Walts Travelogue

[WalterB]

Thanks, Detroit. That's quite an offer. I lived in Detroit for 3 or 4 years back in the late 60's. Worked in several of the auto factories, along with Pontiac (up in Pontiac, lol,) Chrysler and Ford. Loved those jobs. My ex-wife lived near 13 and Woodward. I spent some of the time 'on the bum.' Had a buddy who had several "girls." We'd go downtown to Kennedy Square, and Gary and I would just 'hang out' while the girls panhandled among all the office workers who came out for lunch, lol. Usually ended up with enough to get food, weed and beer for the evening, lol.

Still have friends out in Madison Heights. I usually lived downtown in cheap dive hotels, lol. Detroit in those days was a real powerhouse. As you know, once the Japanese and other auto manufacturers started making inroads into American society, sales for American cars dropped off drastically, resulting in great losses and blighted neighborhoods throughout Detroit.

I was in Detroit during the 1967 riots, working for AT&T downtown at Cass and Grand River. Lindell's AC (Athletic Club, a bar) was right across the street and Tiger Stadium was only a few blocks away. A lot of the Tigers partied there. I saw Denny McLain and Al Kaline there. No, didn't meet them. but it was nice to see them off the field.

I was still there in 1968 when the Tigers won the pennant. The last game was played in St. Louis, but downtown Detroit erupted in a massive downtown party. Most streets were blocked by so much traffic. My buddies and I got downtown about 5. I heard around 10 that all the bars had run out of beer and that people were driving to Flint to stock up and bring it back, lol. I think I went home around 1 A.M. it was one Helluva night. No destruction, no fighting, no burning peoples businesses, no cars destroyed, nothing but great dun for everyone.

[lance_s]

Hope you don't mind my borrowing your travelogue again Walt.

I'm off to Banff tomorrow, back on the 2nd. Attending a wedding, but the trip is long enough that we should have time to see some sites. Including a 2 day side trip to Lake Louise.

Flying out on Flair Airlines, who have got be the worst low cost carrier in the world, so the actual flight should be an ordeal. Things can only get better after disembarking.

[stickyvicky]

I've never heard of that airline!

Have you heard of a brand new one called Lynx airlines? They are going to go from Montreal and Toronto to Tampa and also from Calgary and Vancouver! For about $150 Canadian each way! I believe they are officially starting up in november! I wonder if they will be better than your Flair!

Let us know how your trip goes!

[lance_s]

I've never heard of that airline!

Have you heard of a brand new one called Lynx airlines? They are going to go from Montreal and Toronto to Tampa and also from Calgary and Vancouver! For about $150 Canadian each way! I believe they are officially starting up in november! I wonder if they will be better than your Flair!

Let us know how your trip goes!

Thanks Vicky.

Never heard of LynxAir, but apparently they have been around is some way shape or form for quite a few years. As to what they're like:

[stickyvicky]

Oh really? I thought they were new? Maybe it's just that they are new to tampa!!

[WalterB]

I love travel. I'm heading back to Arizona in early November. Then later possibly to Las Vegas. And would like to hit the Colorado mountains again. Most of my traveling is driving, but I like that. I've got 20 - 30 CD's of my favorite music. So I just put a fresh one in the player and off I go. I'll fly if I have to. Like if I get back to Alaska. I'll fly if I go. I drove it in maybe '77 or so. Long story, but I think it took me 5 or 6 days from Anchorage to Seattle. I drove days and found a nice place to pull over and set up a tent and camp at night.. It was a 3-day wilderness drive, for sure. I loved it.

[WalterB]

Well, here we go again. Election day this Tuesday, the 7th. Then off to Arizona next Wed (the 8th.) Getting to be routine, lol. I mean, 8 miles from here to I-10, about 290 to the Az-90 south exit, and 30 miles to Sierra Vista. I"ll be there until Tuesday, then back here.

At least I haven't forgotten how to make a right, follow a left curve, make a left turn and find a house, lol.

[Hornylady9]

Well, here we go again. Election day this Tuesday, the 7th. Then off to Arizona next Wed (the 8th.) Getting to be routine, lol. I mean, 8 miles from here to I-10, about 290 to the Az-90 south exit, and 30 miles to Sierra Vista. I"ll be there until Tuesday, then back here.

At least I haven't forgotten how to make a right, follow a left curve, make a left turn and find a house, lol.

Safe travels Walt! Take your time and be careful. Let us know when you get there.

Zany

[lance_s]

Oh really? I thought they were new? Maybe it's just that they are new to tampa!!

Apparently Flair is ending all their internal flights in Canada and now serving only US destinations. Probably why they are new to you in Tampa.

