Microblog

Pumped up the tires and took myself out for a test drive. I performed well enough, though I’ll definitely be needing a nap this afternoon. All things considered, I’m ready to cycle to points east with my friend tomorrow.

Our colds persist. Going a little stir-crazy, I went for a walk, starting with this tunnel under the interstate near our home, dense with metaphors. Later, at a new bookshop, a barista with the snuffles brewed me a welcome Americano.

Day 3 nursing a cold: at least it’s not COVID. It’s a good day to lie on the couch and read Clouds Above the Hill, set in Meiji-era Japan. There’s an entire museum in Matsuyama devoted to this book; I’ve actually visited it, though only because it was designed by architect Tadao Ando and features a lovely cafe. At the time, the significance of the story was lost on me, but today I can escape my cold and lose myself in the history.

Picked up a bunch of ramps for a stir-fry from our local farmers market¹. The ramp season in Minnesota is remarkably short, lasting only about three weeks. Sadly, it’s still too early in the season for local cruciferous vegetables, so I reluctantly walked over to Whole Foods² where I found some healthy-looking dino kale from Michigan and red chard from California.

Walked over to Franklin Library, one of Minneapolis’s first Carnegie libraries, for my weekly tutoring session with an adult learner. Four years ago, the county library board cut funding for a walk-in center at that same library where I used to volunteer. This service had supported various waves of immigrants for over a century, and by working with my student, I tell myself I’m nodding to that 100-year tradition.

Pleased to learn this morning that the Minneapolis School Board had reversed its decision to lay off 50% of adult education ELL teachers. I’ve protested outside a board meeting and written to every member; hundreds of others did the same and more. Now I can continue assisting in the classroom, including a new course today, Introduction to Interpreting.

It was a bit chilly today, so I decided to walk rather than cycle for our groceries. I like to vary my route, which today took me through this industrial alley near Coastal Seafoods, my favorite spot for fish. I later asked Gemini to make the photo a little more interesting; click through to see the original.

Spent the morning prepping for future travels, knocking out tasks that once would have required a physical trip, all from the comfort of home. I ordered new hiking boots from REI, an updated version of my worn-out pair that keeps the essential wide toe box. I also renewed my expiring US passport online; surprisingly, I didn’t even have to mail in the old one. However, we’re not quite ready for a robot to steal the zen of cleaning gear, especially Dwight’s improvised drying system.

This is one of my happy places: Economy seats on an A330, exit row, two-across. Often these seats get a thumbs-down because of their proximity to the lavatories, but at my age, that’s a plus. I book early and then rebook if the price goes down. Over the years, I’ve had many lovely conversations with flight attendants sitting in the jump seat opposite. Today, we fly home.

This is one over-the-top fish and chip restaurant at the seaside in Whitley Bay’s Spanish City. I met my brother for a late lunch, followed by a bracing walk along the seafront to the Rendezvous Cafe, which is sometimes featured in the Vera TV series. There was no Vera sighting, but we did enjoy some cups of tea and cake.

It took all five adults, two wedges, and a rubber mallet to remove one panel so other panels could be slotted in to complete this Little Tikes slide. The little tike was happy, though.

I’m now in Newcastle upon Tyne, my hometown. Much of the city center is still recognizable from my childhood, just more spiffed up. At Fenwick department store’s toy department I picked up a DUPLO set for the almost two-year-old grandchild of the friends I’m staying with.

I first walked across the Firth of Forth on this suspension bridge with my brother shortly after it opened in 1964. By 2018, its role was largely taken over by the cable-stayed bridge just visible on the top-right. Today, we first crossed by train on the 1890 cantilever bridge to the left; here, we’re walking back across the 1964 bridge.

Dwight and I are now in Edinburgh, having bade our friends a temporary farewell. We’re staying in the university area, which we prefer to the overloved city center. Always on the lookout for something we haven’t seen before, we walked over to this former railroad tunnel; built in 1831, it is now part of the National Cycle Network.

​We reached the end of our hike in Pitlochry after yet another day of “good everything”: the hiking, the views, the weather, and the company. It was here I bade farewell to my boots; the soles were simply too worn for another stint. They’ve served me well, but their journey ends here. Already, the four of us are talking about our next multi-day trek.

It’s day 7 of 8 on our Rob Roy Way hike. We’ve settled into a comfortable routine: arriving at our destination by mid-afternoon, just in time for a pot of tea and some cake. ​Today we reached Aberfeldy after a day of stunning views and more waterfalls than we could count. A cuppa and a slice of cake were exactly what we needed before checking into our hotel for a pre-dinner nap.