK.  Back in the USA at last - it seemed strange.  I was through Customs by 1835 and then learned that the Long Island Railroad Union had, as threatened, gone on strike.  Fortunately, I met a helpful Finnair employee (local to NYC) in the baggage claim area who told me I could use the E train subway to reach Penn Station.  Once I had all of my luggage, I made my way to the AirTrain Platform (1855) and headed to Jamaica.  After arriving there (1905), I walked to Subway Station and entered (using my phone) the platform to wait for an E Train to Manhattan.  The passenger ambiance was nothing like the LIRR experience and I was soon wondering if this alternate transportation was a good idea.  Once I was onboard (1920), the train stopped at every station as it made its way west.  Sadly, I never saw any indication (on the signage or internet) that it actually went to Penn Station.  Not wanting to miss my chance to end up in a familiar area of Manhattan, I exited the Subway at 34th & Herald Square.  Based on my (incorrect) choice of exits, I had to walk the rest of the way to the Moynihan Train Hall (arrived at 2010).  Hoping to not have to carry my bags indefinitely, I walked around in Penn Station until I could find a place to sit down for a meal - I ended up in Kabooz’s Bar & Grille and got dinner (Gyro meal) at 2020.  During this window, I continued trying to coordinate a meetup with Heidi V but, ultimately, was unsuccessful.  At 2100, I moved into the formal Amtrak Waiting Area.  A sign said that I could only be there for one hour but I didn't leave during the next few hours.  Meanwhile, I watched surges of people, coming and going, as their own Amtrak trains departed.  Later in the evening, a Bruce Springsteen Concert ended at Madison Square Garden and, just as I needed to start moving towards my own train, people started madly rushing to board New Jersey bound trains - yikes!  Finally, just after 2300, Amtrak assigned a track number for the NE Regional Train (Number 65).  It took a lot more walking (and being savvy) for me to find the "quiet car" but I was happily situated when the train departed (late) at 2327.  Outside my window, I witnessed a young lady who apparently didn't have a ticket for the train, tearfully arguing with the conductors about how she just had to get onboard.  She was unsuccessful and fell to the ground in anguish.  My heart went out to her, in a way, but I was relieved that she was not my own daughter.  The train moved quickly across the Hudson River and was soon traveling across New Jersey.  We had just passed Newark when I decided to give sleeping a try - we were still rolling as the clock struck midnight...

Scandinavia Trip - Day 28

Another day in Helsinki!  This morning, I woke up (unwillingly) at 0600 but then managed to sleep until 0800.  Feeling much more rested, I got ready and left the Radisson BLU Plaza at 0915.  Outside, the temps were 50 F and the sky was clear and sunny.  Initially, I spent time looking for food at restaurants along my path (in the direction of Market Square) but found that breakfasts in the city were quite expensive.  I finally (0930) found a place called Robert's Coffee that had a reasonably priced breakfast combo and, eagerly seizing this opportunity, ate at the restaurant.  After getting done with my morning meal (which included a rare, for me, cup of coffee), I walked the rest of the way to Market Square and bought a ticket for the public ferry to Suomenlinna Island (0940).  Even though I'd already been through the (large) Helsinki Harbor on a few ferries (to/from Tallinn, from Stockholm), I thought it might be nice to visit some of the important fortifications built in the Eighteenth Century to defend the city.  Suomenlinna was actually several small islands in the larger archipelago but commanded all the main approaches in its heyday. Fortunately, I didn't have to wait long after boarding before our boat departed the port. Along the way across South Harbor, I saw Viking “Gabriella” arriving.   