One World, One People

"Make a decision that on any trip you take, you'll make a point to be open to new experiences, seek options that get you out of your comfort zone, and be a cultural chameleon - trying on new ways of looking at things and striving to become a temporary local"

Rick Steves - Travel as a Political Act

"I like to say (naively, I know) that if every American were required to travel abroad before voting, the US would fit more comfortably into this ever-smaller planet"

Rick Steves - Travel as a Political Act

Women in Africa often spend much of their
day hauling water from wells for their families
Masai Women in the Masai Mara, Kenya

I recently read the book "Travel as a Political Act" by Rick Steves.  I have always enjoyed Rick's travel books which gives me information on destinations that I can use while traveling.  This book is a little different.  He wrote it shortly after 9/11, when travel changed for most of us.  Some people were scared to travel after this, for most of us though, it just made getting through the airport more of a challenge, and it made us more aware of things going on around us.  It made us realize that we needed to pay more attention to the world and what was happening.

For those of us who were actually traveling when 9/11 happened, we became aware fairly quickly that things had changed.  My husband and I were in Spain when it happened, and getting home became an issue.  When we were allowed to fly, security was immediately different than it had been when we departed our country.  We spent 4 hours going through security at the Madrid airport, and everything was checked.  There were armed guards everywhere, and dogs sniffing everything.  We knew our lives had changed, and not for the better.

This family in Bejing is more like us than different
They love their child and want what is best for him
China trip 2010

But this book was interesting in that Rick feels that when we travel we should travel differently now.  We should all be ambassadors, so to speak.  The more we travel, and meet people from other countries, the more other people realize that down deep we are all the same.  We all have the same needs, we love our families, we may have a love/hate relationship with our governments but we love our countries, we get tired, and we get hungry.  We are all just people, trying to live our lives the best that we can and we are more alike than not.  And when we realize that, then we can all get along better.  There are extremists in every society, but we shouldn't let extremists define how we feel about other people.

But that means that when we travel, we should try to connect with people in those countries.  Instead of the big bus experience where you go from city to city seeing just the sights, we should go and actually see a place, and mingle and get to know the people on a one to one basis, and become part of the place, at least for a little while.  He says that rather then accentuate the difference between "us" and "them," travel should bring us together.  Now I know that not everyone is comfortable doing that.  But I do think that if we all got to know other people and other races, with other points of view, then the world might be a better place.

We met our Scottish friends, Myra and Malcolm in Spain the day after 9/11
We connected with them partly because of the tragedy and became friends
Here we are traveling with them in Scotland in 2012

"I fondly remember the confusion I felt when I first met someone who wouldn't trade passports with me.  I thought "I've got more wealth, more freedom, more opportunity than you'll ever

have - why wouldn't you want what I've got?"  I assumed anyone with half a brain would aspire to the American Dream.  But the vast majority of non-Americans don't.  They have the Bulgarian Dream, or the Sri Lankan Dream, or the Moroccan Dream.  Thanks to travel, this no longer surprises me.  In fact, I celebrate it." 

Rick Steves - Travel as a Political Act

 

A little girl with her mother from my trip to China in 2010

America is a great country, and I am proud to be an American.  But just as we are proud of our country, we have to realize that people of other nations are also proud of their countries and proud to be citizens of that country.  Most of them have no aspirations to be American.  And when we travel we need to be less arrogant about our country, as if it is the only place worth living, and realize that these other countries are wonderful places with proud citizens.  I still cringe to remember a fellow travel agent who said she never bothered to learn even one sentence in the foreign language of the country she was visiting, because everyone should just speak English.  As if she thought we were so much better than everyone else and they should just cater to us Americans.  I certainly hope she has given up traveling to other countries, she would be a horrible ambassador.  And so would any of her clients that she has given advice to.

An illustration of a roundabout and how
you should proceed through them
Taken from the internet

If you have traveled much then you know that other countries, though different from us, have some wonderful ideas.  Look at the trains that run all over Europe, and on time.  Wouldn't it be nice if we had a system like that?  Our county is so big, that I suppose it is not likely that will ever happen, but it would be nice.  And I love their roundabouts on the highways.  Instead of a stop light or sign on every corner, you simply enter the round-about and exit where you want.  Traffic keeps moving.  However, they put a round-about in a small town in Washington state that I visit regularly, and I noticed the locals were having a hard time trying to figure out how to navigate it.  Also, Europe may have higher taxes, but they also have healthcare for everyone.  People here would call that socialism, but the people there love that they are being taken care of.  Ask them, and they will tell you they love it.  And most Europeans work far less hours than Americans.  They make slightly less money, because they don't want to work as much as us, but they enjoy their holidays.  Maybe we need to be less driven, and enjoy life a little more.

