After a good night sleep and a leisurely breakfast I went ashore under cloudy skies - the sun played hide and seek most of the day which is why I am feeling cold as I type this report - the jacket would be on and then off etc, etc, etc.
I had a basic plan for today - walk along Dallas road and the seashore to Beacon Hill Park and then into town and back along the seaside walk to the ship.
The views were great and the Olympic mountains were visible and quiet clear at the start of the walk.
Well that is what I did but with one major detour - I decided that since the weather was okay to make a side trip up to the Craiggorogh Castle - it's just up the road - ya right - it was a longer walk that I anticipated but I made it there before 11AM.
Then headed down Rockland Ave and make it to the waterfront before noon.
Then it was onto Barb's and an order of fish and chips before the last fifteen walk back to the ship - just as I approached the entrance to the port it decided to start a light shower.
I ended up walking more than 10 kilometers or 6 + miles.
My feet are tired and my body is aching but tomorrow is a sea day so that will give me a chance to recharge the batteries.
So far I have eaten my meals in the buffet - I am on deck 11 so it is only 2 decks up to the buffet vs down 5 to the main dining rooms.
Haven't taken in any on board activities yet but might find something of interest tomorrow.
I have two novels with me to read to keep my busy.
Still haven't solved how to get my photos to upload to my tablet. Might be missing an upload app - gonna ask the photo and computer techies on board if they have any suggestions - at least I brought all my media cards with me or if worse comes to worse will just full them up and sort when I get home.
Cheers!
Saturday, May 10, 2014
Friday, May 9, 2014
Well I am on board the Star Princess and we are sailing out in the Salish sea and will dock in Victoria at 0700 hrs tomorrow.
it was an eventful day - spent the morning looking for a proper device to upload my photos to the tablet as the one i had brought didn't work on my device.
After several attempts I finally got one at the Samsung store at Metrotown - now to figure out how it works for upload.
Then it was home for a quick change and off to Canada Place - as the weather was dry i walked down - took about 20 minutes - in line before noon and having lunch on board by 1 PM - that is pretty good timing given that 2500 people all want to get on board at the same time. Some were griping - you are on holiday folks relax.
After lunch toured the ship and took lots of photos - then the manditory muster drill and shortly after 4:30PM we lifted anchor and shortly after sailed under the Lions Gate Bridge waving to some of the people who stopped to watch this big ship sail under the bridge and out in the Salish sea.
Then supper in the buffet - not busy - longer lines for the sit down eateries.
Real mix of ages and ethnics types on board.
Internet is slow but have 125 free minutes to use for the three days.
Unless I can figure out how to use the internet on tablet won't be posting any photos.
More tomorrow from Victoria.
Cheers!.
it was an eventful day - spent the morning looking for a proper device to upload my photos to the tablet as the one i had brought didn't work on my device.
After several attempts I finally got one at the Samsung store at Metrotown - now to figure out how it works for upload.
Then it was home for a quick change and off to Canada Place - as the weather was dry i walked down - took about 20 minutes - in line before noon and having lunch on board by 1 PM - that is pretty good timing given that 2500 people all want to get on board at the same time. Some were griping - you are on holiday folks relax.
After lunch toured the ship and took lots of photos - then the manditory muster drill and shortly after 4:30PM we lifted anchor and shortly after sailed under the Lions Gate Bridge waving to some of the people who stopped to watch this big ship sail under the bridge and out in the Salish sea.
Then supper in the buffet - not busy - longer lines for the sit down eateries.
Real mix of ages and ethnics types on board.
Internet is slow but have 125 free minutes to use for the three days.
Unless I can figure out how to use the internet on tablet won't be posting any photos.
More tomorrow from Victoria.
Cheers!.
Thursday, May 8, 2014
Eve before the cruise May 8, 2014
Well all the clothes are packed and the toys are getting there final charge before the cruise tomorrow.
My big suitcase is just too big for such a short cruise and my larger overnight bag has seen its better days so while out for a walk I went into a discount store on Seymour street and spotted this one - it was only $34.95 so I brought it and it seems to work out just right.
I have attached my luggage tag - you now print them out yourself - then fold and staple to your luggage handle.
My big suitcase is just too big for such a short cruise and my larger overnight bag has seen its better days so while out for a walk I went into a discount store on Seymour street and spotted this one - it was only $34.95 so I brought it and it seems to work out just right.
I have attached my luggage tag - you now print them out yourself - then fold and staple to your luggage handle.
Here's my clothes for the two cruises - a real assortment of items - rain gear - summer gear and a hoodie if it is cold at the ball park.
Tomorrow I will pack my toys in my day pack - camera, tablets, extra batteries and media cards and will leave the condo about 11:30 AM.
If it stops raining I will walk down to Canada Place - if it is still raining I will grab a taxi for the short ride to the ship.
While these two cruises are nothing spectacular they will give me a welcome respite from the daily grind here in Vancouver.
With my platinum status on Princess I should have some free Internet minutes on both legs of the cruise so should be able to post to this blog each day.
I had hoped to be able to upload some photos to my tablet from my camera but the 4 - in 1 gadget I brought today to help with that and designed for a Samsung Galaxie Tablet doesn't appear to fit my tablet - my model doesn't have a smaller mini-usb port but a much larger one.
If the weather is dry I may stop in at Staples which I purchased it and see if there is a solution to that problem.
Otherwise it will be mostly text reports until I get back.
Cheers!
Monday, May 5, 2014
A volunteer story in the rain May 4, 2014
As I mentioned in my last post I was to volunteer for the Vancouver Marathon held yesterday May 4, 2014.