I was joined by dozens of other tourists (on my boat alone) on a beautiful Finland Spring morning - there were also LOTS of school kids (some kind of field trip?).  We arrived at the island by 0950 and I was quickly able to get off the boat and on to the active military base property.  I found it interesting that the Finnish military is still using the site while tourists are crawling all over the place...  I first stopped at the Visitor Center and got a map (and some help from a lady there).  After that, I enjoyed wandering away from the crowds as I made my way (to the west) onto several smaller islands - I managed to get some true peace and quiet there while the rest of the visitors clambered on the ramparts of the old fortress.  The birding was fantastic!  I encountered nearly 35 species and that probably was a low estimate.  Highlights: in addition to "normal" sightings in Finland, I also saw Common Eider, Oystercatcher, Gadwall, Coot, Common tern, Arctic tern, Barn swallow, Merganser, Greater Whitethroat, Pied Flycatcher, Siskin, Fieldfare.  Later, I met several other like minded souls to compare notes with and feel good about my amateurish observations; the best of these were two birders from Massachusetts who were about to embark on a birding tour (with a company that sounded like "VMAC" but I'm not sure) to the northern Scandinavian coast on the Arctic Ocean - wow!  From the higher points in the area, I watched arrivals and departures of the big Silja & Viking ferries in the South Harbor (I even saw one Tallink ship in the vicinity of the West Harbor).  Along the way, I started to smell a foul burning scent (it seemed to be coming from a nearby building) so kept moving.  Later, I found a community garden and, later, saw a huge sign about "passport control" (I assume that was for boaters who just arrived in Finland from another country).  At one point, I witnessed a stunning liftoff by a huge swan - the noise and visuals were impressive.  In the distance, I heard gunfire sounds... While walking back to the main island, I watched dancing sailors who were mooring a patrol boat - I guess they like their job!  Finished with the small islands (1045), I (re)joined the rest of my fellow civilians on the main island.  Soon after that, I passed by big church (didn’t enter) and library (didn't enter) before I began to encounter sections of the fortress wall.  At times, I had to contend with cobblestones.  Beyond that, I started to hear singing inside a small "castle" - I later deduced that it was a Summer Theater group (practicing).  Along the way, I learned a lot of history about Suoenlinna.  There were some memorials to fallen Finns, a customs offices and patrol boats - all showed their connection to the ongoing security of Finland.  Another highlight was a WWII submarine - one of the few that survived the war and later disarmament treaties. Tours were available but I didn't take one.  Later, I reached the fortress and walked to Kings Gate, climbing some ramparts and also going inside some of the (deep) casements along the way.  The Gate was very impressive and I could see lots more islands in the distance.  As I started heading north again, I encountered the large groups of kids from the morning ferry - it took some effort to avoid being swallowed by the crowd!  When I was free again, I made my way to the Dry Dock area, where I also located a large (pretty) courtyard.  Beyond that, I arrived at the Main Quay, where I bought a ticket for the return ferry (1230).  As I got in the queue, however, I learned that the boat wouldn’t leave for 30 minutes.  Everyone else waited there but I went shopping at a little market nearby, picking up food for a mid day meal.  By the time I returned (1240), the ferry had started to board.  Fortunately, I found a good seat before the huge crowd of students got onboard right after me.  When we left Suomenlinna (1300), I ate lunch during the transit to city.  The weather was still wonderful and I was very impressed with the scenery.  As we approached Market Square, I saw Silja "Serenade" (docked in port on the South Harbor).  