The flight to Calgary was better than the first flight with them - more leg room. But when I wanted a glass of water, my only option was to buy a bottle for $ 3.50.

And it was $ 80 for an extra checked bag one way Ottawa to Calgary.

[lance_s]

Hope you don't mind my borrowing your travelogue again Walt.

I'm off to Banff tomorrow, back on the 2nd. Attending a wedding, but the trip is long enough that we should have time to see some sites. Including a 2 day side trip to Lake Louise.

Flying out on Flair Airlines, who have got be the worst low cost carrier in the world, so the actual flight should be an ordeal. Things can only get better after disembarking.

Banff is a picture post card town. Hallmark could set up shop and make movies till the cows come home.

Panoramic view of the wedding site:

Only crazy canucks would have an outdoor wedding when the temperature is -5C,

Moose

Had to do double duty as best man AND bridesmaid!

Lake Louise - highest (altitude) settlement in Canada.

I was surprised to learn that - only 5500 ft. The highest settlement in the US is Alma, CO, 11,700 feet.

Emerald lake. I couldn't resist posting these 2:

Side fact for trivia night - Canada has more lakes than the rest of the world put together.

A deer stopping by for afternoon tea doesn't even raise an eyebrow in Banff:

Couple of shots of Banff:

Highways are very disruptive to wildlife migration paths. Alberta is building animal overpasses to provide safe migration routes. And yes, the animals do learn and use the overpasses!

[WalterB]

WOW! EIGHTY freaking dollars to take clean underwear on your trip? This is the main reason I travel Southwest. They don't do that asinine stupidity of gouging their customers with added fees. You buy your ticket (at comparable or cheaper fares) give 'em your suitcase, get on the plane and go.

I understand the necessity of "normal" price increases. But these fees were originally described as "temporary." They were extra add-ons. They do this so that the paying customer will say, "Ok, temporary." But, then the price, or the added fee NEVER goes down. Everyone blamed all the price increases on the pandemis. Everyone said it was "Temporary." They sure like to throw that word "temporary" around a lot.

Another thing I noticed. Because of those fees, many folks started carrying everything in carry-on bags. No fees. Well, the airlines caught on to that one and started charging for carry-ons, too. In other words, if you carry anything but what fits into your pocket, they're gonna gouge you for it.

Ticket = $250.00
Suitcase - $80 (was $25 when they first started.)
Carry-on - $40.
Drink - $10 (one stinking drink, lol.)
Soda - $7
Water - $5

Southwest Ticket = $250
Drink = $7
Water, Coke = Free.
Suitcase = Free
Carry-on - Free

[lance_s]

WOW! EIGHTY freaking dollars to take clean underwear on your trip? This is the main reason I travel Southwest. They don't do that asinine stupidity of gouging their customers with added fees. You buy your ticket (at comparable or cheaper fares) give 'em your suitcase, get on the plane and go.

I understand the necessity of "normal" price increases. But these fees were originally described as "temporary." They were extra add-ons. They do this so that the paying customer will say, "Ok, temporary." But, then the price, or the added fee NEVER goes down. Everyone blamed all the price increases on the pandemis. Everyone said it was "Temporary." They sure like to throw that word "temporary" around a lot.

Another thing I noticed. Because of those fees, many folks started carrying everything in carry-on bags. No fees. Well, the airlines caught on to that one and started charging for carry-ons, too. In other words, if you carry anything but what fits into your pocket, they're gonna gouge you for it.

Ticket = $250.00
Suitcase - $80 (was $25 when they first started.)
Carry-on - $40.
Drink - $10 (one stinking drink, lol.)
Soda - $7
Water - $5

Southwest Ticket = $250
Drink = $7
Water, Coke = Free.
Suitcase = Free
Carry-on - Free

Yes, Flair charges for carry on's also. But since the purpose of this trip was to attend a wedding, we had to take a suit and gowns, so a checked bag was unavoidable.

For informal travel, I now have a large backpack which most airlines allow as a carry on, and small one that is considered a personal bag and fits under the seat in front. When I get to my destination, the smaller backpack serves as a day bag.

If I had my druthers, all my travel would be either by train or steamer. But I don't think there are any steamers in operation anywhere (cruise ships don't count).

Its not just baggage. I've read articles which state that airlines deliberately make boarding convoluted so more people with pay for priority boarding.

And as for "temporary" fees, income tax was introduced in Canada as temporary measure during world war 1. Guess what, it still hasn't been rescinded.

And then there is economics 101 - Price of wheat goes up, price of bread goes up. Price of wheat comes down, price of bread stays up.