My job was a member of the bike patrol team - a position I have done for the past 8 years.
I was to patrol Zone 1 - the start of the race then over the Cambie Bridge through Yaletown and False Creek - riding back and forth to check on the runners - then later in the race to act as the sweep - ensure that the last person (s) make it to the finish.
That was the plan - it didn't work out quite as expected.
I also rain all day.
Here is the story of my day.
I worked the half-marathon course.
I awoke at 5 AM and took one look outside to see that my fears about the weather had materialized - it wasn't a light rain but a hard, pounding one and some wind as well.
I had put out a number of clothes the night before and opted to wear the following - one cotton long sleeve t-shirt, my Polyester bike jersey and my heavy Gore-tex jacket - long cotton pants and my Helly Hansen rain pants - two pairs of socks and my better light weight walking shoes.
I threw in some extra t-shirts etc into my pannier.
After a quick breakfast I cycle down to the Yaletown Canada Line station and join a good number of the runners taking the train to 25th Ave station and then bike the short distance to our meeting point near the start line at Hillcrest Park near Queen Elizabeth Park.
I pick up my radio and find my team mates and we then start to ride through our zone looking for any problems before the race starts.
I wasn't long before I noticed that at the corner of 23rd and Cambie the side street wasn't close off like the other streets - all the other streets in the area had large pylons and tape across the roadway - here only a road closed sign at the lane.
I radioed this in and was told to await the Marshall for that corner - well they never showed up - it was a problem throughout the day that some people just won't show up if it is raining.
So I was told to stay there and it was a good thing I was because a couple of cars wanted to cross Cambie with the race in session.
If there was one good thing about this for me it was that because I was standing at the corner I could stand there with my umbrella and keep somewhat dry.
The race finally start at 7AM and by 7:30AM the last of the waves had hit the street and shortly I saw the end SAG and maintenance trucks so it was time to get back on the bike and start riding and keeping track of the stragglers and it wasn't long before myself and another patroller were escorted an older gentlemen along the course but we had another problem - he didn't speak any English - only Spanish and wanted to talk to someone - well it turns out the person in the SAG vehicle spoke Spanish - all he wanted was to be sure he was running the half-marathon.
While a few other were near the end this gentlemen was the last person to cross the half-marathon finish line around 11:45AM.
I then turned in my radio and went to the volunteer food truck and picked up a lunch.
It had started to rain hard again - it never really stopped all day - so rather than eat out in the rain I rode the short distance up Hornby to my condo.
While my clothes were wet I was fairly dry - more sweat than water on my body . Quickly changed into dry clothes - ate lunch and then sat down and took the remainder of the afternoon to DE-compress.
Remarkably my cold of last week doesn't appear to be any worse.
All was not well with the team however - one long term member took a spill before the full marathon started and ended up breaking her wrist and will be in a cast for 6 weeks - GET WELL SOON, MAUREEN. and in a follow up email from our team coordinator three other members had minor spills - the roads were slick and many of the team members ride road bikes with skinny tires making for tougher riding conditions. That plus either trying to keep ahead of the lead runners or coming down the long UBC hill likely contributed to those mishaps.
I was a tiring yet satisfying day and HELL YES I WILL DO IT AGAIN NEXT YEAR.
In closing thanks to Vicki and Kerry for your dedication and commitment to ensuring that us bike patrollers got the job done.
We were all rewarded with a $10.00 White Spot gift card and those who picked up a lunch a $2.00 off Triple O's coupon.
Until next year cheers!
My job was a member of the bike patrol team - a position I have done for the past 8 years.
I was to patrol Zone 1 - the start of the race then over the Cambie Bridge through Yaletown and False Creek - riding back and forth to check on the runners - then later in the race to act as the sweep - ensure that the last person (s) make it to the finish.
That was the plan - it didn't work out quite as expected.
I also rain all day.
Here is the story of my day.
I worked the half-marathon course.
I awoke at 5 AM and took one look outside to see that my fears about the weather had materialized - it wasn't a light rain but a hard, pounding one and some wind as well.
I had put out a number of clothes the night before and opted to wear the following - one cotton long sleeve t-shirt, my Polyester bike jersey and my heavy Gore-tex jacket - long cotton pants and my Helly Hansen rain pants - two pairs of socks and my better light weight walking shoes.
I threw in some extra t-shirts etc into my pannier.
After a quick breakfast I cycle down to the Yaletown Canada Line station and join a good number of the runners taking the train to 25th Ave station and then bike the short distance to our meeting point near the start line at Hillcrest Park near Queen Elizabeth Park.
I pick up my radio and find my team mates and we then start to ride through our zone looking for any problems before the race starts.
I wasn't long before I noticed that at the corner of 23rd and Cambie the side street wasn't close off like the other streets - all the other streets in the area had large pylons and tape across the roadway - here only a road closed sign at the lane.
I radioed this in and was told to await the Marshall for that corner - well they never showed up - it was a problem throughout the day that some people just won't show up if it is raining.
So I was told to stay there and it was a good thing I was because a couple of cars wanted to cross Cambie with the race in session.
If there was one good thing about this for me it was that because I was standing at the corner I could stand there with my umbrella and keep somewhat dry.
The race finally start at 7AM and by 7:30AM the last of the waves had hit the street and shortly I saw the end SAG and maintenance trucks so it was time to get back on the bike and start riding and keeping track of the stragglers and it wasn't long before myself and another patroller were escorted an older gentlemen along the course but we had another problem - he didn't speak any English - only Spanish and wanted to talk to someone - well it turns out the person in the SAG vehicle spoke Spanish - all he wanted was to be sure he was running the half-marathon.
