Looks Like I’m back in Business

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I’m Back

I’m back online and ready to start sharing stories again. What an adventure this was. I’m still playing the password game. I also found out what happened to my old computer. It wasn’t a virus. It was Windows 10. Somehow the upgrade that I kept refusing managed to slip past me. Once it hit my old computer it was the begining of the end. I watched my old faithful electronic friend die a slow death. I lost files and apps and eventually the on/off functionality.  It was a frustrating and “painful” process.

My New Computer

I settled on a Dell computer this time. It has the same memory as my old one. I purchased it at Best Buy in Mansfield but they only had the floor model in stock. They found another one in stock for me at a Best Buy store in North Attleboro. I went to North Attleboro on that Saturday to pick it up but found out that I had to take it across the store to the Geek Squad section. It hadn’t been set up yet. I haven’t set up a new computer in years and when I did the new one at work last month I had the IT guy right there to handle all the data transfer. My work computer came from our home office with all of the apps installed. I am so spoiled. Anyway I figured I’d have Geek Squad do the same thing for me.

Geek Squad

Years ago I used Geek Squad to set up my computer. I had them come to my home and hook it up too. I hated the job they did and stayed away from them after that but I really didn’t want to deal with the set up this time. I’d set it up at home but with my sick computer holding photos and data I really didn’t want to mess with it. I left my new computer with a copy of a quicken application and the security software and headed home. It took 2 days  and I got a call the computer was ready. Now I disconnected the old one and headed back. If I’d understood the process I’d have given them the old computer the first time but I was still using it (or trying). In another 2 days the data transfer was done from my old computer.

Its finally home

When I finally picked up the new computer I made an appointment so there  was no waiting. The Geek Squad associate set up my computer right there in the store and showed me what was done. We went through all the data transfer so I could confirm it was correct and all there. In all my dealings with them they were professional and respectful. It was an amazingly good experience. Well done Geek Squad! Now I just have to finish downloading the remaining applications and I’ll be back in business.

Thank you!

Thanks to all my followers for hanging in there with me. We’re getting close to having some new and ( I think)  interesting posts…like an erupting volcano! Now if I can just remember all my passwords!

Lava Lake Glow

 

Technical Difficulties

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Technical  Computer issues delay posts

I’m having some pretty serious technical problems. My computer is slowly giving up the ghost. I’ve known I had a sick desktop for quite awhile. I’ve been limping along using my ancient lap top but that’s also failed. So I’m stealing a minute in my company computer to bring you this update.

My Plan of Action

It looks like the first chance I’ll have to go computer shopping is Saturday. If I can find something in stock that I like I might be able to start posting as soon as Sunday. I’ll have to try to transfer my apps to the new computer. I’m not sure how long that will take to how many have been corrupted. I don’t want to share any viruses that might have found a home in my  old computer. My company also offers discounts on Dell computers but I think that I have to wait for it to ship if I go that route. I’ll look into it tomorrow.

What have we missed?

This was probably a blessing in disguise as I was starting to struggle to come up with topics. The weather has been horrible so I haven’t felt like going out on the weekends.  I did get a short break (1 week) where I took off to the Big Island of Hawaii. Of course I have lots of stories, tips and comments about this adventure but I can’t upload the photos at the moment.

I did see Kilauea

Kilauea was putting on quite a show when I was there. This is the glow from the lava lake. The lava is probably 60-80 feet below the rim. It was “fountaining” between 60 to 120 ft so we’d see glimpses of the tops of the fountains on the big ones. This is one of the pictures I took but it’s small because the computer can’t handle the full size file.

Hopefully I’ll get this all resolved and be back in business next week. Thanks for your patience.

 

I have a Volcano On My Mind

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Old Faithful Erupts

Old Faithful

I want to see a Volcano

After all, I just visited a super volcano! Yellowstone is an amazing place to visit. Surround yourself with geysers, steam vents, boiling mud and steaming rivers. What you won’t see is lava or magma. In Yellowstone that’s still deep underground. We hope it stays there for a long time. An explosion of a super volcano would be devastating!

But I still want to see a volcano

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Back in 2007 I visited the Big Island of Hawaii. As part of my trip I spent a day in Volcano National Park. We drove through lava fields. We even saw the “VOG” in the distance. Vog is volcanic fog and its loaded with sulfuric acid. Needless to say we didn’t get close. We considered hiking over the lava field to see the glowing lava but the solid lava is like glass. Any little fall causes lots of cuts and bleeding. Right at the start one of our party tripped and fell. Lots of band aids later we all helped her limp off the lava and back to the car.

