Off To Antigua

Well this is different!  I’m off on an adventure without Deborah (at least initially).  This first 2016 blog entry is being written from the galley of the Blue Pearl, at anchor in Hermitage Bay, Antigua.  This was not something we had planned, nor did it take a long time to hatch.

Our winter plan mostly comprised staying close to home and using our skis more extensively than recent years.  We have enjoyed ski days at Grouse, Baker, Red, and Big White and then we received an invitation we couldn’t refuse. 

Over a few drinks with Pam (home from the boat for a visit while Glen did some boat repairs) she suggested that Jinder and I go down together to visit Glen on the Blue Pearl (http://www.thebluepearl.ca/p/about-us.html) .  The suggestion was made on Sunday night and by Tuesday, tickets were bought and here we are a week later.

Deborah will join us in about a week's time.  She and Pam will fly down together and replace Jinder who must return to his real life as a working man.

But before I get ahead of myself there were a few lessons learnt along the way.

Lesson One

I bought the airline ticket on Tuesday and on Thursday morning I woke up in a panic because I had forgotten where I put my passport at the end of last year.  Relieved I found it in one of my many secure storage sports in the house but when I opened it panic set in again.  It was two months out of date.  It expired in January.  At that point I had one and part of one business day before I was scheduled to fly.  On to the Internet and then off to the Surrey passport office hoping to get an expedited issuance. 

By the time I got to the front of the line it was 2 pm.  First off, I failed to bring a paper copy of my airline ticket to prove my urgency (apparently a must).  Thankfully the clerk accepted my phone’s email notice (but she was clear in stating she didn’t have to).  She said the most critical part of the urgent process were my references.  I used my cousin Randy.  Mistake.  Although the forms don’t state it, you cannot use a relative for a reference.  My second was friend Mike.  What I also didn’t know was that your reference must be available by a phone for the 24 hours of the urgent application process.  Mike was in Costa Rica.  I could feel my blood pressure rise.  I phone Jinder but he was on the golf course and the cell reception was bad.  I phoned Jim and he was just home from the course and willing to wait by the phone.  I phoned Glen (Chilliwack Glen) and he was driving to the ski mountain but would be in cell range (maybe).  The clerk told me to go home and hope security made contact with them and return the next day).  I left but not with confidence it was going to happen. 

At 2 pm Friday I had a new passport.  First lesson learned.  You can get a passport in 24 hours but the price is an extra $100 and way too much stress.

Lesson Two

As usual, I bought a one-way ticket.  One-way tickets provide the flexibility for both the return date and route.  It is always what we have done in our retirement travels.  I bought the ticket from the Air Canada website and checked in on line Sunday morning.  The boarding passes didn’t print but we had been having printing problems the last few weeks so I decided to proceed to the airport and print them out at an AC kiosk.

When I got the airport it still refused to print.  I went to the counter where I was informed by a polite AC service rep that Air Canada was refusing to let me board the plane and their system had a block on printing my boarding passes.  It seems that despite selling me a one-way ticket to Antigua, it is illegal to enter Antigua without a return ticket.  The only solution was to buy a return ticket at the counter (for the highest possible price) and they would let me board.  So I shelled out the $1000 for a one-way return ticket and on the plane I went.  They assured me that I would be able to cancel within the first 24 hours after purchase but the clock was ticking from the exact time of purchase.  The attendant told me that I would have no problem cancelling at the airport in Antigua, once I had cleared immigration with my return in hand. 

It looked very cold in Montreal on a stop over!

It all sounded convoluted but workable until I landed and discovered there is no Air Canada reservation/customer service office in Antigua.  Air Canada does not have a presence of any kind in the country.  Without a phone I resorted to Gmail phoning home to Deborah begging for help.  Fortunately she was able to get through to Air Canada and the return ticket was cancelled without penalty fees before the 24 ticking clock expired.

With those things behind me it was a relief to see Jinder walk out of immigration from his separate flight and then to see Glen in Jolly Harbour waiting for the two of us to exit the taxi.  On to Murphy the dingy and soon we were sipping beers on the deck of the Blue Pearl watching our first Caribbean sunset in what is surely going to be a great get away.

Drive from Airport - Sugarcane au Natural

Brightly Painted Houses 

Jolly Harbour

Blue Pearl

Murphy the Dingy at Your Service

Beach Walk Hermitage Bay

Blue Pearl at Anchor

Margarita Time

First Caribbean Sunset

Final Leg - Oregon Coast and Home

We have arrived home after sixty-five days on the road. It is great to travel but it is also great to be home.  I'll miss the sixty-two sunny days and will soon tire of the drenching rain that is happening outside of our home as I write this final trip entry. 

We thoroughly enjoyed our trip up the coast. It is one Deborah and I have made many times but in the summer.  It is quite usual to have our ocean views spoiled by sea fog but this time we got lucky. The fog lifted as we arrived from inland and the sun shone for the rest of our coastal trip. It was the first time for Kathy and she was thrilled. 