While a few other were near the end this gentlemen was the last person to cross the half-marathon finish line around 11:45AM.
I then turned in my radio and went to the volunteer food truck and picked up a lunch.
It had started to rain hard again - it never really stopped all day - so rather than eat out in the rain I rode the short distance up Hornby to my condo.
While my clothes were wet I was fairly dry - more sweat than water on my body . Quickly changed into dry clothes - ate lunch and then sat down and took the remainder of the afternoon to DE-compress.
Remarkably my cold of last week doesn't appear to be any worse.
All was not well with the team however - one long term member took a spill before the full marathon started and ended up breaking her wrist and will be in a cast for 6 weeks - GET WELL SOON, MAUREEN. and in a follow up email from our team coordinator three other members had minor spills - the roads were slick and many of the team members ride road bikes with skinny tires making for tougher riding conditions. That plus either trying to keep ahead of the lead runners or coming down the long UBC hill likely contributed to those mishaps.
I was a tiring yet satisfying day and HELL YES I WILL DO IT AGAIN NEXT YEAR.
In closing thanks to Vicki and Kerry for your dedication and commitment to ensuring that us bike patrollers got the job done.
We were all rewarded with a $10.00 White Spot gift card and those who picked up a lunch a $2.00 off Triple O's coupon.
Until next year cheers!
Saturday, May 3, 2014
Next volunteer assignment - BMO Vancouver Marathon Sunday May 4, 2014
Well my next volunteer assignment goes tomorrow - the BMO Vancouver Marathon and guess what - it's forecast to rain most of the day - I will be out on the bike from 6AM to around noon - getting soaked - while the rain gear helps you still get wet and chilled - just what I need coming off of a cold but I made a commitment to do it and I will.
Best of luck to the some 17,500 runners doing the various events.
My job will be a zone patroller - riding back and forth along the route keeping an eye out for the runners and any impediments that might crop up and then assist in getting the last of the half marathoners to the finish line.
All the needed info is here on the official website of the Marathon.
bmovancouvermarathon.com
Cheers!
Friday, May 2, 2014
One week countdown is on May 2, 2014
Next Friday around this time I will pick up the suitcase, lock the condo door and start the 20 minute walk down Hornby St to the Canada Place cruise terminal and start the process of embarking on the Star Princess for a three day cruise down to San Francisco with a 6 hour stop in Victoria and I will then meet up with my friends Cliff and Adele and do some touring of the area and take in the SF Giants/Altanta Braves baseball game.
I will stay over at the Best Western Tuscan Inn which I got by redeeming some Air Miles points.
Then the next morning I will head back to Pier 35 and embark on the Grand Princess for the four day trip back to Vancouver. There will be stops in Astoria, Oregon and Nanaimo, BC before sailing under the Lions Gate Bridge and docking at Ballantyne Pier - while not my favorite Pier it is necessitated by the fact three other ships are docked at Canada Place.
Of note on the Grand Princess I have the same cabin as I had for my 49 day South American cruise last year.
Here's the Grand Princess docked at Puntarenas, Costa Rica.
With my platinum status on Princess I will have some free Internet minutes so will try and post along the way but first there are some details to take care of.
1. Laundry - need to do one before I start to pack.
2. Packing - hope to just take a large overnight bag and my day pack.
3. US money - need to stop at an ATM and get some US $$$$.
4. Need to shore up plans with my friends in San Francisco.
5. Need to shore up plans to meet my niece and great nieces in Nanaimo.
6. Need to relax and take it easy.
Cheers!
Wednesday, April 30, 2014
Vancouver Volunteer Corp assignement to the Vancouver Sun Fun run April 25, 2014
This past Sunday I did my first volunteer assignment as a member of the City of Vancouver Volunteer corps - we act as ambassador's for some of the major events held in the city. This assignment was the Vancouver Sun Fun Run and this is me with me waterproof vest at the south on ramp to the Cambie Bridge - we are in small teams of 4 or 5 - we stay together as a group and one person has a radio who liaisons with our group captain who is a member of the Vancouver Fire Department.
The day went reasonably well and the rain held off for the most part - we have one medical situation that we spotted and alerted the medics to and we got a report of a lost child who was found before we had completed getting all the details.
At the end we do a debriefing. Next assignment is expected to be Canada Day but I am already volunteering for that so will pass it up. They want us to do 2 assignments per year minimum - we likely do either Celebration of Light or Pride Parade next.
Cheers!
Tuesday, April 29, 2014
The first cruise ship of the 2014 season arrives in Vancouver
This ship will be homeporting in Seattle this season but needed to make a stop in a "foreign port" to satisfy US law.
While down at Canada Place I ventured over to the Convention Center and Jack Poole Plaza and much to my delight and many others visiting the Olympic cauldron was lit.
Yesterday was a day of remembrance to those workers killed or injured on the job and there was a special memorial ceremony at the Plaza and the good folks at Fortis - our main gas supplier - picked up the tab for it to be on.
and finally the area around Canada Place is always picuresque but right now the tulips are out making for some great photo shots - here are two of my favorites.
Cheers!
Monday, April 21, 2014
Cruising thoughts April 21, 2014
Despite all the other issues that I am dealing with I still have a number of cruises planned throughout the year.
In a little over three weeks time I will board the Star Princess and spend three days cruising down the coast with a stop in Victoria before disembarking in San Francisco.
In San Francisco I will meet up with my cruising friends Adele and Cliff and spend the day with them and take in the SF Giants vs Atlanta Braves baseball game, then overnight in SF and the next morning board the Grand Princess for a 4 day cruise back to Vancouver with stops in Astoria and Nanaimo.