This picture was taken in Tangiers,
Morocco on 9/13/2001 by me.
This is 2 days after 9/11 happened

Recently I ran into a cousin that I had not seen for at least 30 years.  He did not even recognize me to begin with, although I thought he looked much the same, just much older.  He must be in his 70's now, as he is quite a bit older than me.  He asked what I had been doing over the years.  I told him I had been a travel agent, now retired, and that I still loved to travel.  We started talking about travel and some of the places I had been, and some places he had been.  I told him I had been in Spain on 9/11 and all of a sudden his face changed.  As soon as he heard 9/11 he became angry.  He spat out "as far as I'm concerned, the only good Muslim is a dead Muslim."  I said "excuse me, but that seems like you are lumping everyone together, I happened to know a few Muslim's and there are some very nice people, who just happen to practice that religion."  He said that he was a Christian, and that they didn't believe in God, so therefore he stood by what he said.  My thought, which I expressed to him was, that first of all that didn't seem like too Christian of an attitude, and secondly, they do believe in God, just not his God.  With that I decided that he was a person I didn't have a lot in common with, regardless that he is my cousin.  We parted ways.  I sincerely hope he does not travel and spout that hatred to others in other countries.  He would not be a good ambassador.

Muslim Women in Stone Town
Zanzibar - 2013 trip to Africa

When we were in Africa recently we spent 3 days on the island of Zanzibar.  It is a beautiful little island off the coast of Tanzania, and it happens to be mostly Muslim.  We were provided a guide to take us out to a spice farm, and also to show us around Stone Town.  He was a very nice man who happened to be Muslim.  We talked while walking around town.  I found out something I didn't know about Muslims, they do not like dogs.  I had mentioned my dogs at home and how I missed them.  He told me that dogs were considered unclean in the Muslim religion, and that no Muslim would go near a dog.  If one came near them, they would throw rocks at them.  I don't know if that is true of Muslims in this country, it may be something more in that area of the world.  He told me that was just the way they were raised to believe and that he understood that I loved my dogs.  I told him my dogs were part of my family.  He was willing to understand that we are different and he said that he knew that most people (non-Muslims) did love their pets  We had an interesting conversation and he gave me a wonderful tour of the city, telling me stories about places and people.  Because we disagreed about dogs, didn't stop us from getting to know each other.  What we need to do is recognize that we are raised with different ideas.  We don't have to agree with other peoples ideas, and we don't need to change what we believe in, but we can still get along.  And even if we have different ideas, for the most part we are still very much alike.  Our guide has a family that he loves, just like I do, it is just that my dogs are part of my family.




Masai women in Tanzania, Africa trip 2013
Jambo, means hello in Masai, and everywhere
we went we were greeted with friendly greetings of Jambo

So what should we do when we travel, so that we can connect with other people and get to know them?  I think the most basic things are:  Learn some basic sentences of the language of the country you are traveling to; never assume someone speaks English, always say hello to them in their language and then ask them if they speak English; learn the customs of the place you are going, and what is considered polite; don't assume anything, ask first; connect with people, and get to know them; stow your pre-conceptions and be open to new experiences; overcome fear, traveling is as safe today as it was before 9/11, there was always some danger because life is full of danger, but you can't dwell on it and let it rule your life; go beyond your comfort zone and challenge yourself to try new things and meet new people and really learn about the place where you are traveling.

The more you travel the more you see how different, but yet, how alike we really are.  I have traveled in areas that have extreme poverty, such as the Philippines and Africa.  I have traveled to places, like Croatia, that are just now recovering from war.  I have been in countries that are mostly Muslim, such as Turkey and Morocco and just recently the island of Zanzibar.   But the people in these places are still proud of who they are and what they believe in.  We need to have them see us as people just like them, with dreams and hopes and families.  And if they do see us that way, and we see them as being like us, that will promote peace and understanding, hopefully.

George and I in front of the Blue Mosque in Istanbul in 2010

Hawaii Volcanoes National Park

"Volcanoes are monuments to Earth's origin, evidence that its primordial forces are still at work. During a volcanic eruption, we are reminded that our planet is an ever-changing environment whose basic processes are beyond human control. As much as we have altered the face of the Earth to suit our needs, we can only stand in awe before the power of an eruption."

Taken from the National Park page

Kilauea Overlook in Volcanoes NP

For almost one hundred years, Hawaii Volcanoes National Park has offered its visitors a window into the past through the many and varied cultural sites contained within its boundaries. Established as Hawaii National Park in 1916, the landscape of Hawaiʻi Volcanoes has been shaped by the people who have been a part of its history. Over five centuries before the establishment of the park, Native Hawaiians lived, worked and worshiped on this sacred ground.

I visited Volcanoes National Park about 5 years ago.  As a travel agent we are sometimes sent on what is known as a FAM trip.  The trip is to familiarize us with what there is to see and do, and places to stay in the area they have sent us.  I was sent on a FAM trip to the big island of Hawaii.  It was a dirty job, but someone had to do it.  It was a week of seeing the sights of the island, spending time touring the different hotels there, and even relaxing and enjoying ourselves, all at company expense.  Not a bad way to go.  One of our days on the island we drove over to the other side of the island and toured Volcanoes National Park.  It was a very informative day, and one I very much enjoyed.  Now, my husband and I along with another couple, are planning a trip to the big island in January, so I decided to take another look at what there is to see and do at the park, which we are sure to visit again.