At 1315, I got off the ferry and boarded (five minutes later) Tram 2 so I could quickly reach the Central Railway Station.  By 1330, I was back in my hotel room.  My pedometer said that I had already hiked about six miles during my morning on the islands!  For the next hour, I relaxed and read - I also coordinated a meetup with my Finnish friends.  When the time came to meet them, I left my hotel again (1440) and, walking under the railroad tracks, made my way to Central Park.  I found Finlandia Hall (museum) just before 1500 and was sitting on a bench in front when my "guides" for the day, Inka (a friend from hiking the AT) and her mother (Kirsten) arrived. Even more than yesterday, today was filled with Finnish culture, language, architecture, art, history, technology and food.  My friends did an excellent job of turning guide book theory to personal insight into the lives of the people who live between Helsinki and the Arctic Circle.  Finlandia Hall turned out to be an amazing Modernist structure in the heart of Helsinki’s Central Park.  Since it was built in the 1970s, it has been the site of diplomatic meetings and musical performances.  We saw a new exhibition about the Architect, Alvar Aalto, and his work.  Along the way, I was introduced to the beautiful Finnish hymn “Finlandia”, which served as the inspiration for the building design.  Even more impressive, I learned about hundreds of practical uses for wood (it appears that hemp has competition!).  Since Inka works in the field of sustainable building and natural resource management, I was doubly blessed.  This was an excellent exhibition!  The whole exhibition was very interesting and we stayed among the exhibits until 1710.  During this whole time, I'd been going with the flow and hoping not to intrude on Inka's time with her mother.  It was a bit of a surprise, therefore, when Inka told me she'd made reservations for us to eat at a nearby traditional Finnish restaurant.  It didn't take long for us to walk there (it was located across from the Dom) but, along the way, we also stopped for some shopping at glove and scarf shop (Kirsten bought some).  At 1755, we arrived at Savotta (across the street from the Helsinki Dom & Senate Square) and got a table. The restaurant ended up being a wonderful Finnish “farm to table” style venue and the menu offered items which Inka and her mother insisted were nearly the exact food they’d have at their home in the northern part of Finland.  We were lucky to have arrived when we did because the place was filled with patrons soon after that.  Inka pointed out a selection on the menu that would allow me to try a traditional meal with three courses.  To augment the experience, I she also recommended a 1952 Olympics beverage called the “Long Drink” (AKA "lonkero").  It was made with grapefruit (which I normally can't drink) but tasted very nice.  Later, I tried the Lapland Red Ale (from Tornion Brewery).  The menu included three courses (Warm/Smoked Salmon Salad, Traditional Karelian Stew and a Warm Blueberry Tart) and was delicious!  I enjoyed hearing about moose hunts in the northern forests, salmon fisheries, backpacking in Lapland, foraging for berries & mushrooms.  It’s been interesting to see Finland through the eyes of a local (especially one who also lived on the trail in the US) - I’m glad our schedules aligned during my trip to Scandinavia!  Inka also wanted to talk about the "benefits" of Finnish Socialism versus US Capitalism.  Meanwhile, Kirsten kept up with our conversation by asking Inka (only from time to time) what we were talking about.  I was surprised, then, when she paid for our meal - I tried to protest but her explanation was "it is my turn."  Dinner was done at 2020 and I said goodbye to my friends before heading to my hotel (arrived at 2035).  In my room again, I did some more bag organizing, reading and Duolingo exercises.  Unlike my previous evenings in the same hotel, the street below my room was VERY noisy.  With all the distractions and noise, I didn't go to bed until 0100.  Hope I don't regret this...