Then in October I board Amtrak and head for the east coast and Boston for another two combined cruises - the first one is seven days to Bermuda and then a return to Boston and then staying on the same ship the Norwegian dawn and the same cabin and do a 14 day Caribbean repo ending up in NOLA before boarding Amtrak for the trip home.
In April 2015 I have booked a 10 day Pacific Coastal cruise with an overnight stop in SF and visits to Santa Barbara, Catalina Island and Long Beach before heading up the coast to Vancouver - this is another cruise that doesn't involve any additional travel as the start and end are both Vancouver.
It will cause me to miss the Vancouver Marathon - at least the bike team part as I arrive back on Marathon day - may still be able to help at the finish line.
Finally while I haven't yet booked it will likely do the 2015 Norwegian Dawn repo from Boston to NOL0. While the price is okay there is no break on the deposit right now so I will wait to see if one is offered.
Cheers!
In a little over three weeks time I will board the Star Princess and spend three days cruising down the coast with a stop in Victoria before disembarking in San Francisco.
In San Francisco I will meet up with my cruising friends Adele and Cliff and spend the day with them and take in the SF Giants vs Atlanta Braves baseball game, then overnight in SF and the next morning board the Grand Princess for a 4 day cruise back to Vancouver with stops in Astoria and Nanaimo.
Then in October I board Amtrak and head for the east coast and Boston for another two combined cruises - the first one is seven days to Bermuda and then a return to Boston and then staying on the same ship the Norwegian dawn and the same cabin and do a 14 day Caribbean repo ending up in NOLA before boarding Amtrak for the trip home.
In April 2015 I have booked a 10 day Pacific Coastal cruise with an overnight stop in SF and visits to Santa Barbara, Catalina Island and Long Beach before heading up the coast to Vancouver - this is another cruise that doesn't involve any additional travel as the start and end are both Vancouver.
It will cause me to miss the Vancouver Marathon - at least the bike team part as I arrive back on Marathon day - may still be able to help at the finish line.
Finally while I haven't yet booked it will likely do the 2015 Norwegian Dawn repo from Boston to NOL0. While the price is okay there is no break on the deposit right now so I will wait to see if one is offered.
Cheers!
He's home but challenges remain - April 21, 2014
Finally got Jim home on Thursday but the challenges remain - while he is set up with a wheelchair, walker etc the fact remains he is far from mobile and yesterday served as a reminder.
He needed to go the bathroom - for urine he is still using a bottle so that isn't a big deal but the other one is.
He got on the toilet with the raised seat fine but had trouble getting off as it is still 6 inches lower than he is used too - it took myself and one other person two attempts to get him up.
He will have to work with the OT's when they visit him throughout the week to solve that problem - likely will need a komode.
Did wheel him across the street in his chair for coffee and a bite to eat with some other friends whose wife is now using a wheelchair as she fights a battle against cancer.
Cheers!
He needed to go the bathroom - for urine he is still using a bottle so that isn't a big deal but the other one is.
He got on the toilet with the raised seat fine but had trouble getting off as it is still 6 inches lower than he is used too - it took myself and one other person two attempts to get him up.
He will have to work with the OT's when they visit him throughout the week to solve that problem - likely will need a komode.
Did wheel him across the street in his chair for coffee and a bite to eat with some other friends whose wife is now using a wheelchair as she fights a battle against cancer.
Cheers!
Monday, April 14, 2014
The end is in site April 14, 2014
As some of you know from my posts my best friend Jim has been hospitalized since late October - mostly the result of double pneumonia and to a lesser extent heart issues - well the ordeal is just about over - he has been rehabing - getting his strength back out at the UBC hospital and is finally only a day or two away from coming home - yes he will need wheelchair and walker support for a while but once he gets more active he should strenghten his lower limbs and start to walk unimpeded.
Right now I am trying to help him plan his trip home - seeing that his apartment is able to handle his wheelchair - he will need help with his food and shopping etc. While many of these services are available in a large city like Vancouver you still want to have some say in the implementation of them.
Cheers!
Right now I am trying to help him plan his trip home - seeing that his apartment is able to handle his wheelchair - he will need help with his food and shopping etc. While many of these services are available in a large city like Vancouver you still want to have some say in the implementation of them.
Cheers!
Tuesday, March 25, 2014
Random thoughts March 25, 2014
Well to start off it's only nine months to Christmas.
Second, spring has arrived but it isn't showing up that much yet here on the west coast - rainy and cool today.
Had a great short mini-vacation over on Vancouver Island last week - headed up Island to Campbell River to visit my niece and 3 great nieces and sister-in-law - enjoyed their company and had a nice turkey dinner as well.
Then it was down Island and a stop in Duncan for lunch with my friend Sharon - we met through our long involvement in the Friends of Yellowpoint Society and while the group has formally disbanded many of us still keep in contact.
Sharon shares many of the likes as me - outdoor activities - she is a marathon runner and loves to bike ride - she retired from full time work last year and so we try to meet up whenever we are in each others neck of the woods.
She will be dog sitting here in Vancouver early April so will get together for lunch with her and one other FOYPS.
After lunch it was onto to Victoria where I stayed for one night before working my way to the ferry and the trip through Active Pass and into Tswassen and home.
It was a much needed break as I am still dealing with my best friend being in hospital - while he is much recovered he still isn't walking on his own but there is progress and if he continues to improve he could be moved to a rehab facility in a week to ten days.
He will have been in hospital for 5 months as of tomorrow.
Tonight I am attending the wind up party for the Celtic Fest volunteers - a free drink and some food is on tap. While the weather wasn't the greatest, the volunteer coordinator did a great job and overall the management gets high marks from me.
