Guemes Mountain

 "Mountain" is a bit of an exaggeration, but it was great to be outside and on a trail; the hike takes you to the highest point on the island - a whopping 688 feet. 

Guemes Island

I usually go somewhere for the Thanksgiving holiday - Canada, Mexico, one year Iceland, but these are unusual times and adjustments had to be made. So this year, instead of leaving the state (not advised) or leaving the country (not possible), I searched the map and found Guemes Island, one of the lesser known of the San Juans. This morning I drove to Anacortes and got on a small barge-ferry for the 5-minute crossing to this lovely, rural island which is home to about 600 people. I drove around for about an hour; half the people in cars and all the people on the road walking or biking waved to me. There are Black Lives Matter signs everywhere and practically every other property had a Biden-Harris sign out, which I did not expect and was delighted to see. 

The tiny ferry dock in Anacortes.

My home for the next two days.

This exact sign was all over the island. Usually next to this one:

I only saw one of these. 

Kubota Garden

Continuing with my local jaunts -- Kubota Garden is a public park in Seattle that was started as a private garden in 1927 by a Japanese immigrant. It's a great place to see the fall colors and go for a walk on a sunny autumn day.

Camano Island

Clear view of Mt. Baker

Camano Island is an 'island' that warrants air-quotes as it's disconnected from the mainland by just a tiny strip of water that you can easily drive across on a highway-bridge. It's only about an hour from my house yet I'd never been there in all my years in Seattle. There is no real draw... it's very close to town and the highway that crosses the bridge to Camano is barely off I-5 so it doesn't feel like a true getaway; there isn't a quaint village area that I observed, just plenty of chain fast-food joints and way too many Trump/Pence 2020 signs; but with nothing better to do yesterday and no place [else] to go, I hopped in my car and drove north to a coastal trailhead I spotted on the map. 

Anacortes

Another weekend excursion in the Pacific Northwest. 

If you live in Seattle and your overseas travel plans are indefinitely on hold, you can always just get in the car and drive, so I got in the car on a sunny Saturday morning and drove north, then west toward Anacortes. I didn't actually get to the town, just the outskirts, which included a stop for lunch and the viewpoint at Mt. Erie Park. 

 

Sometimes all you need on a Saturday is a spot for lunch called the Shrimp Shack.

Magic Mountain

Travel in the time of COVID means lots of cancelled trips in 2020 but that doesn't mean I have to stay home, especially when this is just a couple hours from my house.

 

Riding the gondola at Crystal Mountain

 Some nice views of Mt. Adams

 So lucky to live near Mt. Rainier

Come From Away

Awesome show, would rank this a close second after “Hamilton.”

Back to the travel show yesterday for a couple hours, then to a matinee of Come From Away, then dinner in Chinatown — a wholly wonderful birthday.

Some information about "Come From Away" which I typed up from a booklet I got from the Visit Gander, Newfoundland booth at the travel show:

On September 11, 2001, North American airspace was closed to all commercial flights due to the terrorist incident in the U.S. As a result, 255 passenger aircraft were diverted to 17 Canadian airport; of these, 34 came to Gander, with about 6,600 passengers and crew. In addition, four military flights were also diverted, for a total of 38 aircraft. Passengers came from 95 countries, with differing cultures, dietary and religious needs, and customs.

All checked baggage had to be left on board the aircraft; passengers were only allowed to take their carry-on baggage. So in addition to needing food, nutrition and shelter, many passengers also required clothing, as well as medications and baby needs. The towns of Gander, Gambo, Glovertown, Glenwood, Appleton, Norris Arm, Benton and Lewisporte stepped up to the task and fulfilled all these needs. passengers were provided shelter in schools, churches, halls, and private residences. 

Over the course of 5 days, local groups and residents tended to the needs of about 6,600 anxious people, often working around the clock to do so. In addition, entertainment was provided, including boat rides, hikes, parties, BBQs, and of course, Screech-Ins. Kosher and vegetarian meals were required and prepared, a place was arranged for Muslim and Jewish Passengers to pray, and even 17 dogs/cats and 2 Bonobo chimpanzees were given care by the SPCA. Locals did their best to ensure the "Plane People" had everything they needed.

As the last of the aircraft flew out of Gander on September 15th, Gander and the nearby towns started to return to normal. Schools reopened, people went back to their daily routines, and Gander seemed a bit empty. New friendships had been forged, and many would keep in contact even to this day.
In 2001, Gander's population was 9,651. Adding 6,600 passengers mean a population increase of nearly 70% in just a few hours. 

In the years since 2001, Gander received hundreds of thank you cards, letters, and photos from not only the passengers, but also from people who had seen the media coverage, especially on American prime time specials. This led to heightened interest in Gander and an increase in visitors. 

In 2012, Gander and the area's assistance during 9/11 hit the stage at Sheridan College, Ontario. Written by David Hein and Irene Sankoff, based on a 2011 visit to Gander, success of the musical, "Come From Away" was immediate, and in 2017, the show debuted on Broadway to rave reviews. "Come From Away" became a phenomenon that continues to sell out in New York, Toronto, London, Dublin, and Sydney - as well as across America with the touring company. The success has meant a strong increase in local tourism, along with considerable media coverage and a new global awareness of the hospitality of Newfoundlanders. 

And after talking to all the nice people from Eastern Canada at the Travel Show and then seeing the show, Newfoundland has been moved to close to the top of my list of places to visit.

dinner in Chinatown with Jeff and Andrew

New York Times Travel Show

A day of meeting people in order to explore new places to go. My friend Jeff, who loves to travel as much as I do, met me in New York to attend the New York Time Travel Show at the Javits Center. I spent three years attending tradeshows at the Javits for a previous job, so consider the convention center one of my old stomping grounds. Jeff and I spent the day walking the show, stopping at booths promoting tourism on 6 of the 7 continents -- although trips to South Georgia Island get close to the 7th. 

I have a definite need to visit the Seychelle Islands. 

Guadeloupe Islands look great too - that's where Death in Paradise
is filmed (a TV show I like) and I've always thought it looked beautiful...
although come to think of it, there seem to be an unusually high number of murders there. 

Thank you, no. 

And then to Emily's in the West Village for an incredible burger (at $26, it better have been) and pizza with Mozzarella, pistachio, truffle cheese, and honey. Trust me, it's spectacular.

Walking back to midtown from downtown I noticed something on the google map which make me take a picture of this building:

Look familiar?
"So no one told you life was gonna be this way..."
how about now?