Frequent Flyer Miles

 If, like you, I had declined to fly for a significant time due to the pandemic, but my miles still grow.

I read this morning an article by Jamie Lauren Keiles in the The New York Times Magazine and then took Bubba-Doo for a short hike.  Yes it was short since the road to get to Shatterack Mountain Trail was closed for the winter so I redirected to the Army Corps of Engineers Knightville Dam but that place was crowded (sunny and cool today).

So returning, I stoked up the woodstove and started this piece.

I started flying on a regular basis in the Eighties.  At that time it might have been a trip a year, but not knowing any difference I signed up for airline frequent flyer programs in anticipation.  After moving the New England, my flights continued for work and when it was personal travel, we tended to fly TWA since St. Louis was a hub.  About the same time I signed up for a credit card tied to the airline.

Early use of miles was mainly used to offset expenses for a vacation.  If I could knock off a couple of thousand dollars for a weeklong vacation in the Caribbean, why not.  Then I used the miles to upgrade to first class tickets.  During those times coach may have been $600 each while first was $900-1000 so not really a big difference, but recall this is for two people.  

Flying more frequent for work and fun meant I became a loyal flyer with a particular airline and even would pay a bit more to rack up the miles over lesser priced competing airlines.  I could then get free first class tickets and travel in style.  I knew for example to get a good free ticket, you might need to schedule that vacation 11 months out, but with a school schedule that was not too hard.

So I got a couple of tickets in limbo right now due to Covid, and a bunch of miles, so I am looking at January 2022 for a vacation at a distant and safe location.

Am I too optimistic?

On this date

 Typically this time of the year, we travel to a warm space.  Back in the 1990s. it might have been a trip to Florida, but when the temps were too cold, even there, we ventured further south to the Caribbean.  

There we found fresh fruits and vegetables, sandy beaches and snorkeling and best of all warm temps.

Here are some pictures from the 7 of January to help you warm up (currently 20 degrees F here).

I love fresh coconut water:

Oh yeah, a bit south west and Costa Rica and Arenal:

TRINET

 

Tourism Research Information Network

I thought I would introduce a listserv that deals with tourism for you.

From their website:

What is TRINET?

TRINET is an email distribution list that connects members of the international tourism research and education community. Its purpose is to promote an open exchange of ideas, information, and opinions that are relevant to tourism scholarship, including theory, research, education, policy development, and operational matters.

Postings are primarily of an intellectual and scholarly nature. TRINET does not accept postings that are purely commercial. Announcements which promote communication, research, education and scholarship, such as conference announcements, new books, announcements of academic positions, and the availability of funding and scholarship awards fit the spirit and mission of TRINET.

Same Trail, New Length

 News from the Appalachian Trail Conservancy note the new "official" trail length.

The official length of the A.T. in 2021 has been announced: 2,193.1 miles! This length changes slightly each year due to Trail modifications/reroutes and more precise measurement of A.T. sections.

Hot Tub and Pools sales up

 Since we are all stuck home, some 94,000 new in-ground swimming pools are to be opened by the end of the year. There is one being built on the lot near me in Westfield as I write this.

And Hot Tubs have grown in popularity by 400% (got ours some ten years ago).

For those who want to do this more inexpensively, try heading to the local farm store and buy a livestock galvanized tub.  Then add a water heater (propane or electric) and yippee, you got a hot tub.

Breakdancing gets Olympic Status

 Can't wait until Paris 2024 when we get to see Breakdancing as a new event!  The spinning and twirling should be spectacular.  

Also good news is the subtraction of Boxing and to a lesser degree Weight Lifting. I mean watching people beat the s&*t out of each other is not what I call a sport.  Just like the fools who drive around in a circle in a fast car is not a sport IMHO.

Rice Nature Preserve, Wilbraham, MA

 No snow in Westfield, but twenty miles east in Wilbraham, the trails of Rice Nature Reserve were at least two inches deep with snow and ice.

Just a shot of the trail here

A view from the top of the hill was pretty nice.

A when zoomed in, got a nice pic of the Mt. Tom Range across the Connecticut River Valley.

A nice bench offered a nice rest, but it was too cold and windy to stay very long.

Along an unmapped Biy Pass Trail and stone wall meandered through the woods.

Want more information?  Or a trailmap?  Will return on a milder day.