I usually only come home once a year and then spend time traveling between family members. Here in PA there were some hikes, bike rides, and fun runs (walks for me).
Most of the time it is Sunni and I trying to stay out of trouble…
Stop at Brady’s bend after lunch with Mom
I spent one day with my friend Michele Belak which started with a morning race and ended with an evening race on the trails here in PA. In between we drove back and forth and stopped to see her horse. It was good to catch up with her. In the past, we used to meet at several races over the summer. It was great to catch up with her and hear about the people we worked with at Citizens Ambulance when we were in college.
One night Ryan and I rode bikes in an event called critical mass. Over 100 people participated in a 24 mile ride through the streets of Pittsburgh. The point is to take back the roads from cars and bring awareness that bikes have rights also. Here we are headed to the start of the ride.
Ryan and I also hiked some trails near Kittanning. They are small trails but very quiet and peaceful.
Afterwards we biked through the city of Pittsburgh from the north side to the south side along the trails and the rivers.
In front of the fountain at the point
Another road trip was to take my dad’s ashes to Buffalo and Erie. We visited the graves of my grandparents and stopped to see Duann, a friend from childhood.
Lake Erie
An event in Pittsburgh called picklesburgh also took place. Fun having some pickle egg rolls, pickle fudge, and other things.
And of course I played with everyone’s cats. This is the baby of Sunni’s and is a Maine coon.
The Thelma Sunni and Louise road trip this year was to Nashville. We stopped in Glasgow, Kentucky to see relatives of Sunni and then headed to Nashville the next morning.
The first stop was at Cooters Nashville. It is a museum to the Dukes of Hazzard, a TV series from the 1970’s. Fun! The General Lee was parked out front.
Our hotel was close to Broadway where all the honky tonks are found.
One of the favorite places for sunni to eat was Margaritaville.
One of our favorites was the John Bon Jovi bar where there was a constant stream of amateur musicians playing.
The Johnny Cash museum was really good. My family listened to his music when I was growing up. So many memories and it even included remembrances of all the people he toured with and were part of his production team. Even June Carter’s family was honored.
Fried deviled eggs were on the menu at his bar next door. Delicious and the music from the musicians was amazing.
Of course we had to stop at Coyote Ugly. The bar famous for the movie.
The night pontoon boat ride was really fun. Lots of games and people to talk to.
The chew crew are sheep who mow down the edges of the river Bank
Other pictures from around Nashville.
Morning walk along the Cumberland The chew crewRyman auditoriumAt the top of the pedestrian bridge.The Bluff Station was a lookout when the river was used for trade.
One morning I went to the Tennessee State House. It is beautiful inside.
Senate chambersPres. Polk and his wife are buried here
It has been a year since I saw Becca and her husband Ryan. I had gone through some of my things that have been packed for years and had asked her which things she as they just bought a house. I came to Montana laden with bags.
That night after unpacking we hiked a hill that had the letter M on it for the University of Montana (it overlooks the University). We hiked to the bottom of the M to see the sunset.
The next day, we went to a trail that overlooked the bitter roots. These are plants that grow in a valley between those mountains. These are roots that were used by indigenous peoples and still used today in food and medicine. It is also the state flower of Montana.
A few friends thought we brought snacks for them.
Afterwards we stopped at a Bitterroot brewing to have huckleberry beer. Yummy as well as the food we ordered.
We also rented a bike to go bike riding. Unfortunately I am not over the fear of wrecking and being injured and prefer trails that do not have gravel. Instead we found a paved area that leads to a beach along the river. Beautiful and relaxing.
Skipping rocks. Ryan is great at it Becca filming in slow motion.
We also drove through the bison preserve that is a protected area and had amazing information about the indigenous people and the almost extinction of the bison.
We had not traveled very far into the refuge when this big boy was seen walking down the road. We let him have as much of the road as he wanted.
This actually is a grizzly bear cub at the top of a tree. Can you see him?ElkBeautiful wildflowers and a black butterfly.
The garden of 1000 buddhas
On the way back from the bison range, we stopped in Arlee. This spiritual site was beautiful. There are one thousand statues of Buddha arranged in a circle. There are spaces and carved sayings on rocks to inspire for meditation, reflection, and peace.
StupasPrayer flags releasing intentions into the wind
It was a really short visit and next year there will be more days in Montana. I miss my family and will be spending more time each year with her
The voice interrupted my concentration in taking a picture of the Missoula courthouse from across the street. I was trying to take it without passing cars in the picture and was too lazy to cross the street.