Tomorrow night I will be attending the first planning meeting for this year's team of Vancouver Marathon bike marshalls - slightly different format for the team this year - rather than have every one ride the whole course you will only need to ride the course you will be working on Marathon day.
Just got the bike tuned up and new brake pads installed - riding a lot better.
Also finally heard back from the Special Olympics about volunteering for them. Things will start to kick into gear in late April at which time we will get our roles assigned. They will have about 1000 volunteers to assist with the event.
My next up major travel is two B2B cruises in May - a short 3 dayer down the coast to San Francisco - an overnight stay there and taking in a SF Giants/Atlanta Braves baseball game and then back on a different cruise ship and sail back to Vancouver.
Well I think that is enough for today.
Cheers!
Sunday, March 9, 2014
Travelling solo and Europe 2017
Normally I like to travel as a solo person - well being single and with most of my friends either being partnered or not interested in the same activities as me I have long ago come to accept the single way of life.
I like the freedom to go where i want to go, eat when, where and what I like and necessarily be on a fixed schedule.
Yes it pisses me off that I often have to pay more to travel that way - especially on the cruise ships and to a lesser extend Amtrak.
Which brings me to the challenge of a long 60 day European trip.
I know from my experience on the South American cruise and my challenges with anxiety and depression issues that such a trip could cause me serious issues of whether to throw in the towel and abort the trip and find my way home.
This thought prevailed more than once on the cruise and that despite befriending a number of people I was faced with several bouts of depression and fatigue and unfortunately despite my meds it can hit at any time.
Another thing I have noticed in Europe is that hotel rates are based on a double occupancy rate and solos have to pay more.
The tour companies will try and match you with a same sex individual but after all these years of solo traveling i am not sure if that will work.
While it would be nice to have someone to share my down moments with the individual I get might have their own agenda and I would be more stressed that if I travel solo.
Conversely if I travel solo will I be lonelier - travelling in a bus - I will have an assigned seatmate - although they generally move the passengers around so that they all get to know each other and get to see the sights better.
This may in fact be the deciding issue if I take this trip.
Remember STRESSED spelt backwards is DESSERTS.
Cheers!
Saturday, March 8, 2014
Canadian Health Care - March 8, 2014
Canada has had a national government run health care system since the mid-1960's.
I remember when it was first brought in my late father saying he was happy that we would have health care coverage BECAUSE IN THE EVENT OF A MAJOR ILLNESS YOU WOULD NOT LOSE YOUR HOME, LIVE SAVINGS OR FACE BANKRUPTCY.
Since that time the program has been enhanced and yes we pay taxes for the system and in the province of BC monthly premiums based on income - anyone under about $24,000.00 pays no premiums but still receives the same level of care. Those under $30,000 - myself included pay reduced premiums.
Is it the best system - no - it was never meant to be womb to tomb health care although many people seem to think that is what it is. It never was intended to cover everything.
Yes it is expensive - it eats up about 40% of the provincial government revenue yet we have a budget surplus - the federal government provides a good chunk of the costs through a transfer of tax points - except for the last few years when the recession hit - the Canadian government was running surpluses and should return to them next year - this despite my distaste for the current federal government.
I bring this up as i alluded to a post around Xmas that my best friend had been hospitalized since the end of October and he is still in St Paul's although he is just waiting to be moved to a transition place to work on his rehab and get him up and walking.
What has it cost him directly to date. NOTHING!!! His only cost has been his TV rental.
While these figures are general - here is a rough cost breakdown of his stay
6 weeks in ICU = 42 days at about $4000.00 a day = $168.000
14 weeks in a general 4 bed ward = 98 days at $1500.00 a day =$147.000
and that doesn't include the cost of the pacemaker which I believe is around $6000.00
So over $300,000 spent and he isn't bankrupt and the government isn't going broke.
But then we here in Canada would rather spend our money on health care than military spending.
It is all about priorities - health care or military spending - thankfully successive Canadian governments of different political stripes from left leaning liberals to reform minded conservatives have made the right choice.
Cheers!
I remember when it was first brought in my late father saying he was happy that we would have health care coverage BECAUSE IN THE EVENT OF A MAJOR ILLNESS YOU WOULD NOT LOSE YOUR HOME, LIVE SAVINGS OR FACE BANKRUPTCY.
Since that time the program has been enhanced and yes we pay taxes for the system and in the province of BC monthly premiums based on income - anyone under about $24,000.00 pays no premiums but still receives the same level of care. Those under $30,000 - myself included pay reduced premiums.
Is it the best system - no - it was never meant to be womb to tomb health care although many people seem to think that is what it is. It never was intended to cover everything.
Yes it is expensive - it eats up about 40% of the provincial government revenue yet we have a budget surplus - the federal government provides a good chunk of the costs through a transfer of tax points - except for the last few years when the recession hit - the Canadian government was running surpluses and should return to them next year - this despite my distaste for the current federal government.
I bring this up as i alluded to a post around Xmas that my best friend had been hospitalized since the end of October and he is still in St Paul's although he is just waiting to be moved to a transition place to work on his rehab and get him up and walking.
What has it cost him directly to date. NOTHING!!! His only cost has been his TV rental.
While these figures are general - here is a rough cost breakdown of his stay
6 weeks in ICU = 42 days at about $4000.00 a day = $168.000
14 weeks in a general 4 bed ward = 98 days at $1500.00 a day =$147.000
and that doesn't include the cost of the pacemaker which I believe is around $6000.00
So over $300,000 spent and he isn't bankrupt and the government isn't going broke.
