Putting things off in life

[shootingstar]

Given the Icelandic volcano that is now spewing angrily its sulphorous and particulate cloud mess all over the place, it will be a miracle if we even get to Europe this June, as we have originally planned.

Maybe this is a sign I shouldn't have put off this European trip with my partner. I turned down 2 previous trips to accompany him in previous years.
_____________________________________________________
Nearly every major personal trip involving a flight, I've gone outside of Canada has been affected by something:

1. I had planned to go to China with a sister. We had to cancel our trip because the Tienamen Square massacre occurred in Beijing. Instead she and I went to Europe (2nd trip to continent)

2. lst trip to Europe (to Greece), there was a major heat wave in some European countries. Several Greeks had died from it. A woman who sat beside me on return flight to Canada, her mother who lived there, had just died from it.

3. Berkley, California-- there was a shooting on a highway near city which tied up traffic. Hence, delayed a meeting with some people.

4. Boston -- Taxi engine died and we got trapped on the freeway on way from airport. We were stuck in the middle of 2 streaming lanes of traffic. Scary. Thank goodness for monstrous tow truck and police car. We needed them.

5. San Francisco - (different trip from #3) Accompanying mother who hadn't seen her 3 sisters for 40 yrs. Trip was birthday gift trip from us all to mom. One of her sisters died just 3 days before we flew out. So instead, we attended a wake.

I'm hoping for the best this year. :confused:

[malkin]

Remember you're a cyclist and just roll with it.

[indysteel]

We're scheduled to leave for our honeymoon in France and Belgium in a little more than 2 weeks. I haven't given up hope just yet.

[shootingstar]

We're scheduled to leave for our honeymoon in France and Belgium in a little more than 2 weeks. I haven't given up hope just yet.

Wow. We're hoping the best for you.

There's always the West Coast. :)
Seriously, do you have a backup destination?

[Catrin]

We're scheduled to leave for our honeymoon in France and Belgium in a little more than 2 weeks. I haven't given up hope just yet.

Oh my, you had said the honeymoon was coming but not where. Hopefully nothing will happen to prevent your European trip, though a backup plan is never a bad idea - and can sometimes be even more fun.

[indysteel]

The backup plan largely depends on how Delta is handling things. If we can just a refund, then that frees us up to do whatever I guess. What that "whatever" is I don't know. Maybe San Francisco. If we can only reschedule, then I suppose we'll put it off until June or September (I don't want to go to France when it's really hot). I'd want to make sure we can book the accommodations we wanted. Some of the cheaper, but nice hotels book up well in advance.

[NoNo]

I have one cousin stuck in Prague, but his business is covering everything. I have another cousin on a trip with his high school choir that may be stuck in Italy. How you keep track of over 100 kids in another country is beyond me. How you find housing for that many kids on short notice and come up with the money for it sounds damn-near impossible.

[shootingstar]

I have one cousin stuck in Prague, but his business is covering everything. I have another cousin on a trip with his high school choir that may be stuck in Italy. How you keep track of over 100 kids in another country is beyond me. How you find housing for that many kids on short notice and come up with the money for it sounds damn-near impossible.

Maybe the kids can collectively sing for their meals/accommodation. :rolleyes:

(Hey, Trek420 where's your thread? No need to have it deleted.)

This is off-topic:
In the last 4 hrs., I just discovered from another Internet group where I've hung out for a few yrs., a group member who lives in Sweden. Now I found out she was born and raised in Prague (where we hope to go during our trip also this yr.) plus she has relatives in a smaller medieval town where coincidentally we also booked to go.

Just amazing, how the global world can shrink abit. :o I'm just a little flabbergasted. These strange, multiple coincidences.

[Trek420]

(Hey, Trek420 where's your thread? No need to have it deleted.)

eh, why duplicate the thoughts. :rolleyes:

I'll let Duck on Wheels post the tale of her trip when she's rested. Our mutual 80+y.o. Mom called this morning in between trying to fit an errand and a little gardening before our mutual niece and her son (mutual great nephew) arrive for a weekend with her. Anywho ... Duck had a conference in London that just ended when kablooiee!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sxuaUaS4rU0&feature=related

Sounds like she and her grad students put together a way to make their way safely home throughout Scandinavia. Very resourceful and plucky those Norwegians even the ones who were born in CA.

Duck should be back in Hell (that's Hell, Norway folks ;)) soon with maybe a stop or two along the way.

It's usually her DH's trips that get cancelled by disaster:
"I'm going bike touring in China! ooops, there's avian flu ..."

[XMcShiftersonX]

My best friend is currently stuck in Washington D.C. waiting until they clear her and her husband to fly to France for a vacation (She lives in Washington state). They were supposed to have been in France last Thursday. It sucks! But I imagine by June things will be cleared up, if not, that's a serious issue. Just be glad you weren't scheduled to go now like my friend, because she's still using her vacation time from work even though she's not on the vacation she has planned for the last year! Not to mention Washington D.C. is definitely not France!!

[shootingstar]

eh, why duplicate the thoughts. :rolleyes:

I'll let Duck on Wheels post the tale of her trip when she's rested. Our mutual 80+y.o. Mom called this morning in between trying to fit an errand and a little gardening before our mutual niece and her son (mutual great nephew) arrive for a weekend with her. Anywho ... Duck had a conference in London that just ended when kablooiee!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sxuaUaS4rU0&feature=related

Sounds like she and her grad students put together a way to make their way safely home throughout Scandinavia. Very resourceful and plucky those Norwegians even the ones who were born in CA.

Duck should be back in Hell (that's Hell, Norway folks ;)) soon with maybe a stop or two along the way.

It's usually her DH's trips that get cancelled by disaster:
"I'm going bike touring in China! ooops, there's avian flu ..."

Should be quite interesting to hear from Duck soon. I understand the trains had to accommodate up to 46,000 people across Europe during this natural disaster.

Part of our trip includes Copenhagen...he's going to an international cycling conference. Our trip will include visit to his 82 yr. old uncle in Germany. In good health but visit may be last time to see him.

At the very least, this spring in Europe may be full of more surprises than expected. Wonder if at all the weather in some areas will be affected. Probably won't know until we look backwards in time several months from now.

But I'm prepared to cancel trip if necessary.

[Kathi]

Yesterday, I met a woman on the lift chair from Scotland who came here to ski Colorado. She's due to fly home Tuesday.

Funny thing is she's a member of The Ski Divas forum and I'm able to keep up with her progress via the internet. Also, I've offered her help if she needs it.

[Trek420]

Wonder if at all the weather in some areas will be affected. Probably won't know until we look backwards in time several months from now.

I think we're experiencing the same volcano that B Franklin wrote about in 1783-4. :o

http://www.semp.us/publications/biot_reader.php?BiotID=222

[Crankin]

Nervously watching how far south that cloud is drifting. So far, no airports in Spain are closed.
One month to go!

[runningcyclist]

Hey folks. It's all good fun over this side too (not really). I could never have imagined that nature would conspire to keep a continent grounded when two World Wars couldn't.

Still, overland travel (trains, cars, ferrys) will be experiencing increased business and I understand people living near Heathrow airport are discovering the joys of uninterrupted sleep and a whole lot of peace and quiet :D

[Trek420]

Just heard from Duck. She and her assembly of grad students and teachers extended their stay in London taking in sights, museums, art and cream tea while variously on hold for and surfing alternative ways home. They heard from a friend also stranded but on the mainland, could they pick him up?

"Of course! Yes we can!"

Now trains, ferries, automobiles are ticketed and confirmed, spare driver & companion located and waiting .... the plucky crew are on their way.