Steam vents at Steaming Bluff in Volcanoes NP

Hawaii Volcanoes National Park is open 24 hours a day year-round, including all holidays.  The Kilauea Visitor Center is open daily from 7:45 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.  The Jaggar Museum is open daily from 8:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.  And the Kahuku Unit is only open on Saturdays and Sundays from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Kahuku is closed on the first Saturday of each month, week days and federal holidays.

The Kiluea Visitor Center should be your first stop when entering the park.  The center features informative displays and has the movie "Born of Fire..Born of the Sea", which is shown on the hour throughout the day, starting at 9:00 a.m. and showing the last film at 4:00 p.m. One thing to remember when you go is that the park is located at 4000' elevation and the weather can change very quickly. You should be prepared for hot or cold and sunny or rainy. A warm, sunny day can change to cold and rain in a matter of minutes.  So make sure you take along some warmer clothes to slip into if you need them.

View from Jaggar Museum Overlook

Another place you should stop is the Jaggar Museum.  This museum is on volcanology with seismographs and other equipment used by scientists to monitor volcanoes. The overlook offers spectacular views into the summit caldera and it is also the best and closest place to observe a volcanic eruption at present.  During the daylight hours the robust plume of volcanic gas is a reminder of the molten rock churning in a lava lake beneath the crater floor.  After sunset, Halema'uma'u continues to thrill visitors with a vivid glow that illuminates the clouds.

The following is a recommendation from the National Park Page on things to do in the park:


Holei Sea Arch at
end of Chain of Craters Rd.

One to 3 Hour Visit?
If you have only one to three hours, explore the summit of Kīlauea volcano via the Crater Rim Drive; an 11-mile road that encircles the summit caldera, passes through desert, lush tropical rain forest, traverses the caldera floor, and provides access to well-marked scenic stops and short walks. (Note: Crater Rim Drive is closed between Jaggar Museum and the Chain of Craters Road junction due to volcanic activity in Halema'uma'u.)

Four to 5 Hour Visit?
If you have four to five hours, you may also explore the East Rift and coastal area of the Park via Chain of Craters Road. This road descends 3,700 feet in 20 miles and ends where lava flowed across the road in 2003.  At the end of the road you will find the ocean and the Holei Sea Arch.

  

Thurston Lava Tube, Volcanoes NP

One of the stops on the Crater Rim Drive is a stop at the Thurston Lava Tube.  I particularly remember walking through this tube when we visited.  Just before you arrive at the tube the forest becomes increasingly lush. From the parking area it is a 20 minute, 1/3 mile walk through a tree fern forest.  This is an excellent place to stop and listen to the birds. This lava tube was discovered in 1913 by Lorrin Thurston, a local newspaper publisher. At that time the roof of the tube was covered with lava stalactites, but those soon disappeared to souvenir collectors.  As you walk through the tube consider that several hundred years ago a river of red lava rushed through. And that lava currently travels from Pu'u O'o to the ocean in a labyrinth of lava tubes much like the tube you are walking through. Watch your head in the tube - there are some spots with a low ceiling!

There are so many things you can do when visiting the park.  There are hiking trails, including hiking out to where the active lava is flowing, but do so with caution and make sure you have good hiking shoes to protect your feet, and take water to drink.  You can also bicycle the roads of the park.  There are also many ranger led programs.  If you want to spend more than a day in the park then there are campgrounds and lodging in the park, as well as in nearby Hilo.

Volcano House provides
Lodging and a restaurant

Lodging - There is lodging available at the Volcano House.  Perched on the rim of Kīlauea caldera with a view toward Halema'uma'u crater, and just a short walk across Crater Rim Drive from park headquarters and the Kilauea Visitor Centrer, the historic Volcano House is known for its Hawaiian hospitality, and its location within Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park.  The restored Volcano House offers 33 historic guest rooms, a dining room, snack bar, lounge, and gift shop, along with cultural events and demonstrations.

Namakanipaio Campground

There are two campgrounds in the park, Namakanipaio and Kulanaokuaiki.   Namakanipaio Campground is located at 4,000' elevation.  It is a large open grassy area with tall eucalyptus and ohi'a trees.  The campground has restrooms, water, picnic tables and barbecue pits.  Maximum stay is 7 days.  There is a fee of $15 per night for the drive-in sites and $10 per day for the walk in sites. There are also 10 newly refurbished camper cabins and campsites nearby Nāmakanipaio Campground.  At Kulanaokuaiki camping is free and is available on a first-come basis.  No reservations and no permits are necessary.  Stays are also limited to 7 days in a month.  It is at an elevation of 2700'.  There is no water at this location, and only 8 campsites.  There is a vault-type toilet and picnic tables.  Fires are not permitted.   