But then we here in Canada would rather spend our money on health care than military spending.
It is all about priorities - health care or military spending - thankfully successive Canadian governments of different political stripes from left leaning liberals to reform minded conservatives have made the right choice.
Cheers!
Passive planning
I think the best way to describe the planning for such an undertaking and this far in advance is passive - the collection of brochures from the various tour operators, watching for Internet or TV articles on some of the countries and talking to people who have been to Europe.
So far those people don't think I am crazy - which is a relief to me as some people think that I am a naturally born crazies.
They do seem astounded that I won't fly - more on that later - and would take the time to train across America and then cruise ship across the Atlantic.
I have already received either by mail or from a travel Expo show here in Vancouver a number of tour brochures - for the most part they offer the same itineraries - just different formats - from less expensive - using hostels and paying for some meals yourself to much more expensive - 4 *** hotels and fancier meals etc.
While cost will certainly be a major factor - I don't mind hostels etc - the placing of overnight stops will be a factor - case in point - in looking at Irish tours almost all have an overnight in Killarney - which is fine - it is only 30km from Tralee which I want to visit as it is the town that my father passed away on - well in the last brochure I received this week the operator of a budget travel company stops overnight in Tralee and not Killarney - suspect it is cheaper to stay in the former rather than the latter - if this tour is still available in 2017 it would likely be my choice.
As the brochures have arrived I am using color tab stickies to the tours that interest me for easier reference.
_________________________________________________________________
Now about the subject of not wanting to fly - as I indicated in my previous post on this subject my last experience on a plane was enough to turn me off and while planes and plane safety is much better now than 40 years ago there is still all the hassle of what you can and cannot take with you, etc, etc, etc.
My dilemma is this - I want to keep this trip to 60 days max - from the time I leave Vancouver until I return but here it where the challenge rises - it is 4 - 5 by Amtrak to the east coast and vis versa - so 10 days of 60 already taken.
It is a minimum of 7 days across the Atlantic x 2 = 14 days - so i am already at 24 days leaving only 36 to see the continent and of those two or three are likely to be used as travel to tour start points. So really only about 30 days to see the three focal points of my trip.
This method of travel also increases greatly the costs of doing the trip - however at this point I am not too concerned about the financial aspects of the trip
I might be able to find a repositioning cruise for the trip over that will include some of the Baltics - while not perfect it might have to do if time becomes a factor.
I might also bite the bullet and fly one way - one thought is to fly Vancouver to Shannon which would be reliving the trip 40 years ago as that is where I set foot in Ireland - then head to London by train and ferry and continue with the trip from there - or finish up in Ireland and fly either Dublin or Shannon to Vancouver. It would have to be a non-stop - the takeoffs and landing are what scare me the most - and if on the return it wasn't Vancouver but another Canadian or American city that would be fine - just Via or Amtrak it from there.
Lots of time to stress myself about those possibilities.
More later.
So far those people don't think I am crazy - which is a relief to me as some people think that I am a naturally born crazies.
They do seem astounded that I won't fly - more on that later - and would take the time to train across America and then cruise ship across the Atlantic.
I have already received either by mail or from a travel Expo show here in Vancouver a number of tour brochures - for the most part they offer the same itineraries - just different formats - from less expensive - using hostels and paying for some meals yourself to much more expensive - 4 *** hotels and fancier meals etc.
While cost will certainly be a major factor - I don't mind hostels etc - the placing of overnight stops will be a factor - case in point - in looking at Irish tours almost all have an overnight in Killarney - which is fine - it is only 30km from Tralee which I want to visit as it is the town that my father passed away on - well in the last brochure I received this week the operator of a budget travel company stops overnight in Tralee and not Killarney - suspect it is cheaper to stay in the former rather than the latter - if this tour is still available in 2017 it would likely be my choice.
As the brochures have arrived I am using color tab stickies to the tours that interest me for easier reference.
_________________________________________________________________
Now about the subject of not wanting to fly - as I indicated in my previous post on this subject my last experience on a plane was enough to turn me off and while planes and plane safety is much better now than 40 years ago there is still all the hassle of what you can and cannot take with you, etc, etc, etc.
My dilemma is this - I want to keep this trip to 60 days max - from the time I leave Vancouver until I return but here it where the challenge rises - it is 4 - 5 by Amtrak to the east coast and vis versa - so 10 days of 60 already taken.
It is a minimum of 7 days across the Atlantic x 2 = 14 days - so i am already at 24 days leaving only 36 to see the continent and of those two or three are likely to be used as travel to tour start points. So really only about 30 days to see the three focal points of my trip.
This method of travel also increases greatly the costs of doing the trip - however at this point I am not too concerned about the financial aspects of the trip
I might be able to find a repositioning cruise for the trip over that will include some of the Baltics - while not perfect it might have to do if time becomes a factor.
I might also bite the bullet and fly one way - one thought is to fly Vancouver to Shannon which would be reliving the trip 40 years ago as that is where I set foot in Ireland - then head to London by train and ferry and continue with the trip from there - or finish up in Ireland and fly either Dublin or Shannon to Vancouver. It would have to be a non-stop - the takeoffs and landing are what scare me the most - and if on the return it wasn't Vancouver but another Canadian or American city that would be fine - just Via or Amtrak it from there.
Lots of time to stress myself about those possibilities.
More later.
Monday, February 24, 2014
Dennis and Europe 2017 - Part 1 The Background
Some background info on my desire to go to Europe in 2017 after a 40 year absence.
