Thursday and Friday was, for the first time, uneventful days. I actually got the days I wanted, just laying in bed and recuperating. The quaint small downtown area where I am staying has lots of different types of restaurant and I was fortunately able to order my delivery meals from them. Several were actually within two blocks and I just felt too exhausted to walk there.

The Arts Hotel is a very unusual hotel because even though it’s fairly new, it has no TVs in the room or closets. The bathroom walls separating the sleeping area is completely frosted glass. The rooms are fairly sterile, but comfortable, and for me much more desirable than the last inn since I am invisible to everyone and can isolate myself. Thankfully, I brought my iPad and was able to watch Netflix and Amazon Video, etc.

I have to say that I was a bit nervous about leaving Saturday, not knowing what might happen? I was obviously looking forward to heading home, but it seems that there is always something that happens, especially on this trip. I have resigned myself to expect the unexpected, and when it does happens, I usually laugh at it and look at it as part of life, and besides, it gives me something to write about. So generally I take any misfortunes on my treks with a grain of salt. As one great wise philosopher once said, “shit happens!”

I was up at 6:00 am. My flight didn’t depart until 11:15 am, and I didn’t want one of those mishaps so I got there about 9:00 am. Charlottetown Airport only has one terminal and only a few flights arrive and depart everyday. There were no people in the checkin area and there were two clerks. Wow! Checked in with the friendly clerks and started to the security area, when an agent came out and announced the flight had been delayed until 12 noon.

Ok, there it starts, but my arrival in LA is still 4:45 pm so no problem. Then within a few minutes it was announced that the flight to Montreal had now been cancelled! Strange, like a switch had been turned on, the empty checkin area was suddenly flooded with people streaming out of the gate area, along with the rush of people just arriving, and within minutes there were hundreds of people standing in line. Not about to stand at the back of a line, I just went to the priority line and went up to the counter.

Not many choices, and my only was to take a later flight to Toronto and get to LA around 10:00, instead of 4:40. The flight departed Charlottetown about 1:00 and it was totally full, with people all getting connecting flights. Once in Toronto there was another four hour flight delay for my flight to LA. Then just as we were about to board, the plane was moved to another gate. Like a herd of cattle all the two-three hundred plus passengers walk the fifteen minutes to the other gate. Issues with the baggies, sitting on the tarmac waiting for clearance, and we were finally off about 10:00. Landed at LAX at 12:10 am. By the time Mindee picked me up and drove home I think I was hallucinating. By the time I got to bed it was Sunday, 2:30 am, over 24 hours since I go up to head home.

I completed a Rapid Home Test while driving home and still came back positive. Supposedly I am not contagious after seven days, but I understand that tests can come back positive for weeks after. I tried to be very cautious and never removed my mask, constantly washed and sanitized my hands, and sat 10’ or more away from people. I also requested an aisle seat and tried not to talk to the person next to me. I didn’t want to take a chance at home so I slept in our RV. I’ll probably sleep there a few more days to be on the safe side. I have to say that it is so nice to be home and my Covid symptoms and recovery would have gone better had I been home. Contracting Covid while starting my The Island Walk has to have been my most challenging trek. Though I didn’t complete it, I didn’t want it to take away from the main reason I wanted to complete it, and that was to complete it in memory of my mother, Henriette, who passed away from complications from the disease of dementia. It was also to raise the awareness of the disease of dementia (Alzheimer’s being under its umbrella), and for the Alzheimer’s Association Longest Day fundraiser.

If you haven’t already done so, please donate to the Alzheimer’s Association in their continuing challenge to support people effected by the disease, and hopefully find a cure.

http://act.alz.org/site/TR?fr_id=15144&pg=personal&px=16504635

Best wishes to all! Thank you for your support,

Ted

As always, please excuse the typos, spelling errors, grammar, etc., because it’s been a challenging few days.