 

Cabins at the Namakanipaio Campground.

For more information about the park, including fees and hours of operation, and other things to see and do, go to:  http://www.nps.gov/havo/index.htm



Detours on the Road to Where Ever

"Establishing goals is all right if you don't let them deprive you of interesting detours".

Doug Larson

"So many roads. So many detours. So many choices. So many mistakes."

Sarah Jessica Parker

When you are taking a road trip, you usually have a destination in mind. Quite often you have time limitations and schedules, so you need to just hit the road and get to where you are going.  We seldom seem to have all the time in the world to just meander and see all the sights along the way. But even when you are on a schedule you can take a few little detours and still get to your destination, and you will be rewarded for doing so.  You will have had an experience, or learned something new, or just seen something entertaining that you will remember long after the trip is over

My husband and I take a road trip to Washington every year.  Now that we are retired, we do have the time to do a little wandering off the beaten track.  But the trip this year was going to be shorter than the past years, and when we left home we did have a schedule, as I had made reservations at a cottage on the Washington coast, which was our first destination.  It is a 2 day trip from San Diego to the Washington coast.  We made it to Redding the first day, and that was pushing it.  We got stuck in terrible traffic through Los Angeles, which really slowed us down by several hours.  Also, we have the 2 dogs with us, so we do have to stop every few hours for them to stretch their legs and take a potty break, and for that matter, us too. 

Rogue River Creamery

So the second day we are headed for our destination, and I see a sign along the side of the road which advertises The Rogue River Creamery.  They are located in Central Point, Oregon and we were approaching that area.  They said they had samples.  Now I have to say that I LOVE cheese and have actually read about this place.  I had seen an article that talked about how good their cheeses are.  So when I saw the sign I said to my husband, "we have to stop."  The good thing about traveling with George is that he is pretty easy going and willing to stop most of the time.

Since we had the dogs with us and it was a hot day, George said he'd stay in the car and I could go check it out.  I went in and had a few of their samples, and fell in love with several of the cheeses.  Their blue cheese was so creamy, and probably the best blue I had ever had.  A couple of the cheeses in their display case caught my eye, especially one that had the word raspberry attached to it.  I found out that you could ask to taste anything, and they would gladly oblige.  The raspberry cheese had been soaked in a raspberry ale, and it was my favorite cheese of the day.  I ended up purchasing 3 packages of cheese, the raspberry, the Rogue River Blue and the Mt. Mazama cheddar.  I told them I would be putting them in the cooler of my car and not actually eating them for about 5 days, when we would be at our cabin, so they wrapped them special for me, so that they would stay fresh. 

Then I noticed that there was a chocolate factory next door.  Convenient, since besides cheese my favorite thing is chocolate.  So I just had to go check it out and get a few samples there.  They had a chocolate that was very spicy, which I quite enjoyed.  The stop took just over an hour, including the driving time to the shop and back to the freeway, and I thought it was definitely worth the detour.

On the way home we also made a detour.  We had heard about VooDoo Doughnuts from several people in the area.  They are quite popular in Portland, so much so that they always have a line around the block waiting to get in.  I guess the draw is that they are different from the usual doughnut shop, in that they have unusual toppings and also, I was told, unusual shapes.  We decided to skip the one in Portland and instead stop at their shop in Eugene, which would be a quick hop off the freeway on our way south.  Their signature doughnut seems to be their maple bar which is topped with bacon.  I thought, what the heck, might as well try it.  I do require my bacon to be cooked well done and crispy and this seemed like it was.  Sometimes you just have to try the unusual.  However, I have to say that I don't really see the draw.  The doughnuts were good, but you can get good doughnuts lots of places.  The shop was a little unusual, you have the weird name going for it, and some of the doughnuts were different, but I wouldn't necessarily go back.  But still, I was glad we made the detour and checked them out, or I would have always wondered what they were like.

VooDoo Doughnuts

The maple bar with bacon

I will tell you that if you are anywhere near the Portland area, and you are at all into literature and books, then one detour you should definitely make is a stop at Powell's Book Store.  It is different from the ordinary book store.  Powell's City of Books is a book lover's paradise, the largest used and new bookstore in the world. Located in downtown Portland, Oregon, and occupying an entire city block, the store stocks more than a million new and used books. Nine color coded rooms house over 3,500 different sections, offering something for every interest, including an incredible selection of out-of-print and hard-to-find titles.



The Travel Section at Powell's

 A few facts about Powell's:   
• It has 68,000 square feet packed with books.
• They buy 3,000 used books over the counter every day.
• Approximately 3,000 people walk in and buy something every day.
• Another 3,000 people just browse and drink coffee.
• They stock 122 major subject areas and more than 3,500 subsections.
• You'll find more than 1,000,000 volumes on their shelves.
• Approximately 80,000 book lovers browse the City's shelves every day in Portland and via the Internet

It is one of my favorite places in Portland, and I make a point of stopping there whenever we are in the area.  They have a great travel section, and I bought several new travel books there this year.