My only previous time visiting Europe lasted little more than 72 hours - while on vacation in Europe by father fell ill and passed away in Tralee, Ireland - the date was June 28, 1977 - it is one of those dates you don't forget. He was on 62. It was stomach cancer - no indication before he left that he was sick but he was such a workaholic running the home construction company. We brought the body home for internment here in Vancouver.
I was able to arrange a quick flight over to Shannon and then a combo of bus and train arrived in Tralee - he had past a few hours before I arrived.
After making arrangements with the Canadian counsel - the following day we trained to Cork and then flew Aer Lingus to London - then an overnight in London - it is now July 1, 1977 - Canada Day - I got a big break on the return air as I was able to us my late father's home bound ticket - it was their actual departure date after seeing a fair amount of the continent. The Air Canada flight was suppose to be direct London to Vancouver but they added a stop in Calgary - while flying over the Rockies the plane hit a major turbulence - dropped perhaps 5000 feet or seems like it did - scared the shit out of me - no sleep for almost three days, drinking beer to steady my nerves - I vowed then that as long as my mother was alive I wouldn't take another plane ride.
Well she lived to almost 93 and passed away March 1, 2003.
By then I had taken my first cruise to Alaska with some friends who also won't fly and enjoyed it so much it has become an annual ritual for me.
___________________________________________________________
Once I retired at the end of 2006 I started to do more travelling - mostly cruising and using Amtrak where necessary to get to the embarkation ports.
Europe has always been on my bucket list but the logistics of doing it without flying are a challenge.
Once you turn 65 they call ideas - brain farts and errors or omissions - brain cramps or a senior's moments.
Well I had a brain fart recently - it goes like this.
In 2017 I will turn 70 and it will also be the 40 anniversary of my dad's passing so why not combine the two events in one celebration.
So thus the idea of going to Europe in 2017 was born.
___________________________________________________________
It will be a massive undertaking.
1. Getting to Europe - how to get there and where to start the trip.
2. What countries to visit - Ireland for sure as I would like to re-visit Tralee and the hospital where dad died. My maternal roots are Irish - grandparents come from County Salgo and County Galway.
My paternal roots are from what is now Slovakia - a small town in the High Tatras near the Polish border.
3.What time of year - one idea is to try and be in Tralee on the actual date June 28th.
4. Finances - it won't be a cheap trip but have had some talk with my financial advisor on how to pay for it.
5. How long to be gone - while traveling solo has many advantages as I learned on my long 49 day cruise a year ago it can become depressing especially for some one who suffers from anxiety attacks.
6. Independent vs group travel.
7. Rail vs bus.
8. Other parts of Europe that I want to see are the Scandinavian countries and the Norwegians Fjords.
I have started to look at what some of the tour companies in Europe have to offer and had the good fortune this past weekend to attend a Travel Expo show here in Vancouver where just about all the major players had booths and literature to help my planning. Also had the opportunity to talk to some of them and have some planning options to persue.
I see it having three compenents.
1. British Isles and Ireland
2. Scandinavia and Norwegian Fjords
3. Central and Eastern Europe with a stop in Slovakia.
For the most part the tours don't change much from year to year - the dates are similar with only pricing being the most likely to change.
I can expect the first of the 2017 brochures to be available late 2015.
Over the course of the next little while I will start to outline and answer some of the questions raised above.
Also as I get closer to making firm decisions I will create a dedicated blog to use.
Cheers!
D
My only previous time visiting Europe lasted little more than 72 hours - while on vacation in Europe by father fell ill and passed away in Tralee, Ireland - the date was June 28, 1977 - it is one of those dates you don't forget. He was on 62. It was stomach cancer - no indication before he left that he was sick but he was such a workaholic running the home construction company. We brought the body home for internment here in Vancouver.
I was able to arrange a quick flight over to Shannon and then a combo of bus and train arrived in Tralee - he had past a few hours before I arrived.
After making arrangements with the Canadian counsel - the following day we trained to Cork and then flew Aer Lingus to London - then an overnight in London - it is now July 1, 1977 - Canada Day - I got a big break on the return air as I was able to us my late father's home bound ticket - it was their actual departure date after seeing a fair amount of the continent. The Air Canada flight was suppose to be direct London to Vancouver but they added a stop in Calgary - while flying over the Rockies the plane hit a major turbulence - dropped perhaps 5000 feet or seems like it did - scared the shit out of me - no sleep for almost three days, drinking beer to steady my nerves - I vowed then that as long as my mother was alive I wouldn't take another plane ride.
Well she lived to almost 93 and passed away March 1, 2003.
By then I had taken my first cruise to Alaska with some friends who also won't fly and enjoyed it so much it has become an annual ritual for me.
___________________________________________________________
Once I retired at the end of 2006 I started to do more travelling - mostly cruising and using Amtrak where necessary to get to the embarkation ports.
Europe has always been on my bucket list but the logistics of doing it without flying are a challenge.
Once you turn 65 they call ideas - brain farts and errors or omissions - brain cramps or a senior's moments.
Well I had a brain fart recently - it goes like this.
In 2017 I will turn 70 and it will also be the 40 anniversary of my dad's passing so why not combine the two events in one celebration.
So thus the idea of going to Europe in 2017 was born.
___________________________________________________________
It will be a massive undertaking.
1. Getting to Europe - how to get there and where to start the trip.
2. What countries to visit - Ireland for sure as I would like to re-visit Tralee and the hospital where dad died. My maternal roots are Irish - grandparents come from County Salgo and County Galway.
My paternal roots are from what is now Slovakia - a small town in the High Tatras near the Polish border.
3.What time of year - one idea is to try and be in Tralee on the actual date June 28th.