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Let’s Look from the air

After our mishap on the ground we thought we might be able to see the lava from the air. Our group didn’t want to try a helicopter but they were willing to take a small plane ride. We signed up for the tour of the island. As part of the tour the plane circled the vent with the boiling lava. It didn’t look like much from the air. We only had glimpses of the bright red. A cooler skin of black floated over the glowing lava.

Maybe another chance

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During the intervening years I heard about a boat trip along the shore. They go out at dawn and dusk when the lava flow glowed as it poured into the sea. That was way on top of my to do list. Then last week I checked the eruptions for Kilauea. It’s not flowing into the sea anymore! “Lava flow is still active on the pali and coastal plain, however the ocean entry is currently halted”. I may find my plans “foiled” again. Can’t wait to get there and find out!

A Trip of a Lifetime

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Alaska Road Trip

The last trip that was suggested was another chance to see Alaska. As you all know I took a land cruise tour in 2013. It was nice but I’m convinced it could have been so much better. “Pete” who lives in Alaska recommended a road trip that included Homer, Denali, Fairbanks, Valdez, ending in Anchorage. This immediately caught my interest. A road trip like that would take some planning so I started pouring over guidebooks, maps and Alaska Blogs. I think I have the framework laid out.

Minimum 14 days

A road trip like this would hit most of the high points but it can’t be rushed. I think it will take at least 14 days to complete. I think the best time of year will be summer. That means I can’t go this year. I can’t get 2 weeks off this summer. Maybe 2019? I can probably use the time to make lodging reservations. Here’s my rough draft of the ideal road trip.

Alaska Road Trip Itinerary

Day 1:  Anchorage… Pick up rental car, drive north on George Parks Highway. Overnight in Talkeetna

Day 2: Talkeetna to Denali. Overnight in Denali National Park

Day 3: Denali National Park. Overnight in Denali

Day 4: Denali to Fairbanks. Overnight in Fairbanks

Day 5: Take a tour to the Arctic Circle. Overnight in Fairbanks

Day 6: Leave Fairbanks on the Richardson Highway for Delta Junction. Overnight Copper Center

Day 7: Wrangell St Elias National Park – Valdez. Overnight in Valdez

Day 8: Valdez, Prince William Sound-Ferry to Whittier/Seward. Overnight Seward

Day 9: Seward, Kenai Fjords National Park Overnight Seward

Day 10: Seward to Homer. Overnight in Homer

Day 11 : Homer. Overnight in Homer

Day 12: Leave Homer for a scenic drive to Ninilchik – the oldest settlement on the Kenai Peninsula. Overnight Cooper Landing

Day 13: Leave Kenai Peninsula and drive north through the Chugach National Forest to Portage Glacier. Overnight Anchorage

Day 14: Anchorage –  Turn in the rental car and catch the flight home

Denali

 

Comments Welcome

So that’s the first draft of the trip. Any suggestions? Any recommendations for accommodations at the various stops? I considered renting an RV and camping but changed my mind. I think an SUV is more to my liking. Suggestions and comments welcome!

 

 

You’re off to Great Places!

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I Love your Great Ideas!

You had some great trips for me to consider. Thank you for sharing your suggestions. I have a lot to consider.  “Diane” suggested Glacier National Park. I must say that National Parks are always a super choice. I’ve been to many. I even have the “passport” books and collect the stamps. I thought that Glacier National Park was primarily a hiking destination and I’m not sure I’m up for much hiking. Time for me to do a little research.

Glacier National Park

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The first thing I found out when I searched Glacier National Park was Going-to-the-Sun Road. This drive connects the east and west sides of the park as it cuts through the middle. Going-to-the-Sun road is 50 miles of scenic wonder. I’ll need to plan this vacation in the summer. The road is often closed by snow in the winter. It’s wild country out there. Wildlife may be present anywhere along Going-to-the-Sun Road. As you know if you’ve read many of my posts, I’m a sucker for Wildlife. I can watch for mountain goats and Big Horn sheep.  You can even see a glacier from the road at Jackson Glacier Overlook. A bonus for me is that Glacier National Park is in Montana. I haven’t been to Montana yet!

Yosemite National Park

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Sticking with the National Park theme, my boss at work got in on the suggestions. She lobbied for Yosemite National Park. She and her family recently vacationed there and she came away quite impressed. Yosemite National Park is in California’s Sierra Nevada mountains. It’s famous for El Capitan and Half Dome, two iconic landmarks. Its also home to giant, ancient sequoia trees. When I think of Yosemite I think of waterfalls. I was concerned that this hiker’s paradise might be another place that would be beyond my skill set? I’m happy to report that many areas of the park can be reached by car and some places even have shuttle access! Sounds like a user friendly park to me!

Stay Tuned

There are more suggestions to come and they just keep getting better!