A fun little detour we did on this trip actually took us by complete surprise.  We had left Lassen National Park and were heading south on the 395.  I was dozing, I admit it. So I didn't see it.  My husband said he had just seen a shoe tree.  I was a little puzzled.  He found a place to turn around and we went back, and sure enough, there was a tree beside the road, covered in shoes.  It was worth going back for, just for the amusement factor. 

The Shoe Tree on Hwy 395

So whenever you are driving down the highways on your way to wherever, make sure you take time to occasionally take a detour and check out what is around you.  You may discover a cute little town, or a new kind of cheese, or just see something amusing.  Or you may find dinosaur tracks in the dessert, which we did when we made a detour in Arizona last year.  Those detours can be fun, and certainly a lot more exciting than spending more time in the car.

Dinosaur Tracks in the dessert in Arizona



Lassen Volcanic National Park

"It is fine wherever my feet take me
As long as there are sights to see"

Unknown

Lassen Volcanic National Park which is located in northeastern California, is home to smoking fumaroles, meadows of wildflowers, clear mountain lakes, and numerous volcanoes. Jagged peaks tell the story of its eruptive past while hot water continues to mold the land.  All four types of volcanoes found in the entire world are represented in Lassen Volcanic National Park. Volcanoes found in the park include shield (Prospect Peak), plug dome (Lassen Peak), Cinder Cone (Cinder Cone), and Composite (Brokeoff Volcano) volcanoes.

Manzanita Lake with Lassen Peak in the background

Lassen Volcanic National Park started as two separate national monuments designated by President Theodore Roosevelt in 1907: Cinder Cone National Monument and Lassen Peak National Monument.  It became a National Park on August 9. 1916.

The greater Lassen area has been volcanically active for about three million years. Recently the region has seen eruptions from Cinder Cone (~350 years ago) and Lassen Peak (~100 years ago). While the area sleeps now, steam vents, boiling springs, and bubbling mudpots remain active--direct evidence that the volcanic center still smolders. No one can say when or where the next eruption will occur. We can only say that it will.

Inside Lassen Volcanic NP

We visited Lassen NP for the first time on our way home from our annual trip to Washington just a few weeks ago.  It was a short detour off our route home, and since we hadn't visited it before, we decided to take the detour.  It is a smaller park than many of our National Parks, but well worth the stop.  We had our dogs with us, so we were limited to what we could do there, so we just took the road through the park.  Dogs are permitted in the park, but only in the paved areas, they are not permitted on any of the trails.  If you want to hike any of the trails, or participate in any of the ranger programs, then you should definitely plan to spend a couple of days here.

Lassen Volcanic National Park is open all year long, 24 hours a day, but during the winter months road access is limited due to the snow.  Many facilities are open for the summer season only; however the Kohm Yah-mah-nee Visitor Center at the southwest entrance is open year-round. If going in the winter months it is advisable to check road conditions prior to going to the park.

This is the trail that leads to the top of Lassen Peak. 

There are plenty of activities to participate in.   There is of course, hiking, with lots of trails to explore.  Lassen Volcanic National Park offers over 150 miles of hiking trails for visitors of all levels of ability. Discover the devastation of Lassen Peak's last eruption on the accessible trail at the Devastated Area, explore Lassen's largest hydrothermal area on the Bumpass Hell trail, or spend the day climbing Brokeoff Mountain and enjoy its spectacular panoramic views.  There is also boating on the lakes, swimming, fishing, stargazing, bird watching, camping and in the winter you can go snowshoeing, or just play in the snow.

Lassen receives over 30 feet of snow on average each winter! The season often begins in October and persists through June or July.  Snow playing, skiing and snowshoeing are great ways to enjoy Lassen's winter wonderland.  You can join the rangers for a ranger-led snowshoe program offered January through April.


Creek at Sulphur Works

There are many ranger-led programs throughout the year.  There are guided hikes of the Mill Creek Falls trail to learn about our solar system.  There are constellation tours and stargazing.  There are tours that will teach you about black bears or cougars.  There are bird watching programs, and programs that will teach you about volcanos or the mudpots, fumaroles and boiling pools at the Sulphar Works.  There are quite a few programs designed just for kids.  They can become junior rangers or junior firefighters.

Because of the hydrothermal areas it is important to always stay on the established trails and boardwalks. Ground in hydrothermal areas can look solid but may actually be a thin crust hiding pools of acidic boiling water or mud. Traveling off-trail in these areas may result in severe injury. You can view one of these bubbling hot hydrothermal areas at a viewing spot along the road at the Sulphur Works.  It is one of the first stops on the main road shortly after entering at the Southwest entrance.

