Modesto, CA

Really no need to caption that one, is there?

We've been in Modesto for so long that neither My Favorite nor I remember off the tops of our heads. For fire season, that's a long-ass time. But because of COVID-19, we're still not doing a lot. Didn't get to see the grandkids or the other set of grandparents that we really like, even though they're less than an hour away. Not going shopping or to movies or even out to many dinners. Which means I don't have as many stories about Modesto as I normally would a place we've been long enough to forget when we got here. 

Still...

The hotel is nice...

More and more, I'm a Marriott fan

I've written already that it's the best place we've been so far, in spite of the grab and go breakfast cakes. There is some information further down in this post that may make you question that. Trust that neither of them change how much I love this hotel.

There are really pretty flowers...

See? Really pretty flowers

And a Motel 6 right across the street...

The fighting and sirens keep us from being homesick for Philly

And since it's right around the 4th of July, we get to play "Fireworks or Gunfire?" Always a good time!

Then there's this store, just a few doors away from the Motel 6...

Cookies

Now, as someone who doesn't eat a lot of sugar, and doesn't even struggle with it, I admit, living this close to a Cookie Monster colored cookie shop has been a bit of a challenge. In fact, the only reason I haven't gone in is because I am doing a 3-week-no-dessert-or-sugar-no-my-friend-not-even-ice-cream-because-that-was-your-rule challenge with a friend who needed some accountability and support.

Well, folks, I am grateful for that challenge. Not just because I have access to tres leches at the store every damn day, but because it turns out the cookie shop isn't a cookie shop. Nope. Pot store. Right there. Big, blue pot store. And it's been a long time since college. 

See? Not much happening. But sometimes, there's not much happening.

The adventure continues, even when it's dull...

Ps ~ My Favorite has just informed me that we arrived here on June 25th. In case you were wondering. 😉

Family Dinner

I’ve written about cookouts with the crew before here and here and have had so, so many of them in the years I wasn't writing the blog.

Sometimes they looked like this:

 

Snowed in in Grangeville, ID with the Billings crew

More often they looked like this:

Tailgating at the Red Carpet Inn, Medford, OR, with the mechanic from Airlift

And I'll be honest ~ the first couple are awkward. Getting to know a new crew takes a minute. So, the first ones tend to look like this: 

Behind the hotel, Modesto, CA

A little awkward, a little uncomfortable. But by the end of the evening, we were chatting comfortably, a little easier with each other. By the end of the season? Well, I have hope, because I know what Family Dinner can be.

And the adventure continues...

Thank you, Delta

Here in the US, we have what are known as "the big three" in the airline industry: American, United, and Delta. Now, Delta has been our favorite for years now. Their customer service is top-notch, they care about their people (so much so that they aren't unionized because the employees don't want to be), and their quality of care is consistently way above average. We have not had the same experience with American or United for as many years.

Back before COVID hit, I will admit, we were getting a bit disillusioned. Some policies had changed; perks were being limited or disappearing altogether; even the website got more difficult to navigate. It seemed they were caring more about their most elite passengers and less about those of us who just fly consistently. And, we were aware, that if we were feeling that way, two travelers who regularly achieve Silver (me) and Gold (My Favorite) medallion status, the people who fly one or two times a year must really be frustrated. So, we did, we looked around at other airlines. Had still decided that Delta was the best, but we were now open to options and wouldn't necessarily default to Delta without looking elsewhere first.

Then COVID-19 hit.

Of course, all the airlines in the country (the world?) practically had to shut down, not just the Big Three. When travel started picking up again, all three of them limited seating to provide distancing. But then we got into May, and it was if we collectively decided COVID-19 was gone. And somewhere in there, United started booking at 100%. Full flights, every seat taken, beverage service back in full-swing. This past week, American announced that it would start doing the same this week.

Except that our numbers are going back up again. The virus isn't gone. There isn't a vaccine. If anything, it looks like we are surpassing the numbers where we chose to lock down.

