Pinehurst Golf Adventure

 

Pinehurst NC

A Golf Adventure

August 2021

 

           

          I’ve played golf in Branson MO, Kansas City KS, and Salt Lake City, but haven’t done a real “golf vacation.” Marjorie’s brother-in-law Jeff (my then apartment mate when he started dating Mary, thereby leading to my soon-to-be 50^th wedding anniversary ˗ but that’s another story) invited me to join a golf gathering of friends from St. Catherine’s High School in Racine WI (plus others over the years) that since 2001 has been a periodic reunion event dubbed “Still Crazy;” the core group is captured in freshmen “mug shots” (1961) in one of event organizer Bob Schroeder’s e-mails. 

 

Their logo is, shall we say, an homage to both the SCHS Angels and the “Blues Brothers” (John Belushi & Dan Aykroyd). Sites for the gatherings have included Santa Fe, Utah, Myrtle Beach, Breckenridge, Phoenix, & Orlando. Cancelled last year by the COVID pandemic (like so many things), but the 11^th “full-fledged official trip” has been organized for Pinehurst NC in August. I wait to see if there’s room for a “guest,” the invite coming in June to be on the 24-man roster, a smaller group this time. Couldn’t pass up this adventure. More about Pinehurst and courses below, but suffice to say legendary Bobby Jones called it “the St. Andrews of United States golf.”

            I arrange my participation with Bob, who has quite a task! Plus Tim Paulson handling financial matters. The stay is covered by a trip charge that, to quote Bob, “covers EVERYTHING once you arrive: shared vehicle travel, all meals, all munchies/healthy eating between meals, a dozen balls, green fees, carts, range balls, beer, wine, soda, juices, fruits, personal bar soap, tournament entry fees and prizes, four days of great conversation, a houseful of developing new friends, more golf tips than you can stand...and the best tasting hot early morning coffee you can ever recall...on and on...” I decide to join most of the guys for early Saturday arrival to allow a practice round Sunday before festivities officially begin with dinner Sunday night ˗ and, Jeff says, my “initiation.” My flights from Albany to Charlotte NC via Washington DC use mileage accumulated on our United credit card while the pandemic limited travel. Thought I might visit friends outside of Charlotte, but logistics don’t work out. A borrowed bag from friend Glenn will hold golf bag & clubs as checked baggage. That bag has oversized dimensions, but golf bags don’t incur an extra charge. Have to stay under 50 lbs, splitting clothes between carry-on & checked bag. It helps that I can use a very light golf bag that golf buddy Mike wins at a golfing fundraiser.

Burlington VT

 

Burlington

June 2021

 Marjorie likes to refer to her “Birthday Festival,” so maybe I can at least call this trip part of my birthday “celebration.” I’m still basking in birthday greetings. Marjorie’s brother-in-law Jeff’s BlueMountain e-card with gospel singers serenading me: “Still lookin’ good. Can I get an Amen!” Plenty of other greetings via e-mail & Facebook. A round of applause from my CARGO golf league. But it’s time to let go and enjoy our jaunt up to Burlington. It’s so nice that travel options are beginning to expand. We enjoyed an “interstate” trip to Nantucket in mid-May. Now Vermont, one of the most stringent states for COVID testing & quarantine requirements (14 days!) for out-of-state visitors, is easing its restrictions; it’s the 1^st state with 80% vaccinated. We’ve been briefly thru Burlington a couple of times, most recently 2010 coming back from a trip to Montreal with Steve & Jill Messner, but haven’t really seen much of the city. On the shores of Lake Champlain, Vermont's largest city, population 42,500, Burlington is “known for its ultra-liberal environment and free-thinking spirit.” It reminds us of Madison WI.

Thursday, June 17^th: “Panoramas and Markets”

           A gorgeous day heading out at 7am for the 3-hour 140-mile drive north. Down into the high 40s last night, lots of sun with temps in the 70s today. Good thing we’re not headed out West: a “dangerous heat dome” bringing temps of 115-120 to Phoenix, Las Vegas, and other places. Crossing below Lake George, passing a large horse farm and several big stone companies (lots of granite around here). Into Vermont, a stop at a Welcome Center. 