Camping in Lassen NP

If you want to stay in the park there are cabins at Manzanita Lake that you can rent through the park services.  They are rustic and they are the only cabins in the park, so book early.  There are eight campgrounds in the park.  Approximately half of the park's campsites are reservable.   Four campgrounds are first-come, first-served.  All group sites and stock corrals require reservations. Each campsite has a picnic table, fire ring equipped with grill, and a metal bear box for food storage. There are no hookups in the park. A dump station is located near Manzanita Lake.


For more information about Lassen Volcanic National Park, including fees, pet policy, making reservations for the cabins and camping information, things to do, ranger programs or special events - go to: http://www.nps.gov/lavo/index.htm

View from Bumpass Hell

Lake Helen



Me at Bumpass Hell



Diamond Peak



Road Trip 2013

"As long as I live,  I’ll hear waterfalls and birds and winds sing.  I’ll interpret the rocks, learn the language of flood, storm, and the avalanche. I’ll acquaint myself with the glaciers and wild gardens, and get as near the heart of the world as I can."

John Muir

 

The Washington Coast with North Head Lighthouse



Baxter enjoying running on the beach

Every year we make a trip up to Washington, to visit family, and to spend some time at our cabin by the river.  When we were working, we had limited time, so we would usually just get there by the quickest route, and come back.  Now that we are retired, we can take more time, explore things along the way, and relax for a time at the cabin.  This year we took a little less time than we have in the past few years, because we had just gotten home from our trip to Africa, and decided we didn't want to turn around and spend another 6 weeks gone.  We did go for a little over 3 weeks though, and it was a nice trip.

We headed up the I-5 till we got to Salem, then we turned toward the coast.  We spent 3 nights in Long Beach, Washington at a cute little cabin near the beach.  We could get up each morning and take a short walk down to the beach.  We had our 2 dogs, Baxter and Sadie, with us on the trip, and they love running on the beach.  We also went down at sunset to let them run, and to watch the colors of the sky.



The trail from our cabin to the beach

During the day we visited with my husbands family.  This is the area where George grew up and he still has some family in the area.  It is always nice to see them.  He also has a cousin who comes up to Long Beach each summer from Arizona.  He fishes and catches crab all summer.  He had us over for some fresh crab and a salmon dinner.  He also sent us off with some crab to take on our next step in our journey.

From Long Beach we headed into Vancouver, Washington.  My mother is 95 and lives in a retirement home here.  We shared our crab with her, and made Crab Louie salads.  We spent the next 2 1/2 weeks at our cabin on the river, which is near Vancouver.  We have had this place since my mother was a little girl.  She turned it over to my sister and I a few years ago and we put a nice new cabin up on the property.  It now has running water, electricity and indoor plumbing, which is always nice to have.  It is small, but quite comfortable to stay in.  We have a deck overlooking the river, and we eat most of our meals outdoors at the table on the deck.  We enjoy watching the wildlife.  This year we saw various birds, ducks and geese.  We have, in the past, seen deer and once we saw an Osprey dive into the water and pull a trout out.  So you never know what you might see.

Geese on our river

During the time we spent at our cabin, we visited with numerous friends and family that we both have in this area.  It is always nice to re-connect with loved ones.  I also had a small get-together of old classmates from my high school days.  We had lots of laughs while we reminisced about the past.



Baxter and Sadie in the inner-tube with me

I was glad that the weather was nice while we were there.  That is not always the case in Washington.  You can never count on it being warm and sunny, even in the summer.  We did have a couple of cooler days, and one day when it sprinkled, but for the most part it was warm and sunny, and I spent most days in the water, either swimming, wading and looking for pretty rocks, or lazing around on my inner-tube.  I did make a point of walking up river each day with the dogs, to the upper rapids.  I then loaded the dogs onto the inner-tube and floated over the rapids and back downstream to where the cabin and our beach was.  The dogs enjoyed this walk and the ride back.

The deck of our cabin overlooking the river

I picked blackberries, which were ripe, in the field near our cabin.  I made blackberry cobbler and blackberry pie for desert with our friends.   We barbecued on the deck and had some pleasant meals with friends and family.  I celebrated my birthday on the deck with my sister, my mom, a cousin and George.  It was a peaceful and relaxed couple of weeks, and I hated to leave.  But eventually one must go home. 

Lassen Volcanic National Park

So we headed back down I-5, but shortly after entering California we took a side trip on the 89.  We headed east and then south until we reached Lassen Volcanic National Park.  I am trying to visit all of the National Parks that I can, and this is one I had never been to.  We spent most of our 2nd day of our return home at the park.  It is a smaller park, and of course we had the dogs with us, which meant that most of our exploring of the park is limited to the main areas.  The dogs are not allowed on any of the trails. We are not big hikers anyway.  There were a few places that required short hikes, but George was willing to stay with the dogs while I explored.  I will be writing about the park in the next few days and will add that to my National Park series.