Scandinavia Trip - Day 27

It's time to return to Helsinki!  This morning, I slept until 0630 and then, after I was awake, I passed more time reading, relaxing, doing puzzles, finishing Duolingo exercises, adding to my eBird records and updating my blog.  I stayed in my room at Park Inn by Radisson (Tallinn) much longer than I had intended but it seemed like a good idea after I had made my reservations on the Tallink Ferry...  Outside, it was overcast and the temps were in the mid 40s.  At 0930, I checked out of the hotel and started walking the half mile (on sidewalks) to Terminal D.  This ended up being rather easy for some reason and I arrived at my destination by 0940.  I immediately checked in for my Ferry and then, feeling settled, I ate breakfast (leftover snack food from the day before).  My "planning" for the transit went so well that I only had to wait about 10 minutes before boarding started.  I was glad to see that I was going to be riding the same ship (Tallink "Megastar") to Finland that I'd initially used to reach Estonia.  From my last experience, I knew exactly where I wanted to go and, within five minutes of boarding, I was set up in the same area where I'd sat on May 10.  This good because it had a charging outlet...  Before the ship was fully boarded, I bought some food for my lunch (and some yogurt to complete my "breakfast").  "Megastar" departed at 1020 and I spent most of the transit to Helsinki reading.  At 1200, I ate my lunch (sandwich & fruit) and then did a little bit of sightseeing from a nearby window.  More importantly than these "time wasting" techniques, however, was the WhatsApp communications I had with Inka, a young Appalachian Trail Hiker I'd first met in Hot Springs, NC (the week the COVID-19 Pandemic Lockdowns began) while she was attempting a Thru Hike in 2020.  She had to leave the trail then but we kept in touch during the intervening years. In 2023, we met up again when she passed through New Hampshire on her successful Thru Hike - I actually helped her with her lost phone scenario and we had dinner together in Gorham. Her invitation to "visit Finland some day" was one of the main reasons for this entire trip...  With plans set for later in the afternoon, I returned my attention to the Ferry transit.  Our ship arrived in Helsinki (West) Harbor by 1220.  By then, it was sunny and the temps were in the high 40s.  Once we were docked, I disembarked the ferry and, with a combination of walking, using stairs and ramps to avoid the crowds (they seemed to gravitate to the escalators), I made it to Tram 7 by 1235.  We were headed north by 1245 and, at 1310, I got off the tram at the Central Train Station.  Next, I walked to Radisson BLU Plaza hotel, where I'd left my bags several days earlier.  I made an attempt (and used all my charm) but the clerks wouldn’t let me check into my room so early (without a €20 fee).  They did, however, let me check my other bag for free.  Since I had lots of time to kill, I walked over to Henry’s Pub to get a drink (ordered at 1325) and a snack.  My spot at a table in front of the restaurant (on "Railway Square") was an opportunity for "people watching" and enjoying the pleasant Spring air.  After finishing my beer, I walked to the nearby Botanical Garden (next to my hotel) to do some birding (started just after 1400).  By then it was overcast but getting warmer.  By 1430, I was finally able to check into hotel - I retrieved my bags during this same process and quickly located my room.  Once I was on the WiFi network, I made an unsuccessful attempt to purchase some ND v Wisconsin tickets in September - I hadn’t been able to get online for a few days and the game was mostly sold out by the time was I was able to view ticket options.  Oh well...  At 1630, I left the hotel and had a chance to resume an incomplete walking tour from my “Rick Steves Scandinavia” travel guide.  With time to digest the images from my last visits (in mid April and early May), I filled in some gaps on prominent landmarks.  Along the way, I passed through University Metro Station and the nearby shopping district.  I explored the Esplanade (which I’d walked through in April but hadn't known what it was) and Market Square.  This time (1640), I got a good photo of the Obelisk in the latter location and a nice view of the Silja Line Ferry departing.  More interesting, though: I was able to initiate a Tram tour (also included in Steves’ travel guide) of greater Helsinki.  The route started at Kauppatori Station (1650) and then proceeded by Senate Square, Aleksanterinkatu, the Central Train Station and the Kamppi Shopping Center.  A bit later, I actually passed the restaurant where Inka had suggested I meet her and her mother for dinner.  Nearby, I caught glimpses of the Church in the Rock, the School of Economics and National Opera House.  