A scenic drive: farms, pretty towns, mountains on both sides. Past “Devil’s Bowl” racetrack (seems like Lebanon Valley Speedway near us) and Shelburne Museum (we visited in 1977 with little Matt and Marjorie’s Mom).

        Into town, first stop, after circling to find parking on a nearby dead-end street, Battery Park, high overlooking Lake Champlain. A military camp during the Wat of 1812, a decorative cannon commemorates a battle defending against the British. Now a park with promenade, playground, and bandshell for summer concerts. “Beanie’s Bus” (a converted school bus) also seems to be a mainstay for lunch, snacks, even an ATM. Most notable for us: “Wow!” panoramas of the lake and Adirondack Mtns in the distance. 

 

New Paltz, Catskill, and Nantucket Outings

 

New Paltz-Catskill-Nantucket 

Spring 2021

          With multiple pandemic cancellations & rebookings, there haven’t been journal-worthy travels for a while. And I’ve missed my travel agent persona. So I’ve decided to combine here a day trip to New Paltz & Catskill with a weekend jaunt to Nantucket to give my writing chops some work. Its nice to get away a bit on these mini-trips, but we haven’t been hermits, finding various earlier Spring outings and photo ops. Flowering trees & shrubs have been beautiful, forsythia seem particularly bright, and daffodils then tulips coming out in force. 

 

Life in a Pandemic Part 2

 Life in a Pandemic Part 2 

 It takes annoyingly long to open the lengthy "Life in a Pandemic" post for editing, so I'll continue with a second post. What I might have expected to last maybe a few months has now continued for a year and still more to come!

        We’ve had another stretch of cloudy dreary weather, so a brighter day with breaks of sun in the 40s triggers our continuing efforts to get out & about with local outings, this time to Hudson. After delivering to St. Pius robes & linens Marjorie has laundered, we find ourselves behind 2 Brooks BBQ trucks; should we follow them for lunch? Into downtown Hudson – all the parking is metered! But we find a spot a block from the main drag. Many colorful old buildings & shops, murals, store windows, and especially antiques. Marjorie: “Not the Hudson I used to work at” (for CHP). Hudson has experienced quite a revival spurred in part by antique dealers. A friendly, relaxing lunch at another Patisserie Lenox (as in Great Barrington). Tradewinds (a “Not for Profit Mercantile”) an especially pretty shop. Nearby whimsical marker: “On this site in 1897 nothing happened.” A stop at The Warehouse with many (very expensive) antiques; Marjorie deems it a “Mary Spot,” sending photos to her antique hound sister.

 On the way out of town a nice view of the historic Hudson-Athens Lighthouse in mid-River, Over the Rip van Winkle Bridge with beautiful views of the Hudson & Catskills on the way home. 

 

 

 

 

 

Life in a Pandemic

Life in a Pandemic

A Personal and Historical Record

 

 

             We had a busy travel year planned for 2020. . . until the coronavirus aka COVID-19 pandemic throws travel into disarray. A trip to Europe for the end of May is cancelled. Ironically, it was highlighted by the famous Oberammergau Passion Play, which began in 1634 when residents of the village vowed if God spared them from the bubonic plague ravaging the region they would produce a play depicting the life and death of Jesus. Offered every 10 years since, it had been cancelled only twice before, in 1770 when all passion plays were banned & 1940 due to WWII. We accept an offer to reschedule at the same price when the Play resumes in 2022, with full refunds for trip insurance and United miles used for flights.Another shoe drops: a Viking River Cruise in Portugal with Marjorie’s cousin Jim and wife Susan scheduled early August is also cancelled. As usual, Viking is very accommodating: full refund or voucher for 125% of what’s been paid. I coordinate with Susan to rebook the trip in Spring 2021 (and then to July, joined by Marjorie’s sister Mary & Jeff). Closer to home, a visit with friends Francisco & Beth for Nantucket's Daffodil Festival has to be called off. One other possibility, Marjorie’s 55^th high school reunion in Portage, is also cancelled.