Lake Tahoe

From there we drove a rather longer route home, just exploring and seeing a new area.  We ended up on Hwy 50 which took us around Lake Tahoe.  We had not been in that area for many years, and it is a pretty area to drive through.  We would have enjoyed a few days stay at Lake Tahoe, but I had a commitment I needed to get home for, so headed south again on I-5 and finally got home.  Dogs were glad to see their home and to get out of the car.  And we have next year to look forward to, and another adventure.


Here are two more pictures taken on our trip:





Mount hood with a full moon

The river just below our cabin



Health & Travel

I am taking a short break, this is a post from earlier in the year, but the information is important and I thought I would re-post it. 


"The tourist who moves about to see and hear and open himself to all the influences of the places which condense centuries of human greatness is only a man in search of excellence."

Max Lerner

"The alternative to a vacation is to stay home and tip every third person you see."

Unknown

 

Macchu Picchu, a place you may need to worry
about altitude sickness.

When we travel we want to stay healthy so we can enjoy our trip.  Cruising the Nile, an elephant ride in Thailand, Machu Picchu, the Taj Mahal or a safari in Africa.  The places to go are endless, as are the reasons for going.  But regardless of where and why you go, travel should be stimulating and fulfilling, and you want to be feeling good so that you can enjoy the experience.  

I have gotten sick while on vacation, and it is not fun.  There are some things you can do in advance to protect yourself from illness, and there are some things you should carry with you in case you get sick.  Sometimes you are required to have shots before you enter a country, and that is to protect you from diseases that are in that area.  Sometimes you are not required but if you check with a travel doctor you will find that it is recommended that you have a shot to protect yourself from a disease that might be in the area.  And there are other things to think about before leaving.  Jet lag can affect your health.  And being cooped up in a plane with hundreds of other people and their germs can also cause health issues.

Men and women were not made to travel at 35,000 feet scrunched up in a seat, quickly crossing 12 time zones, to eat and drink every three hours whether they are hungry or not.  It can take a toll on you, not just with jet lag, but people catch illnesses from other passengers.  There are some precautions you can take to help prevent illness and also to help with jet lag.

Things to consider before you go:

Where are you going – do you need shots?

What can you do in advance to stay healthy?

What can you do while traveling to stay healthy?

If you get sick while traveling, what should you have with you?

If you get really sick, how do you locate medical care in a foreign country?

What about travel insurance?

Where are you going – do you need shots?

If you are traveling within the USA or Canada, or in most of Europe, then you shouldn’t worry about having shots.  Most contagious diseases are pretty well under control, and there are no real concerns.  There are many other areas of the world where getting shots before you travel are an issue.  Before you go to South America, Central America, Asia or Africa, you should definitely check to see if any shots are required for the area you will be traveling.  If you do not get those shots, and they are required, then you will not be allowed to enter.  You will need to have a shot record with you.  As an example, we are going to Africa next year, and I know we will have to have a Yellow Fever shot.  There are some areas of the world where you might want to consider having medical treatments before you go as a preventative, even if it is not required.

A travel doctor or travel clinic is the best place to check for what inoculations you might need before your trip.  These doctors and clinics specialize in knowing what is needed for the area you will be traveling in.  If you are active duty or retired in the military, or a family of a military person and have access to the military medical facilities you will probably find that you can get these services through them and for free.  I am lucky because my husband is retired military and we go to their travel clinic for our inoculations before we travel.  If you do not have that service available, then you will find there are civilian travel clinics available.  Your own doctor may also be able to get the information for you, but a travel doctor is going to be more up to date on the information than anyone else.

So, how soon before you go should you make your appointment with the travel doctor?  It is recommended that you go at least 6 to 8 weeks prior to your departure.  All the vaccines will then be completely effective by the time you arrive at your destination.  You won’t have an achy arm on the plane, and remember that several of the vaccines which you may need require a series of shots, so it will leave enough time for that.   When you make the appointment, make sure you take along your itinerary and a record of your past inoculations.

Malaria is by far the most serious infectious threat faced by travelers to the tropics.  Malaria is transmitted by the bite of the female mosquito.  If you are going to an area that has malaria then the travel doctor will prescribe anti-malarial medication.  It is important that you take the medicine, as malaria is a preventable disease.  There are some other things you can do to help prevent malaria, such as using a DEET repellent and wearing light colored clothing with long sleeves, and sleep in well-screened, air-conditioned rooms, or under a mosquito net.

What can you do in advance to stay healthy?

Be proactive about your health.  Stay physically fit, mentally fit, well rested and well fed.  I believe in taking vitamins, and particularly just before a trip I make sure I get all my vitamins.  And even though there is no proof that it works, I take a dose of Airborne every day for the 4 days before I travel and again on the morning of the flight.  It can’t hurt, and I think it gives me a little extra protection from all those germs on the airplane.

Most importantly, get your shots if they are needed, take your malaria medicine if prescribed, and take out travel insurance that covers medical, just in case you need it.

What can you do while traveling to stay healthy?