We left the Napa Valley in the early morning (for us) and travelled inland to join I505 North before joining I405 further along. We decided against the Northern California 101 route because it is slightly inland and you don't see the ocean for much of the way. 

We had a smooth sunny freeway drive and arrived in Roseburg, Oregon to stay the night. We chose this spot because it was near our jumping off exit to the coast the next morning. 

Or drive west was through tiny villages, vineyards and dairy farms. The colour of new green was everywhere. 

We arrived at the coast after nearly a two hour drive and stopped to take in the beauty of the sea. Oregon is a land of long, desolate, sandy beaches with huge crashing waves. We took our time and stopped for pictures, lunch and anything else that caught our interest. We ended the day at Cannon Beach.  Cannon Beach is a small village of artisan shops, small restaurants and of course Haystack Rock, a curious rock formation sticking out of the sea. 

Our final day was characterised as one where folks were ready to be home. The drive was uneventful and we managed to time missing the Seattle Rush Hour with ease. We arrived at the border to face long Border Security lineups but this also proved to be nothing to worry about. Once again our NEXUS cards meant we sailed to the front of the line. 

We have already settled into the rhythms and routines of home life. Our sun tans will fade but our memories will last our lifetimes. 

Napa And Sonoma Wine Valleys

After a leisurely drive over the Golden Gate, through Sausalito, lunch in Tiburon, we arrived in Napa for a two day stay. We managed to stretch a two hour drive into six.

After breakfast in the hotel we set out on a bicycle exploration of Napa town and the nearby vineyards. You don't have to go far to be in the country. The Napa Valley is only 5 miles wide and 30 miles long but is home to about 500 wineries. 

Jim and Deb joined us in the late morning and the six of us set out to lunch in the picturesque village of  Yountville, at the Pacific Blues Cafe. 

After a prolonged lunch in the sunshine on the deck we set out for our first winery tasting. We chose  a small winery hoping to be the first to discover the next "best find". The Silenus Winery is one of those cooperative places that produces their own wines but also processes grapes from wineries just starting out. The 2010 DANAIS Cabernet Sauvignon was the consensus number one pick. Tasting in the Valley can be expensive. The Silenus only charged $15 per person but we were told the larger ones  charged closer to $35. We did buy so the price of the tasting came off the purchase price. 

That night we dined at the Ristorante Allegria in downtown Napa. The food was great but few wines were tried. The afternoon tastings, followed by the multiple bottles in the room predinner; most were left sipping waters with their meals. 

Day two saw the six of us head out to the Sonoma Valley, a twenty-five minute drive away. We started with a visit to the Cornerstone Sonoma, for the valley tourist information. This place is worth a visit. Apart from getting good information, it has multiple art gardens with displays in both live plantings and man's use of various materials to produce works of art. 

After all the information was gathered (probably too much), we headed to lunch in the quaint town of Sonoma. It is worth a visit even if you just wander the square taking a step back in time. 

Our only full tasting was at the B.R.Cohn. This winery is owned by the manager of the Doobie Brothers and is host to many music festivals. Chicago, Ringo Starr and Gregg Allman all appear there this year. 

We ended the evening dining back in Napa and reminiscing about the wedding and our time together. These valleys will become Jim & Deb's new backyard with a daughter and son-in-law living in San Francisco. 

San Francisco

The purpose of our trip to San Francisco was to attend the wedding of friends Jim and Deb's daughter Kate, to Jason. The wedding was everything anyone could have hoped for but we managed to squeeze a few more activities in as well.

We stayed at the DaVinci Hotel on Van Ness, in the Russian Hill District, only a few blocks from the Bay. Day one saw the ladies go off shopping while the men strolled Fisherman's Wharf looking for the perfect loaf of sourdough bread filled with clam chowder to compliment a beer.  

That evening. We attended the first wedding event at Pauline's Pizza for the out of towners. The pizza arrived continuously and the wine and beer flowed. 

The next day Deborah and I were up early and took off on our bicycles to explore. We made our way down to the water and joined the throngs enjoying the beach and sunny weather on the first day of Spring. 

We biked the Golden Gate Bridge and took pictures at the vista point at the North end. After lolling in the sun for awhile we reversed the trip and headed down to Fisherman's Wharf and treated ourselves to an iconic IN/OUT BURGER. 

The wedding took place in the Mission District. It was a combination of a traditional Jewish wedding with a non-traditional, laid back, "we are here for a good time" approach. It was held in The Chapel, a nightclub on any other day. There were four bars pouring whatever it was you favoured and drinks were provided BEFORE the ceremony.  Of course the bride and groom looked stunning and after a short ceremony (including the breaking of the glass and a Rabbi that could moonlight as a comedian), the party started in earnest. A live band played the whole night and the dance floor was full. At one point the bride and groom appeared floating on chairs above the crowd supported by their friends and family. The evening ended for us just after midnight but we left the party going strong. 

The next day we joined in a wedding brunch and then made our way to Napa and Sonoma for a few days of Wine Tasting.