durangoscots

Glad your neighbors are nearly home... travel is a real throw of the dice these days. Also, that meal looks really, really good. Susan

If this happened on a number of occasions, obviously the individual is not dealing with the reality of their own limitations. The escort from the ship should alert the tour desk. Sometimes the difficulty of a tour is not clearly stated..... I had one such in Brazil. I managed not to cause a problem and kept up, but the guide took more difficult routes than described (he was young and enthusiastic) and I thought at one point I would not make it. When we reached a place where there were some seats at the end of a long and miserable walk, one of the locals saw I look pretty well shot and found me a seat. No help from either the guide or the ship's escort. If there had been somewhere to stop on the route and get back to the ship I would have. No more nature hikes for me. However, I did let the tour office know about the difficulty of the hike and also that deviations that were made. It was marked as moderate.... it was very strenuous.

Good morning. We certainly could use some of that rain. None in our forecast for the next 10 days. Highs are in the low 80's and nights into the mid-40's. I love my early morning walks with the little Bandit. I will be spending this afternoon at the shelter since this is our annual Adopt-a-thon, plus it is also the beginning of our 50 year celebrations. Right now I am waiting for a package of frozen stuff to be delivered so that it does not sit outside in the sun. Usually Fed-X gets packages to me between 10 and noon. We shall see. We are having increasing covid cases. Fortunately most are mild allergy like. I have tested myself a couple of times as I get to feeling a bit off, but so far so good. Probably age. Because of the winds most of us prone to allergy folks have really suffered this season. Guess mild cases are the best we hope for if we are unlucky enough to meet the virus face on. I would love a doughnut right now but will refrain as I am watching carbs, blood sugar and my weight. Honestly it sometime takes the fun out of eating. Take care all. My best wishes to those who need a change of luck and the rest of you, stay safe. Susan

Glad you are home. And I hope the removal of the gallbladder takes care of all issues. Susan

I usually book a porthole cabin. No problems. Susan

Good morning. I am early for some reason. We had a short rainfall yesterday and lots of wind and thunder. We could have used more of the former and less of the latter but I will take it. This morning is chilly but I am sure it will warm up later in the day. This will be a quiet day for me. I am still trying to sort the house (I did manage to locate the coffee maker and the coffee) and am putting lots of things aside to be donated, sold, or tossed. Any money I make will go toward the cruise fund. @cunnorlI am so glad your daughter escaped injury. That must have been terrifying for all concerned. And I am also glad to hear that Tana made it outside for the "doings". I am sure you all enjoyed it more with her present and enjoying a change. Take care all. Think vacations, beaches, mountains, or oceans... and of course BHBs. Susan

........ (sorry, my computer is acting weird) is that the fire outside of town is fully contained. A real loud shoutout to the various fire fighters!!! They will be watching the next few days but so far, so good. I will try to post again later when the computer acts normal.... if ever. Don't know what the problem is, I may need my computer guru. Susan

Good morning. Cool and cloudy here. We could use rain, but not lightening. I don't think either is likely. The good news and it is really GOOD NEWS

Love the picture of the Amsterdam that was..... and I miss her. And I am enjoying all the pictures of ports I have been to since you can not see everything and I am realizing how much I have missed at some of them. I am going to have to do a lot more cruising to catch up. I don't have a cruise scheduled until Jan. 2024.... that is a long time off. Frankly, right now I think I am with others.... just could not handle all the hoops we need to jump through although I understand the necessity. Think positive everyone. Susan

Another bright sunny Durango day. Rain? I have about forgotten what it is. Our wildfire is reported as 35% contained. It is burning only 1 1/2 miles from the west edge of town.... but it is in an area that is so rugged that the only access is by foot. We have several hotshot crews working it together with the continued aerial attack. Winds are supposed to increase this afternoon and then through the weekend. We all have fingers crossed. Meanwhile life goes on as usual. The bicyclists are in town for the Iron Horse race from Durango to Silverton. They are supposedly racing the train.... but the bicycles always win. The road north will be closed most of Saturday morning and there will be lots of cursing tourists on the other side of the passes. This year, to add to the disruption they are adding a shorter race from Ouray to Silverton. I plan to stay off the roads this weekend as much as possible. The meal for the day looks good and I have been to Pago Pago. Hope to return on the Grand Australia in 2024. Right now that seems and is a long way off. I will be spending this weekend working on restoring my kitchen to a usable form. The final touchup is to be completed today. Then I guess I am going to have to pay for all of this. That is going to hurt. Take care all. Stay healthy and as positive as you can during these stressful times. Susan

Another bright, sunny and very dry day in Durango. The plus side of that is no lightning. Our fire is still going but not growing. The winds are pushing it toward an old burn scar from a 2017 fire so it does not have much fuel and the helicopters and tankers and pretty much slowed its path in other directions. They hope to have it contained by the weekend when the winds and temps will rise. Today's meal looks good, I will have to give it a try. Since my kitchen is a work in progress it may have to wait. When they finish it is going to take me some time to locate everything. I would so much prefer to have someone else to be preparing my meals, and serving them, and doing the dishes. Do I need cruise? Susan

Good morning to all. Sunny and dry here and we have another fire. It is on the western side of town and right now is listed at 105 acres. Some of the aerial resources from other fire were diverted to us and came in late yesterday afternoon and they seem to be getting a handle on it. Two subdivisions have been put on pre-evacuation notice, but so far no evacuations or loss of structures. Fingers crossed.... winds are supposed to be moderate today. Like others, I am just stunned and distressed at the news out of Texas. How long will this go on? Have to head out to the shelter.... hopefully this day will be quiet. Contractors are not here to work on my kitchen and I am getting really tired of climbing over boxes and eating out, but it could be so very much worse. Later, everyone. Take care. Susan

Me again. My dermatologist appointment got cancelled..... someone evidently totaled a deer and their car on the way in to work this morning and so they asked if I would mind rescheduling to Thursday. Fine with me. I will continue trying to bring some order out of the chaos in my house....the cabinet arrangements are different from what I had. I am doing a second round of tossing.... and trying to put the essentials where I can find them. I struggled yesterday with shopping as "they" have rearranged my local grocery store - rearranging is not good for this old lady...it takes me forever to locate things as I wander the aisles. And they have added additional shelves ....up.... and I am short. The dog shows went well. There were some glitches and a number of the volunteers did not show up but I think the exhibitors were happy. With the lack of volunteers I really wracked up the fitbit steps but that is ok. I slept well at night. Sending best wishes to all who need them and happy cruising to those who are bound away. @marchhawk - you are so right to cut back. No one needs to be overdoing. Susan

Good morning to everyone..... I and back from the dog shows!!! I have missed you. New Mexico was hot and smoky. I am trying to catch up and will write more later. This morning I have an appointment with the dermatologist. And my kitchen is still under renovation.... they are always too optimistic about the time needed . Bandit was very happy to come home from the spa although he always seems to have a good time and never shows any reluctance to go. Susan