Use your common sense.  It is the most important thing you can take with you on your trip.  The most common problems are usually related to your stomach and bowels.  Drinking water in other parts of the world can cause problems.  If you are traveling in a third world country in particular, make sure the water you drink is bottled water, and make sure the bottle is sealed.  Some places have been known to just refill bottles with tap water and sell it. Remember that when you order a drink and it has ice cubes in it, the ice cubes are just frozen tap water and should not be in your drink. 

Be careful of the foods you eat and drink when traveling
they can be the cause of illness.

Eating strange foods can also cause stomach problems.  I have only had a problem once and that was when I was in Paris.  I had some seafood that definitely caused me some problems.  I had severe diarrhea within hours of eating it.  So be careful what you eat.  I like to try new things but sometimes we need to be a little cautious, especially with seafood which can cause problems if it is not completely fresh.

Jet lag can cause problems while traveling, and there are a few things you can do to help prevent this from slowing you down.  Jet lag occurs when our internal body clock becomes out of sync with that of our new desination.  When you are flying across several time zones, it will get out of sync.  I try to start the trip with my destinations time zone in my mind.  I try to sleep on the plane during the time it is night time at my destination,  I have to take a sleeping pill usually in order to actully go to sleep.  Other things you should do while on the plane include drinking plenty of fluids (but not alcohol or caffeine drinks such as coke or coffee).  Don't eat everytime they bring you food, because they will bring you a meal every 3 hours.  Take a stretch or stroll once in awhile.  Once you arrive, switch to their time zone and stick to it the first day.  Don't go to the hotel and sleep, keep moving until it is bedtime in that time zone.

If you get sick while traveling, what should you have with you?

I always keep a bag packed with medical supplies with me when I travel.  It always has band-aids (in case I get a cut), moleskins (in case I get a blister), cold pills – both daytime and nighttime (in case I get a cold), immodium (in case of diarrhea), laxative (because stomach problems when traveling work both ways), Cipro (which is a prescription, but for some reason I tend to get bladder infections when traveling, so I make sure I have it with me).  I also make sure I have aspirin or Advil for pain, and sleeping pills because I sometimes have problems sleeping even at home, and on a trip it can be worse.  Sleeping pills will also help me sleep on those long flights across the ocean.

Me trying to decide whether to drink the
herbal cold medicine in China, Glad I did,
it worked.

I also carry with me a few packages of a herbal cold remedy that I was given in China.  I don’t really know that much about it, but I took it in China and my cold was gone in just a couple hours.  I have taken it since then, and it really works, so now it goes with me.

If you are traveling to a place that has a high altitude, such as Machu Picchu, then you should consider the possibility of altitude sickness.  You might want to carry a medicine called Diamox with you, just in case.  Altitude sickness is a concern above 7,000 feet, and can be a particular problem over 12,000 feet.  If you are flying into a place with a high altitude you should take a little time to acclimatize. 

If you get really sick, how do you locate medical care in a foreign country?

There are countless ways of accessing medical care while you are away.  First of all, if you have taken out travel insurance, then you would call the travel insurance company and they will direct you to where to go, and it will be covered under that policy.  If you do not have travel insurance then your best bet is to call your local embassy or consulate in the area and they should be able to direct you to the best medical care available locally.  Another option would be the hotel you are staying in.  They may have a hotel doctor or they may be able to furnish you with a list of nearby doctors or medical facilities.

Obviously, the quality of medical care around the world varies greatly.  You may not want to get a blood transfusion in many areas of the world and should only accept one if it is absolutely necessary to save your life (assuming you have a say in the matter).  Do your utmost to ensure that it is screened for HIV.  Having adequate medical travel insurance so you can quickly be evacuated to a better medical facility is a good idea.

If you have any pre-existing medical problems, it is wise to carry a letter from your doctor summarizing your conditions.  That way, if you have to go to a doctor, you will have that information available for them.  Your home doctor’s phone number should also be carried with you in case they need to be contacted for a consultation.  Also, you should carry a list of all medications with you because the doctor abroad will need to know what medications you are on.

What about travel insurance?

I have mentioned this a couple of times above, but I would like to say again - purchase travel insurance if you are going to a foreign country.  The insurance you have at home will likely not cover you if an emergency arises while you are away. You can skimp on other parts of your trip, but travel insurance can be a life-saver, literally.  If you get ill in another country, your travel insurance will direct you to a doctor or medical facility.  It will cover the expenses.  If you are very ill, they will evacuate you to the nearest medical facility and back home as soon as this option becomes possible.  The insurance will also cover emergency replacement of lost medications and supplies, as well as dental care if needed.  Travel insurance will usually also cover trip cancellation, trip interruption, lost luggage as well as loss against the default or bankruptcy of suppliers.  They will also assist with replacement of lost travel documents and will provide legal assistance if it is needed.  Travel insurance is worth getting.

 

The most important thing to remember is once you know you are prepared for anything that might happen, then it is time to relax and enjoy your trip!