Perhaps the most interesting thing I passed, though, was the venue for the 1952 Helsinki Olympic Games.  Part of me wanted to stop the tour to explore that area further but there just wasn't enough time.  Instead, I got off the Tram I'd been on (Tram 2) and transferred to Tram 3 (1720).  When I boarded the latter, the ticket machine somehow knew I still had a valid (80 minutes) ticket (my credit cart).  Next, we crossed over the railroad tracks from the airport and passed the Linnanmaki Amusement Park.  Shortly after that, we passed thru the Art Nouveau District - nearby, I saw the Kallio Church but the sun angle was bad for photos.  Our tram stopped again at a major shopping area near Hakaniemi Square.  The loop continued until we passed the University Metro Station and National Theater again (both located right near my hotel).  Since the route was shaped like a Figure 8, we passed Train station again.  I got a better view (and pictures) of the "Three Blacksmiths" (Hammering Men) statue (at Stockman) than I had back on May 10.  Beyond that, I passed through the Design District and by a large green space (Plague Park).  I noticed a large church (Art Deco) but had trouble with my camera before our tram's turn towards Embassy Row.  By then, the tram tour was nearly completed - with this in mind, I decided to get off the tram (1750).  Surprisingly, I immediately found myself standing right next to (tiny) St Henrik’s Cathedral, one of the only Catholic churches in Helsinki.  (This was the church I’d hoped to attend on Sunday but hadn’t been able to reach in time.)  Even more surprising, Mass was in progress!  I tentatively entered the back of the sanctuary and noticed that almost everyone looked like they were from East Asia (and the Priest was speaking in some kind of Asian language).  I thought about joining, since it looked like I'd arrived during the Homily.  However, my attention was diverted to a very little kid who was trying to escape the building.  I waved "hello" and then herded the youngster in the direction of his/her parents.  Since it was Ascension Day (apparently also a National Holiday in Finland), I was glad to participate in the celebration, even in a limited capacity.  Before long, though, I realized that I'd need to get moving again if I wanted to make it to the restaurant in time to meet Inka.  Instead, I walked around in Kaivapuisto (park).  I really loved the green space but, realizing how late it was, I started back to the north.  When I entered Tähtitorninvuori (park), I had to climb a big hill to get near the beautiful (and historic) buildings.  By 1800, I was overlooking the South Harbor from the highest point around.  Also in this area, I had an encounter with a rare (for me) bird species (Siskin).  From there, I walked all the way from the hill above the South Harbor, through the Design District, until I reached Tales (a wine bar connected to a famous restaurant called "Teller").  Inka had suggested we meet there at 1900 but, when I arrived at 1845, I found her and her mother (Kristen / Kirsten) already waiting for a table.  This was fortunate because the place was much more popular than any of us had realized.  When we were eventually seated, we immediately ordered wine (Syrah from France) and dinner (tapas = mushroom mix, brioche with cheese, ceviche like food and some seafood selections).  Our evening was dominated by AT Conversation - it was a Appalachian Trail Completer Reunion!  It was great to share some good memories of The Trail and catch up on life in the outdoors.  Inka startled me with tales (and pictures) of recent reindeer butchering (and explained that all the animals are owned by Finns).  Along the way, I learned that "Hey" means "hello" in Finnish.  This reminded me of all the times my mom had told me "Hay is for horses" when I was young and I had to chuckle (internally).  I also learned that "Kitos" was Finnish for "thank you".  Inka showed me photos of her home, which is located much farther north in Finland, and from hikes she'd done in Lappland.  We both concluded that the terrain looked just like New Hampshire.  An interesting note about the evening was that Kirsten was not able to follow much of the conversation because she didn't know a lot of English.  As a result, there was a lot of three way translating (with Inka in the middle).  Regardless, we got along famously.  When we were done eating (2020), I paid for the dinner - for some reason, this seemed to displease my friends but it seemed like the least I could do...  Before saying goodnight, we made tentative plans for the next day.  While returning to my hotel, I never had to look at a map (or my nearly dead cell phone) even once.  After arriving in my room (2040), I spent the rest of the night reading, completing Duolingo exercises and reorganizing bags.  Finally went to bed at 2345.  Very glad to have a Finnish friend to help me get the full experience in Helsinki!