The last time we flew Delta, it looked like this:

Since then, they have started booking at 60% ~ but no middle seats are being booked unless you are part of a group. They announced they would keep this up until September. And this last week, at the same time American and United were choosing profits over passengers, Delta announced that they would continue limited seating through September.

Guess who has regained our loyalty? Thanks, Delta.

The adventure continues....

Breakfast or...?

First, we are thrilled with our current hotel here in Modesto. Clean, oh so comfortable, dealing with COVID in a graceful way that keeps safety first and customer service a very very close second.

That being said....

COVID has changed a lot of things, including many hotels’ free breakfast, and it’s no different here. Instead of having the pre-COVID* breakfast offerings, they’ve gone to a bagged, grab-and-go option. The first morning here, we hadn’t gotten to the grocery store yet, so I grabbed one.

Breakfast of champions: basically a strawberry newton and chocolate cake. 

The world’s smallest piece of fresh fruit. Yes, it was whole but I forgot to take a picture before I peeled it. One section has been removed.

We’ve since made it to the grocery store. 🤣

The adventure continues...

* I originally wrote “normal” but I suspect this is going to be the new normal.

Getting Current

I’m not even about to try to catch up on the 5 years that have passed since I lasted posted regularly. This blog isn’t cumulative anyway; it’s meant to jump in anywhere and start reading.

So, let’s just do a quick summary to bring us current...

Boston Pobble. Still here. I go by Mame more often these days, but I’m not too worried about what you call me. Different times and all that. I’m still writing, moved into editing, too, and am tutoring (some truly amazing) people in English as a Foreign Language (EFL). And, of course, driving chase behind the helicopter, meeting My Favorite (most nights) at the end of the road.

Lots of hotel rooms. Juggling work deadlines, Zoom meetings, and lessons, with checkout times.

My Favorite is still the most handsome, most dashing pilot on the planet. I know you agree. Just look at him. 😍

Fire season started on June 6th this year, and looked like this. We’ve already been to San Dimas/La Verne, California, where this company is based, Ventura, back to San Dimas, San Luis Obispo, Turlock, Victorville, and now are in Modesto. 

And that brings us current! Thanks for coming back, finding me, coming along, whatever. Travel is more fun with a travel buddy. 🖤

The adventure continues....

Testing...testing...is this thing on?

I’m back! So long as I can get the technology to work on a regular basis, anyway.

My Favorite, formerly known as Lithus, is still here. I’m still here, obviously. And the adventure continues.... Want to come along?

En Route...

...from Richfield, UT to Walsenburg, CO. July 4-7, 2018.

Spent night in SLC, then to Evanston, WY for lunch (tiny town; waitress nearly incoherent with her crush on Lithus) before heading to Cheyenne and the Little America Hotel (gorgeous...in a truck stop) and civilization.

To Denver, which had changed enough to not be problematic. Literally, it was like visiting a place I'd never been before. Met a blog buddy, and was excited to learn he was as cool in person as he is online.

Spent the night at the Warwick Hotel, which was decadent.

Picked up the mechanic at DIA for the drive to Alamosa, CO, only to be told we were heading Walsenburg instead. When we arrived, I sent the text to my krewe, "I literally don't know what town this is, but we've arrived safely!"

Tiny struggling town. No laundromat (the pilots we're relieving have borrowed the car to go to Pueblo to do laundry). No medical care. At least the post office is still open.

Signs of life... When we got here, there was a kid's birthday being held in the hotel lobby. Cake, balloons, and the impression that the pool had been well-utilized. As the dad left with the remains of the cake, he called to the front desk "thanks again, boss, see you tomorrow." At the A&W at the truck stop where we had lunch, there was a family of about seven eating around the large table. When they were done, the man put his truck stop hat on and went back to work; the family had come to have a meal with him on his break.

The Best Western, Walsenburg, CO

On the balcony of the Warwick Hotel

Denver Skyline

Self-explanatory

Somewhere, WY

The Little America Hotel, Cheyenne, WY

The Warwick

the view from The Little America

Wyoming horizon

Wyoming rocks