Missoula courthouse.
In his defense, I guess many people are coming to Montana because of the popular TV series. I have actually watched Yellowstone but didn’t think it would have been shot in Missoula. Afterwards, I found that it is the courthouse they used. Interesting. I just like architecture and take pictures of cool buildings I see in my travels.
An old railway station found along the river trail.
It was a quick trip as Rebecca and my now son-in-law Ryan are selling into new jobs but have not moved into their new apartment yet. I am also fitting this trip between my own scheduled life. Mostly we spent time together and toured Missoula which is such a cool small city. It really is beautiful.
Kayaking on Flathead Lake was beautiful and gave me the opportunity to chill and practice taking pictures with my new phone.
Becca’s cat would spend time between our 2 kayaks.
Becca and I also went on a road trip along route 12 which is the Lewis and Clark trail. So beautiful.
On one of the rest stops they had a trail that went to one of the sites where Lewis and Clark stopped on their travel West.
The ground squirrels were so fun to watch.
On future longer trips, I can’t wait to go to Glacier National Park and Yellowstone. Montana is very beautiful. I had a great time with Becca and Ryan before I go to Ecuador in August.
I was home at the beginning of 2022 but it had been a crazy time in China since. A lot of time with family and not many pictures…. Just absorbing the time with them!
Becca, Ryan (soon to be son), and my boy Ryan
I settled into spending time with family and just relaxing a bit. Hard to believe that it had been 40 years since I graduated high school. The reunion was great and such a good attendance!
I stopped to look at my old house and talk with teachers I worked with in Punxsutawney. So good to see them!
Small Town living in Worthington means parades and carnivals….
Christmas in July movies with my SIL (and sushi)…
Movies…
Sunni, Ryan, and I.
I visited Candy and David in Atlanta. Always good to talk about lots of stuff with them and see how retirement is treating them!
Peach ice cream!Love how they are in the ‘burbs but deer are just happy to roam and eat flowers!Covered bridge in Georgia built by a former slave.
Most of time was didn’t taking care of banking, retirement, and everything else. Not too informative but memories of being with my loved ones I’ll remember. And on to Montana.
We had two flights cancelled in this whole procedure of getting back to China. First the original flight from LA to Guangzhou then a flight from San Francisco to Shanghai were both cancelled. I had looked forward to SF for the weather and opportunity for being outdoors.
But the flight from Dallas to Shanghai was the lucky one. After the Olympics concluded it was only one of two flights allowed to proceed from the US. Of course flying in to Shanghai changes quarantine a bit. Now three weeks will be spent in a quarantine hotel (or a central facility if someone near me on the plane tests positive.) After I arrive in Guangzhou I will have another week and more COVID tests.
I was required to be at the city of departure a full 7 days before flying. There we are to health monitor by answering questions and taking temperatures each day for 7 days. We also have to declare our vaccination status and prepare documents such as passport, visa, resident registration, vaccination form, itinerary, test results….. All of these need to be uploaded to an embassy site to be authorized to fly. Now the waiting begins. Without the code you are not allowed on the airplane.
I stayed in a suite so that I could cook food and not go to restaurants. I still had to teach online from 6 pm until around midnight. A walk everyday, swimming in the pool, and running allowed some breaks.
The hotel was in a corporate area so not a lot of thru traffic. There was even a small nature center 2.5 km away. As it is spring it was wonderful to smell pines and juniper and see everything turning green.
For outings we went to Bass Pro Shops to look at fish and did some mall walking. The weather was pretty decent for early March to be outside. One other colleague stayed in the same hotel. It was nice to walk and talk to someone each day.
It was good to see colleagues and students on the screen. This is my student government students and the other advisor Katie. And the days blended together….
One former teacher, now retired, lives not so far away. I stopped to see her and walk around her neighborhood. Ruth Volz used to live in my compound in China as well. Lots to catch up on!
Two days before leaving we had to go to two different testing sites to get a PCR test. Pretty stressful as the whole plane had to do the same thing at the same places. We prepared all the documents to be ready to upload to the consulate site and then wait to get the green code. I was able to get mine pretty quickly but half of our group were still waiting for their last test result before they could start they process. Needless to say it is very stressful.
Finally we showed both codes multiple times and was cleared to board. Next stop, Shanghai and three weeks of quarantine…
Note: I delayed this post until I could visit one more time due to the delay in return to China.
Because of work schedules and commitments, we scheduled the trip to see Becca when Ryan could also go on the 7th of January. Finally the day arrived to travel. The night before was a snowfall that actually stuck to the ground due to enough days of freezing temperatures.