More cancellations accumulate on the calendar. Choir singing stops and all Masses move to streaming on-line. My Mendelssohn Club rehearsals and Spring concert are cancelled; we have some Zoom meetings of brothers and of the Board to think about the Fall, which is eventually also cancelled. Viewing a webinar on transmission from choral singing, to both singers & audience, was pretty scary! Marjorie has a major art exhibit through April with 3 artist friends cancelled, but thankfully able to reschedule in December (hopefully!). 

 The summer art camp she’s organized for several years for the Colonie Art League is cancelled, as is the Siena College Relay for Life event (tho Marjorie nonetheless surpasses her fundraising goal!). Son Matt and family in Queens are affected in various ways. Matt winds up being furloughed by Manhattan School of Music, moving onto unemployment checks. Anthea continues going to her mostly empty Metropolitan Youth Orchestra offices on Long Island, working hard to hold things together. Grandsons William & Miles finish the school year on-line. William’s soccer is on hold, Miles must settle for on-line dancing and singing classes.

 So what to do? Doesn’t look like I’ll have opportunities to do the usual trip journals for my blog. But I can do something similar to document our life in a pandemic, our local activities and ongoing updates of developments & events ˗ a combination of personal journal & historical record. Plus staying at home gives time to work on photo books, other projects. Artist-in-Residence Marjorie is able to create a stockpile for future shows. 

Saratoga Birthday

 

Saratoga Birthday

September 2020 

 What to do in the midst of a pandemic for Marjorie’s “Birthday Festival” (as she likes to call it)? A new garage door installed, but that doesn’t seem quite the thing. William Shatner sings to her on an e-card, courtesy of Jeff like my Dolly Parton BD serenade. I cater cheesecake for her church discussion group at our house, tho they leave too quickly so we’ll have to eat it all. Still not enough ˗ and she’s complaining there’s no marching band! A surprise overnight should do the trick. Plus good forecasts thru the weekend: sunny & cool (into the 30s, highs about 60). 

National Parks

National Parks

What to do while “sheltering” during the Spring 2020 coronavirus pandemic? Catch up on reading, binge watching on Netflix, whatever. Travel is quite limited ˗ and we’ve already had a trip canceled (ironically, it was highlighted by the Oberammergau Passion Play, begun nearly 400 years ago in response to the plague) ˗ so no new trip posts for a while. But I’ve created other posts organized around “themes,” from religious sites to seasons to holidays. So I decided to pull out a selection of National Park photos, from a variety of trips taken from my childhood and college years to quite recently. By my count, I have visited 30 of the 61 American National Parks, ranging across the country from Maine to the Rockies and West Coast to Hawaii and Alaska; plus another 6 Canadian National Parks, from the Maritimes to the Rockies. These travels have been made by automobile, train, and boat. They provided wonderful panoramas of nature, and wildlife including bears, elk, caribou, killer whales, big horn sheep, and others. I’ll organize this post geographically, starting with the US and moving on to Canada. (These have all been included in other, more extensive posts on this blog; you are invited to look at those posts for more details.)

East

Several trips have taken me into parks in the Eastern US. A family trip when I was young went into the Everglades. Marjorie and I had an early trip to the Smokies that included Mammoth Cave and some views of Shenandoah (1973); we’ve revisited through the latter area (2003, 2016), with a more extended stay in the Smokies in 2016. Acadia was visited in 1976.

Acadia

  

 

Mammoth Cave 

Great Smoky Mountains 

 The Smokies offer some fabulous panoramas, especially in the Fall.

 

Shenandoah 

Everglades 

The only photo I have from my childhood trip is one my brother took of lightning during a ferocious thunderstorm while on a tour.

