Introduction: one month to visit friends scattered across the country. Ideal opportunity for road trip, except, no longer own a car. Phone, email, text is okay, but nothing replaces the effort of face-to-face, and, it is always worth the effort.
TUE 03 September: Amtrak Acela, New Haven Connecticut to Washington DC, brief ride on the Metro, and check into hostel within walking distance from Dupont Circle.
Explore Adams Morgan neighborhood, beautiful brick homes, before meeting friends, Greg and Tierney, for dinner at Lapis, an Afghan restaurant. Greg was my favorite graduate school professor, and we find ways to stay in touch during the past twenty years. We share small plates at the restaurant, the meal is flavorful and unique.
Morning run; weather is cool and comfortable, sunny skies. Walk past the White House; quiet protestor holds a sign that reads, “Hatred won’t make America great again.” Visit National Gallery of Art. There is one Leonardo da Vinci painting, Ginevra de’ Benci (1474). Museum also has the largest Modigliani gallery that I have seen. Asked why I visit the art museum; quiet space in a noisy world.
Take DC Metro red line to Takoma Park, Maryland, and meet Darden MBA classmates, Cathy, Lynn, and Margaret for dinner at Cielo Rojo, Mexican restaurant. Haven’t shared time with Lynn or Margaret since graduate school, and it is nice to re-connect.
Explore National Mall; my first visit to Vietnam Veterans Memorial, inscribed with more than 58,000 names of servicemen killed during the fifteen-year conflict. Afterwards, visit National Portrait Gallery, and explore the gallery of presidents.
FRI 06 September: early morning, Metro not yet in service; walk from hostel to Metro Center station; silver line to Dulles Airport. United Airlines to Orlando, and Lynx city bus to Winter Park. Long-time friend, Alex, from graduate school, picks me up, and we stop for fantastic lunch of Mexican street food.
Saturday morning, Alex and I go out for 7-mile hike at Black Bear Nature Trail in Sanford, located along St Johns River. Trail is muddy and slippery, but, enjoyable hike with good company. After cleaning up, dinner is at Coro; flavorful and creative small plates. There is no wait staff; chefs bring out each plate, and share with the dinner guests, their enthusiasm and passion for great food.
Sunday morning is trip to the gym for morning workout, and my first-ever game of pickleball. In the afternoon, Alex’ Mom (from England) joins us for an afternoon hike. Drenched in heavy rain and mud did not diminish her spirits. Dinner is at home, and Alex’ wife, Zane, prepares a wonderful, Turkish-inspired meal.
MON 09 September: United Airlines, Orlando to Houston; local news tracks Tropical Storm Francine, which evenutally makes landfall in Louisiana. My friend, Eric, who played bassoon with Houston Symphony (45-years), picks me up from the airport.
Replace aged wooden fence; good food, good company, and good discussion. Amy bakes high-temperature Basque cheesecake, which is divine. Visit Museum of Fine Arts Houston (MFAH), and appreciate the Kinder building, completed in 2020, which greatly increases the museum’s footprint, fitting for the country’s fourth largest city.
Meet long-time friends, Ted & Neide, for dinner at Nobie’s. Next morning, pre-dawn run at Memorial Park, to mitigate hot and humid weather. Meet my friend, Bobby, at West-End Coffee House. Neide makes a wonderful mushroom risotto for dinner, creamy and satisfying, keep stirring so it doesn’t scorch the bottom of the pan.
FRI 20 September: Houston Metro bus from Rice Military neighborhood to the airport; Metro can publish bus schedule, but, doesn’t always follow the bus schedule. $1.25 bus fare is considerably less than $40 Uber. Pass highway billboard, with American and Israeli flags, and the caption, “partners together.” Embarrassed that United States supplies munitions to Israel that have killed more than 40,000 Palestinians.
No trains between Houston and Austin; bus is not reliable; late, or frequently cancelled. Fly United Airlines; long-time friend, Kris, picks me up at the airport.
Breakfast at Waffle House, visit used book store, and watch Superman – Christopher Reeve documentary in the afternoon. Next day, hike San Gabriel River Trail in Georgetown; replace broken ceiling fan, never as easy as the instructions suggest.
MON 23 September: Kris drops me off at the airport, United Airlines flight to Denver Colorado; light rail from airport to Castle Rock. Share time with long-time friends, Jani and Donata. Delightful weather, 75-degrees, sunshine, low humidity.
Altitude in Castle Rock is 6,500-feet, and plagued with altitude sickness; headache and nausea. Driving into the region is easier on the body; slowly gain altitude, instead of abrupt change when flying. Takes three days for body to finally adjust.
Jani has small scale bread-bakery in the basement, with full-size stand mixer and 220-volt bread oven, able to bake six to nine loaves at one time. We mill and sift fresh flour, and follow his four-day, cold-fermentation process. Bake four outstanding loaves on Thursday, with voluminous oven spring and well-defined ear. His loaves are as good as Tartine Bakery in San Francisco.
FRI 27 September: public bus to Denver airport, pick-up rental car, drive to Boulder. Dinner with Todd and Morgia at Chautauqua Dining Hall, located on the historic grounds, with great views of the flatirons. Todd is founder and Managing Partner of a life science, private equity firm. I worked with Todd 18-months to build out the back-office function. Return to hostel at Boulder Canyon, far from city’s congested downtown, and fall asleep to the sound of chirping crickets.
Next morning is bright sunshine and cloudless, blue skies. Hike Canyon Loop Trail at the Betasso Preserve, which is right behind the hostel. Four-mile loop trail; if I knew the region better, would have been an ideal trail run.
SUN 29 September: if I had prescient insight, despite frequent travel, should have stayed overnight at airport hotel. Mid-morning flight, non-stop to Connecticut. Flying to Hartford often feels like an apology. Looks like fall; deciduous trees, rainbow of color.
Cost: cumulative travel costs, during past month.
Lodging: $118 total
Transport: $964 total | (plane | train | bus | ferry | taxi)
Food: $413 total
Other: $58 total | (FX | ATM | visa | tourism)
Total: $1,553 total | $58 per day | $21,200 annualized
Conclusion: looked forward to sharing time with friends. Email and text convenient, but, does not replace face-to-face, investment in friendship. There is a difference between friends and acquaintance. If diagnosed with cancer, with whom do I share.
At the same time, I was quite fatigued by the end of the month. I am introverted and shy, and my energy level was depleted. When I travel overseas, I have enough – maybe too much – private time to restore energy levels.
October will be low-key, rake leaves, and get ready for the next six-month journey.
garthmonroe 