View from Ryan’s apartment window in Pittsburgh.
The next day we headed to the airport early. I was glad that the priority lounges was open to get food and have a drink. Yes, it was the morning… It is 5 o’clock somewhere as they say…
At the connection in Chicago……
View of central Wisconsin from the airplane.
At Becca’s we ate some amazing cheese curds. Here they are battered and fried. Really delicious. Later she made a Moroccan dinner to celebrate my birthday. I miss the international dinners we used to make together for my birthday.
We went for a small hike at a sculpture park, shopped at some thrift stores, and drank coffee while waiting for a surprise Becca had for us.
The thrift store had a resident cat named Ivy who found people who obviously like kitties.
Sculpture Park
This sculpture symbolizes slow changes and allowing things to just happen.This one symbolizes agony and the changes that takes place when you let it just happen and unfold.Ryan, myself, Becca, and her boyfriend Ryan. It is -9C today and it’s the warmest it will be.
We stopped at a small convenience store. I like looking at the food in different areas.
Individual cheese and meat for sandwiches.I love the cranberries are called red pearls.Edible cookie dough!!!!!!
The surprise was a brewery tour. Point brewery is the second oldest independent brewery in the states. The first is a brewery in PA. Their image is a person in an original photo that no one ever could identify. Maybe I could work as a tester inn a brewery. I do have a biology degree.
Point brewery.With Ryan’s dad (Becca’s boyfriend Ryan)To get the vats in they let them with a crane from the ceiling.Hops.
Our tour guide recommended a restaurant in Stevens Point called Guu’s. It was fabulous. Fried cheese curds, mini Reubens, elote corn dip, fried green beans….
At night we went to granite peak ski resort. They had fireworks at night and the kids took turns skiing. I would cross country ski but not downhill.
I loved my new phone. Such good pictures!
It was brutally cold on Sunday. -18C and close to 0 in F. We went on a short hike which was beautiful walking in the winter scenery.
After returning I learned flights to China were cancelled to keep COVID cases down for the Olympics. I managed to fly back again to see Becca and her boyfriend Ryan. She assured me it would be warmer. Not really….. Plus a snowstorm delayed my landing for five hours. I’m glad I made it though!
We went to downtown Wausau. Cold but walked some places they had both been. On the way I saw three houses on the river for ice fishing.
Spring is close. Buds are just beginning.
We then went to the museum of dairy farming. It is a historical museum of the area. I love looking at old pictures and maps.
Here is what you do when you want to soak in the light in a Wisconsin winter!So grateful that my Friday in the States allowed me time to visit one more time, even if briefly.Beautiful Wisconsin sunrise!
I have wanted to see my friends Candy and David Shively the last time I was home but had not been home long enough. Now it has been three years since they docked in Hong Kong during their cruise. When my flight was cancelled the second time, I decided to go visit! They live in Peachtree City outside of Atlanta.
Warm Springs
I have watched the movie Warm Springs which details FDR and his life and look for a way to relieve his paralysis from polio he contracted as an adult. I loved the movie and how this shaped his view from the elitism of his circle to the actual lives of American people in rural areas. This shaped his policy when he became president.
His special cat that had hand controls since his legs were paralyzed.Guest house. A few dignitaries did stay here when he was actually president.Servants quarters.Where FDR stayed while at Warm Springs.Plaque of the death of FDR here at Warm Springs which occurred in his third term.A very modest bedroom that he used.Where he did much of his work.
Afterwards we had lunch and a hike at Pine Mountain, FDR State Park.
Elephant rock!
Starr’s Mills
Another day we traveled to the Mill that was in the movie Sweet Home, Alabama. It was a beautiful place to be on a beautiful morning.
Senoia, where The Walking Dead is filmed
This was such a cute little town. We went to see where the series was filmed, shop some cute little stores, and eat fried deviled eggs for lunch. For the record, I have not watched the series.
It also seems that some part of this railroad section was used in Fried Green Tomatoes.Grain bowl with chickpea fries and fried deviled eggs. They were yummy with the whites lightly fried then the deviled yolks are added.Candy and I enjoying eating at a restaurant outside. At this point, eating inside during COVID is not very exciting and the beautiful weather helped.
Juliette, Georgia
Candy: we should go to Juliette. Me: what’s in Juliette? Candy: fried green tomatoes Me: you mean the whistle stop cafe? Let’s go! So we traveled to Juliette where the whistle stop cafe (which was originally a hardware store, I think?) was turned into a cafe for the movie Fried Green Tomatoes. When the movie was done, two residents bought it and maintained the cafe. The grilled catfish sandwich, fried green tomatoes, and fried okra was amazing.