Scandinavia Trip - Day 26

This morning, I woke up at 0625 in my room at the Panorama Hotel (Vilnius) and spent time reading, working puzzles and finishing Duolingo exercises.  After some research online, I made reservations (via LUX Express again) to travel from Vilnius to Tallinn by bus.  Sadly, there were no viable train options and airfare was much more expensive, with silly intermediate stops.  On the other hand, this bus trip cost less than each of the "one city" trips I’d taken before with the bus line.  However, there was no businesses class available.  As I packed up my bags, I took stock of the room quality.  Normally, I wouldn't care about the two twin bed setup (it was cheaper, after all) but I didn't like that there were  no outlets on the "bed side" of the room. There was a big fan (in lieu of AC, apparently) that kept me from getting hot (pro) but there was also an ominous warning about not drinking the water because it is “cleansed” (con).  Even though there was a breakfast buffet available, I decided not to have any food before departing the hotel (0820).  With rain falling intermittently (temps in the 40s), any elaborate plans I had to explore the Lithuanian countryside were curtailed.  Instead, I decided to focus on a few points of interest near the Old Town. My first stop was at The Bastion, which was located on a hill on the south end of the old city (along the wall).  Even with the misty conditions, I could still see several landmarks I’d visited the previous day.  A bit later, I realized I’d walked along the outer side of the Gate/Wall the day before.  Following dog-walkers on a "trail" through the woods, I made my way to the southwestern side of town.  I passed an "American School" and ended up in an area with cobblestones.  After wandering through some quiet Vilnius neighborhood on the fringes of the city, I reached the Rasos Cemetery, which was reportedly the oldest consecrated burial site in the area.  As such, it had many historic stones and buildings.  Some of the most impressive, though, were related to the Polish soldiers who died fighting for/over Vilnius during the chaotic early years of Twentieth Century. In a tribute to the uncertainties about “who should own Vilnius?”, the area changed hands about half a dozen times in two years and only became truly Lithuanian after the Nazis killed three Polish guards near the start of World War II.  If I read the signage correctly, the heart of the Polish national leader from this era is buried with the men.  Despite Soviet attempts to bulldoze over the graves (to build a highway), the Polish and Lithuanian governments jointly honor the soldiers.  This collaboration seems to require that many of the stones display a ribbon denoting the nationality of the person buried there.  Also of note in the cemetery were famous statesmen and some of the patriots executed in the 1860s after trying to promote freedom.  I’d already seen information about them (yesterday) at the summit of the Gedidimas Hill (where they’d been secretly buried originally).  Altogether, this was a cemetery for heroes...  Returning to the Old City by a similar route I'd followed earlier in the morning.  Along the way, I encountered buses connected to cables (for power) and passed the American School again.  Nearby, I found (at 0935) the Subacias Lookout, which allowed for a panoramic view of most of the city areas where I’d been walking yesterday.  In the same area, I saw lots of "wolf looking" dogs - they seem to be quite popular.  Meanwhile, I made my way back towards the southeastern side of the city. My final stop of the morning was at a covered shopping hall called the (Indoor) Hale Market, where I marveled at all the fresh meats, cheeses and fresh produce.  Feeling hungry by then, I bought empanadas (1000) and then started looking (in nearby buildings) for more food.  I soon called off the search, though, and ended up heading back to my hotel.  By the time I reached my room, my pedometer said I'd walked four miles in two hours.  Since the temperatures had risen inside the building, I spent time relaxing with the large (and hard to operate) window open.  At 1045, I left the hotel for the last time and walked towards the bus station.  Along the way, I broke a long-standing rule when I stopped at McDonald’s for lunch.  As I've normally seen when I'm traveling overseas, the place was very crowded.  Fortunately, I was able to use a kiosk to order and then ate a rather large lunch of familiar items.  After that, I walked the rest of the way to the queue area for my bus.  With the time I had left, I picked up snacks at a little shop inside the terminal (1120) and then walked to bus stall to wait under a roof.  It was still raining and temps had dropped back into the 40s so I actually donned my coat (first time in a while that I've needed it).  