But a later trip in 2022 provided lots of photo ops,

including lots of wildlife.

                                                                 West 

Rocky Mountains

Travels into the Rockies have included a whirlwind driving tour with a friend in college (1967), stops along a train trip (1974), and parts of 2 more recent trips (2012, 2019).

Glacier 

Our stop on a train trip included an overnight stay in Lake McDonald Lodge. The photo above shows St. Mary Lake in Glacier.

Badlands 

 The Badlands are in South Dakota, so not really the Rockies, but a stop here was on the way West to Yellowstone on my college trip.

Grand Teton

This was also a brief "drive-through" after touring Yellowstone.

Yellowstone 

Between 2 trips I've spent more time in Yellowstone, including a stay with Marjorie at Mammoth Springs Hotel in the park, which offers a wonderful array of scenic panoramas: thermal & geyser areas,

 

canyon,

 mountain meadows,

and wildlife.

Rocky Mountain 

Rocky Mountain was another relatively brief "drive-through" on my college Western trip.

Mesa Verde 

Mesa Verde was also a very brief stop on the college trip, but a later trip included an overnight following a train excursion in Southern Colorado that allowed more time to enjoy the plateau views and admire the cliff dwellings. 

Black Canyon of the Gunnison 

Another "drive-by" during my college trip.

Southwest

Southwestern parks were visited during the 1967 college trip and other trips to the region: Arizona in 1987, Utah in 1997 & 2019, and Santa Fe in 2012.

 

Great Basin 

The wonders of Great Basin vary from high mountains to desert to cave, and amazing night views thanks to the darkest night sky in the contiguous US.

Arches 

Bryce  

Celebrated my birthday at Bryce Canyon Lodge in the park.

Canyonlands 

Capitol Reef 

Grand Canyon 

The "Granddaddy" of National Parks, and I've been lucky to visit twice: another "drive-by: on the college trip and a longer stay with Marjorie as part of an Arizona trip in 1987.

Zion 

Petrified Forest 

California

 

Visits to Californian parks ˗ Sequoia and Kings Canyon and Yosemite ˗ occurred during a belated honeymoon in 1972. 

Pacific Northwest

Marjorie and I have traveled to parks in the Pacific Northwest in 1986, 2008, and 2013, visiting Mt. Ranier, Olympic, and Crater Lake.

 

Mt. Ranier 

Our visit to Mt. Ranier included a stay at aptly named Paradise Inn in the park.

Olympic 

Olympic is another park that contains a wide range of beauty, from mountains to rain forest to seashore. And we again enjoyed stays inside the park at Kalaloch and Lake Crescent Lodges.

Crater Lake 

Hawaii & Alaska

We traveled to Hawaii in 1989, visiting 3 islands.  

Hawaii Volcanoes 

A drive around the Southern tip of the Big Island Hawaii for early morning views, steam rising from lava reaching the ocean.

Haleakala 

Another very early drive up to the summit at sunrise. 

          We traveled to Alaska in 2001, a combination of car and Inside Passage cruise.

 

Denali 

We stayed in the park at Denali Princess Wilderness Lodge, had a wonderful nature tour into the park.

Glacier Bay 

Cruising on the "Ocean Princess." 

Kenai Fjords 

We drove down from Seward for a beautiful boat tour of the park, glaciers and wildlife. 

Canada

Parks visited in Canada have ranged from the East, including the Maritimes of Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island (in 1981 & 1990 via ferry and car) and the Thousand Islands bordering New York (1984), to the Canadian Rockies (by car in 1992 and train plus car in 2014).

 

Cape Breton Highlands (Nova Scotia) 

Fundy 

Beautiful tidal sculptures.











 

Prince Edward Island 

Pastoral scenes, including Green Gables, and lovely shorelines.

Thousand Islands 

Beautiful scenes, islands of all sizes, and good fishing.

Banff 

A wonderful combination of mountains, lakes, and wildlife, including tea at Lake Louise Chalet.

Jasper  

More of the same!