[WalterB]

All true. I like train travel. Round-tripped from Detroit to Denver with my son back in the late '80's or so. It was a great trip.

For Southwest, your boarding depends on when you get your ticket (maybe other hints' too.) When you buy your ticket, basically you get a number and a group. I think the groups are like A, B & C. I'm usually right up front in the C section and there are never more than 10 or 15 in the other groups. So I can get on the plane quite early. Then it's open seating, so you just sit where you like. The simplest of operations. Instead of gouging and inconveniencing their paying customers, Southwest goes out of their way to make your travel cheap and easy. Thanks to reward points I was able to take a free trip to Mexico maybe 3 years ago.

[WalterB]

Well, made it to my son's in Az just fine. Well the trip was fine. I don't know if it was the long day yesterday or what, but my old body is, I mean SCREAMing at me. I can barely stand up, much less go anywhere. You know, like the bathroom??? I'm guessing that it's mostly because I don't exercise. I have become a lazy ass. And I need to STOP it! Even walking a short distance in the morning with Bailey would be good. So, between my back and my knees, I'm out of it.

I'm out here dog-sitting my son's two German Shepherds. They were real glad to see me. But I don't doubt that they will kill me, skin and eat me, if I get too sore to move, LOL

[stickyvicky]

Glad you made it safe and sound! Dave and I were both sore from sitting in the car so many hours driving back and forth to Hilton head. We took lots of pee breaks for us and the dogs and just to stretch our legs. It's supposed to be a six and a half hour drive, but it always ends up being eight.

[WalterB]

Lol, I've traveled so much, I've got it down to a science.

I usually just put my favorite music in the player, point the front end in the right direction, turn on the cruise control and lay the seat back and snooze to my favorite rock and roll. I don't worry about wrecking. All them metal guard rails out there will keep you centered on the pavement. If you roll over to the side., them rails will just bounce you right back to the center,

I don't think I've ever driven it straight through. But it's only 300 miles, so it's an easy 5 hour drive, possibly 4 if I kept it at 75-80 and drove straight through. I usually like to keep it about 70.. Going home, I don't usually stop as much as on the way out. I'll probably stop in Benson for breakfast, then maybe in Deming for lunch. After Deming it's straight on home. about 60 miles to Las Cruces, then another 40 or so home.

Wide open spaces way out here in Cowboy country,

[WalterB]

Well, it's always an exciting trip to my son's in Arizona. He and I are on quite different menus, so I bring out my own staples and order whatever fresh I need from the local Walmart.

He doesn't drink coffee, either, so I have to bring my own. My Keurig at home has a little attachment cup that you can use with ground coffee in your machine. I saw that I could also use it out here. I just put my water into a pan, fill this attachment with grounds, then set it into the water and heat the water. After a few minutes, Coffee!

So, naturally, which stupid old fart put his little tool in with his stuff and brought it to Arizona. OK, now, which idiot got up this morning and discovered that the cute little can of Folger's that he brought is a can of coffee BEANS! Oh, the humanity!!! So now I sit here waiting for Burger King to open so I can go get a burrito and COFFEE!!!

GRRRRRRRR

So, don't bug me. I ain't had no coffee yet!

Maybe I'll go down to Papa's 50's Diner, about 2 miles south of here. Nice little diner with '50's decor - old 45 records and posters on the wall. Good food and good portions.

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Papa's 50's Diner 03.jpg (91.04 KiB) Viewed 34 times

[stickyvicky]

Very cool! I love places like that! Reminds me of the show Happy days!

[WalterB]

Sunday, Monday, happy days,
Tuesday, Wednesday, happy days,
Thursday, Friday, happy days.
Saturday, what a day, groovin' all week to you.

Those really were such happy days. Lots of great memories. I imagine (hope) everyone remembers their teen years with a smile.

[WalterB]

Well, heading home in an hour or so. Always a good visit out here. But, like vacations and other trips, it's always good to get home.

Well, kind of good. My furnace has died and apparently the broken part is no longer available. The furnace is 50 years old, so I guess it's time. But I also feel a bit trapped. This is an issue where it's hard to figure out who to deal with. I mean, I don't have a heating and cooling contractor on call, lol. So, the furnace won't come on. You look thru Yelp or whatever to try and find one who will treat you right. I pretty much don't trust anyone anymore. There are too many dishonest people out there who are just trying to rip you off. Not that a business on Yelp is bad. I guess if they've got good reviews....

So I gotta get home so I can spend $3100, lol. They're due tomorrow. And, yes, a furnace is a nice thing to have, even in El Paso, Texas.