I was on the bus (Line 949) by 1145 and found lots of other English speakers, including two Mormon missionaries.  I discovered that there actually was a business class area but saw no one sitting there when we left the main bus station.  It was only then that I realized we'd be stopping in several other places along the "express" route.  Before leaving Vilnius, though, we stopped at the Panorama Mall (where my original hotel had been located) and lots more people got onboard (business class filling up).  Unfortunately, there were lots of sick passengers... When we got going again (1225), the bus driver read the welcome and instructions in several language and I was pleased to have an empty seat next to me.  While driving towards Riga, we avoided the town of  Panevezys by using the Bypass (unlike my previous visit).  We reached the Latvian border at 1455 and then got stuck behind (very slow) trucks.  Other buses passed ours whenever they thought they could (yikes).  The rain continued throughout the drive and I passed the time by listening to music and watching movies on the bus entertainment system.  We arrived in (drier) Riga at 1600 and parked at the Arrivals Area of the Main Bus Terminal soon afterwards. Almost everyone got off the bus and I watched the driver cleaning up the seats.  For a moment, I thought I might be alone during the drive to Tallinn.  We waited in that parking spot for about 20 minutes but then repositioned to the Departures Area.  Only then did I have any indication of the timeline for the rest of our drive - a sign showed a 1640 departure.  During this time, I had a chance to resolve a WiFi limitation the bus had (it wouldn't let me download apps).  My phone FB app had uninstalled for some reason but I was able to restore it with a completely different WiFi (shopping district) network.  Meanwhile, the bus filled up and someone sat next to me.  Even worse, though, the person in front of me reclined his seat and hit my kneecaps...  We departed Riga on time but then it took almost 30 minutes to get out of the city - we had to contend with traffic, construction and cobblestones.  Meanwhile, it started raining again.  At 1740, I ate my dinner (empanadas) and I tried to ignore the behavior of the other drivers - a Flixbus actually passed us on a narrow, two lane stretch of road (!!!).  But then our driver did the same thing and I realized there was some kind of order to the chaos.  The lady next to me started a phone conversation that seemed to go on and on but I resisted the urge to blurt out any comments.  We crossed the Estonia border at 1835 and then started following a big line of traffic.  At 1925, we stopped briefly (five minutes) at the Parnu Station but were soon heading north again.  During the next leg, I made reservations for the evening (hotel) and following day (ferry).  When she finally got off the phone, I ended up talking to the older lady next to me (Theodora or “Dora”).  It turned out that she was a radio and TV person from Estonia.  Strangely, though, she had many more stories about Vienna, Austria and "their love of funeral".  She also had very strong ideas about me visiting other sites in Estonia - she explained that she grew up on a tiny peninsula on big island on west of the Estonian mainland.  Much like other independence minded places I've visited, this town elected its own “King” and maintains a rather humorous relationship with the Estonian government.  The bus eventually stopped at a place that the map called "Vanu" (was it a store of some kind?) on the outskirts of Tallinn.  When we finally arrived at the main bus station of Tallinn (2115), it was still raining.  By then, Dora had suggested we share a cab (since she lived near the port and my hotel was in that direction).  However, she changed her mind when we retrieved our bags and, instead, suggested we walk "to stretch our legs after hours on the bus."  I agreed with this logic and, despite the sprinkles, we walked down some side streets and alleyways.  In the process, we cut off a corner of the tram route.  At one point, Dora suddenly told me she had reached her home and gestured to a nearby tram stop. I said goodbye to her there and then boarded Tram 2 towards the Ferry Port.  By the time I realized where I actually was, I had only gone through two stops.  Fortunately, I was able to get off the tram easily and then walked to my hotel, the Park Inn (by Radisson).  By 2145, I'd checked in and headed to my room.  I started to think about going out again but then concluded this was a bad idea - I was tired and damp.  Instead, I did some reading and Duolingo and then watched movies until bedtime (2330).  It’s been a nice week of visiting Vilnius, Riga and Tallinn but the time has come for me to make my way back towards the USA.  Very glad I made this trip to the Baltic States!