The Bay Area – A Bit Off Course

Our final stop in Chapter One (the US and Guatemala) of ‘The Plan’ and just over halfway through our travels—at least in terms of days. By the end the first chapter, we head been on the road for 72 days, with all but 7 of those spent in the US. We’ve visited 2 countries, taken 10 flights, and stayed at 9 friends’ and family’s homes. Until the Bay Area, everything had pretty much gone according to plan, despite our best efforts to miss our connection to Alaska (blame it on those delicious, artery-clogging quesadillas in the Dallas lounge).

But the Bay Area was different. Two days after arriving, Bryan started feeling unwell, and by day 4, he tested positive for COVID. While this would be inconvenient for any traveler, for Bryan it meant all-hands-on-deck. 

Our original plan was to stay with two sets of friends, visit my dad and his wife Helen, and then head north to see Bryan’s family—most importantly, his cousin and kidney donor. However, those two little pink lines had other ideas. Thankfully, these lines only disrupt days or weeks, not the next 18+ years of this couple’s life.  We hunkered down in a hotel room and braced ourselves to navigate the US healthcare system as a self-pay (i.e., non-insured) immunosuppressed patient needing three days of intravenous Remdesivir treatment.  No problem… right???

Fortunately, the Stanford system came through—though it’s best not to ask what the treatment might cost as they literally can’t tell you until 2-3 weeks post procedure?!?!?. Bryan was fast-tracked for the outpatient infusion clinic, with his treatment starting the next day.  After confirming he was in the system and his first infusion went as planned, I headed north to my dad’s to see what life in a 55+ retirement community is all about.

North of the Bay

This was my first visit to my dad and Helen’s place, and I have to say, it seemed very much like an all-inclusive resort for retirees. Over the next few days, we relaxed, played golf and pool, went wine tasting, ate like kings, picked fruit from the local farms, and I even tried pickleball for the first time. Not a bad way to spend a few days… or your retirement!  Very grateful for the much needed R&R.

Back in the Bay

After my dad’s, I returned to the Bay Area to check on Bryan. Thankfully, with plenty of rest, some meds, and a few days away from me, he was miraculously testing negative—just in time for us to catch our international flight in two days. I did tell him that if he needed some alone time, there were easier ways to go about it than contracting COVID.

Start of Chapter Two

With that ordeal behind us, we headed for Helsinki and the beginning of Chapter Two the trifecta of Austria, Croatia and Greece.

However much like the Roman empire we may have moved too far too fast.  While we thought COVID was behind us, jet lag combined with recovery meant we both slept through our entire day in Helsinki and Bryan struggled through London and Vienna.  But he was good soldier to keep moving and rest when and where he could.  

Now we’re on the train to Bramberg (in the Austrian Alps), where I’m sure the fresh air, mountains, and a few days (okay, four) of stability will do us both some good.