We took the food and sat on the picnic table outside located to the back of the cafe and alongside the railroad track. Where we were was right next to the barbecue pit used in the movie to dispose of the body…
It was another beautiful day! We then browsed the cute little shops in this very small town. Everyone was so friendly with the most delightful southern drawl.
The Mill even though this was not used in the movie.The waterfall is a short drive away and was used in the movie. The characters walked across the top.
I took advantage of the slightly warmer temperatures by running several days.
I also enjoyed watching birds at their bird feeder. I so miss having a feeder and watching birds and was pretty excited to see a Junco, Tufted Titmouse, and a Nuthatch among others. I had not seen them since I had a bird feeder at my home in PA.
We also took a golf cart ride around the subdivisions and the community. So many paths. I would like these for running and walking.
Before I knew it, the time was over and I was to head back to Pittsburgh. I will miss my friends, their hospitality, and the weather. They are a beautiful couple with an amazing community they live in.
Both my mom and aunt live in Tionesta. It is a distance from Pittsburgh and I haven’t seen her in some time as well. Much better to talk in person instead of through Skype.
I helped my mom with some tasks and put together some shelves for my aunt. There was garbage to burn and I loved the little “she” shed of my aunt’s. We thought this was the only visit I would be able to make but when flights to China were cancelled I was able to go visit a couple more times. Snowy winter weather meant shoveling as well as other ways to help. My mom makes great grilled cheese…..
The she shed in the background…My sister in law at my Mom’s.
Sunni and I booked two nights at an inn at a winery. We liked it so much we booked it again a month later when we came up to visit. As I start teaching online soon, I will need to be up at night to teach synchronously with my school in China. Traveling to visit again may be difficult.
The Inn at Deer Creek Winery.
The winter weather in our second trip made for some beautiful pictures.
Glistening ice on trees on a beautiful sunny day. It’s beautiful, but I miss warmer weather….Of course we drank wine but made a pretend drink like a coronarita using wine and fireball shots. We didn’t actually drink it, it was a spoof picture.
It has been a long time since I’ve seen my brother and sister-in-law. I have really missed them and looking forward to spending time with them. One of the things I have missed is watching Christmas movies on the Hallmark channel while drinking some wine. For the first few days that is what I did, though I did fall asleep often. Between COVID and flu shots and jet lag, it was a strange first week.
I still managed to get some time in while also spending some great time with my sister in law Sunni and my brother Ken. Ryan came up to celebrate birthday on December 24th and I then went back to Pittsburgh with him. I spent most of them weekdays in Worthington and weekends with Ryan. We didn’t go many places due to COVID-19 and instead enjoyed each other’s company.
Views from runs
After a weekend in Pittsburgh I rented a car and came back to Worthington. From there we went shopping and drove to Tionesta to stay at a winery and visit my mother and aunt (another blog post).
Then one morning (January 5), I woke up and found that China had changed the entry requirements. Now there are more tests and a 7 day requirement to be in the city of departure before leaving for China. Never mind this is literally the day after I return from Wisconsin and that I had made other plans. The good news is that I had done most of the things I wanted to do before that as it was a possibility anything could change.
I then changed my hotel in LA, requested the tests, and cancelled the other things I could. Ryan wanted me to go back to Pittsburgh a day earlier to spend more time with him so I quickly packed everything I had to get ready to bring everything to his place. I met Ryan in Butler at a Mexican restaurant. It was a great dinner with Ken, Sunni, and Ryan.
I will also miss the kitties and puppies, especially Groot and Jax, the coolest cats. Actually Groot is pretty difficult to get along with but I think he liked me. It was difficult to say goodbye to Nina. She’s used to be my dog, and loves her new home, but still remembers me.
GrootNinaJax
Putting a wrinkle into future plans was the announcement a few days later that China Southern flights are suspended due to 5 COVID cases. This means I may be stuck in the US. Though it means more time with family, it also means I have to teach online in the middle of the night.
Not only were flights cancelled for a few airlines, the majority of flights were all cancelled through the end of February. This is primarily due to the Olympics in Beijing and Chinese new year celebrations. They want to keep the cases of COVID in low numbers.
I will be enjoying more time with family and cats and dogs!
Eventually we had a foot of snow and also some very cold temperatures (-8C to -21C). What else do you do besides shoveling? Make snow angels!
The cats don’t know what they are missing outside…