4. Finances - it won't be a cheap trip but have had some talk with my financial advisor on how to pay for it.
5. How long to be gone - while traveling solo has many advantages as I learned on my long 49 day cruise a year ago it can become depressing especially for some one who suffers from anxiety attacks.
6. Independent vs group travel.
7. Rail vs bus.
8. Other parts of Europe that I want to see are the Scandinavian countries and the Norwegians Fjords.
I have started to look at what some of the tour companies in Europe have to offer and had the good fortune this past weekend to attend a Travel Expo show here in Vancouver where just about all the major players had booths and literature to help my planning. Also had the opportunity to talk to some of them and have some planning options to persue.
I see it having three compenents.
1. British Isles and Ireland
2. Scandinavia and Norwegian Fjords
3. Central and Eastern Europe with a stop in Slovakia.
For the most part the tours don't change much from year to year - the dates are similar with only pricing being the most likely to change.
I can expect the first of the 2017 brochures to be available late 2015.
Over the course of the next little while I will start to outline and answer some of the questions raised above.
Also as I get closer to making firm decisions I will create a dedicated blog to use.
Cheers!
D
Tuesday, December 17, 2013
Well as the christmas season and the start of winter both approach it is time to update this blog.
It's not lack of activity that is the cause of the lack of update but more to me being lazy and stressed - in some ways that is good in that you don't have to follow by rantings.
HAS ANYONE EVERY MENTIONED THAT THE WORD STRESSED SPELLING BACKWARDS IS DESSERTS.
It has also being a rough couple of months - my best friend of more than 50 years - he's like an older brother to me - well he is a year and little older than me - has been stuck in a bed at St Paul's hospital here in downtown Vancouver for almost two months recovering from a severe bout of double bacterial pneumonia - the tubes are gone - just a nasal connection.
His biggest challenge now is to get up out of bed - after seven weeks flat on his back he has no strenght in his legs and can't stand - the physio-therapists or PT's as they are called in the hospital are working on getting him up and about.
At present they sling him up into a wheel chair and have him sit there - this will help the blood flow - since he has started this the swelling in his feet has gone done.
Time to meet a friend for lunch. More later.
It's not lack of activity that is the cause of the lack of update but more to me being lazy and stressed - in some ways that is good in that you don't have to follow by rantings.
HAS ANYONE EVERY MENTIONED THAT THE WORD STRESSED SPELLING BACKWARDS IS DESSERTS.
It has also being a rough couple of months - my best friend of more than 50 years - he's like an older brother to me - well he is a year and little older than me - has been stuck in a bed at St Paul's hospital here in downtown Vancouver for almost two months recovering from a severe bout of double bacterial pneumonia - the tubes are gone - just a nasal connection.
His biggest challenge now is to get up out of bed - after seven weeks flat on his back he has no strenght in his legs and can't stand - the physio-therapists or PT's as they are called in the hospital are working on getting him up and about.
At present they sling him up into a wheel chair and have him sit there - this will help the blood flow - since he has started this the swelling in his feet has gone done.
Time to meet a friend for lunch. More later.
Tuesday, September 10, 2013
Idle thoughts Sept 10, 2013
Where is the time going - haven't posted much lately but thought it would be a good time to do a brief update.
In less than two weeks I will be on the road again - this time training it to Boston to board the Norwegian Dawn for a 14 day Canada/New England cruise.
Full details on that trip can be found on my other blog.
In addition I have been busy working volunteer events and as President of my Strata Council or Owner's council dealing with a couple of major projects and one related legal matter so I will be rady for the holiday.
I will celebrate my 66th birthday on the ship in the town of Portland, Maine - there are a number of us with special occasions on this cruise so we are meeting as a group to celebrate the various milestones.
After the cruis it will be time to start preparing for the fall and winter seasons - and that means Vancouver Canucks hockey.
Also would be remiss if I didn't congradulate the Vancouver Canadians Baseball team on winning their third straight league championship - these are the rookie or baby Blue Jays and the time changes each year or repeats are harder to obtain.
And as a footnote - the starting and winner pitcher was a local boy from the southern suburb of Ladner, BC.
That's it for now
In less than two weeks I will be on the road again - this time training it to Boston to board the Norwegian Dawn for a 14 day Canada/New England cruise.
Full details on that trip can be found on my other blog.
In addition I have been busy working volunteer events and as President of my Strata Council or Owner's council dealing with a couple of major projects and one related legal matter so I will be rady for the holiday.
I will celebrate my 66th birthday on the ship in the town of Portland, Maine - there are a number of us with special occasions on this cruise so we are meeting as a group to celebrate the various milestones.
After the cruis it will be time to start preparing for the fall and winter seasons - and that means Vancouver Canucks hockey.
Also would be remiss if I didn't congradulate the Vancouver Canadians Baseball team on winning their third straight league championship - these are the rookie or baby Blue Jays and the time changes each year or repeats are harder to obtain.
And as a footnote - the starting and winner pitcher was a local boy from the southern suburb of Ladner, BC.
That's it for now
Tuesday, July 2, 2013
Friday, June 28, 2013
General idle thoughts June 28, 2013
This is always a tough day for me because on this date in 1977 I lost my father to cancer in a hospital in Tralee, Ireland while on vacation with my mother - it involved a flight overseas, to meet my grieving mother and a return with the body to Vancouver - it is also the last time that I have flown - the flight back hit a significant air turbulence over the Rockies that scared the bee-gee-us out of both of us and resulted in me resolving not to fly again as long as my mother was alive - in the ten years since her passing in 2003 at a ripe old age of 92+ I still haven't had any desire to board a plane - this has limited by travels somewhat but did lead me to discover wonderful relaxing cruise ship travel.
D
D
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