Mini TR for another Boston Road Trip - updated Nov 22

I really hope you are right with this optimistic view!! Our government doesn't seem to be so optimistic with almost all university classes already going online for September...and high schools haven't figured it out yet, but I have a feeling they may not be back to normal either...sigh. Maybe they will change their tune if there aren't big spikes when things do open up....
That's really sad to me. I hope they can find a path that's right with them given the successes in many other places. :hug: Things ARE opened up, at least down here, even in the hardest hit areas, and no big outbreaks. Hopefully they can follow that example with optimism.
 
Here in Toronto we are still pretty locked down. I have seen my parents and a couple of friends for socially distanced park walks but that is it. The rules are pretty unclear and people are starting to use their own discretion and judgement for what is ok. The problem is....a lot of people have zero common sense and that is what scares me. I just don't get how it's ok to go into stores and shop....but not ok to go into the homes of friends and family. I guess because you are likely to get closer and forget about distancing...but if they would make rules clear about just always wearing a mask or distancing even when visiting....I don't know. I just think like, if this is gonna be a longer term thing...they need to start making it part of everyday thinking....sorta like how "safe sex" was drilled into everyone (although not everyone practices that either so...there's that...) Not trying to get political here, just musing.
I'm about an hour north of you Kathy and we are the same. I haven't seen any friends or family (except on Zoom) since March. I am still food shopping once per week and ordering most stuff online. I know what I am doing to keep my family and me safe and healthy, I just don't trust others to do the same.
My daughter has about a week left in her online school year and then she will be done too. We have convinced her to sign up for an online course since she won't have much else to do this summer. I have no idea what my son is going to do with himself. He has applied for a few jobs, but I really think only the most ambitious of teens with connections and who complete hundreds of applications and then follow up on them...will have any chance in hell of scoring employment...and my DS well...let's just say ambition isn't his strong suit at this point!
Is your daughter in private school? Jamie and Stuart still have three weeks to go to finish up grade 12. Jobs are scarce on the ground around here too. Jack is getting the student emergency benefit which will give him $5000 over 4 months so he has little incentive to look for anything else. Not a lot of ambition/drive around here these days either!
The good news here is that in all the places that have been opened for going on a month now have seen no giant spikes, and most have seen none, so it's looking like it's safe to probably open the vast majority of the world now. Brazil seems to need a few more weeks, but Europe is now open today to tourism as well. Hopefully you guys can open too. Not knowing your local stats I don't know, but in general I think it's pretty much over in terms of "pandemic". Sure there will be crop ups as there are every year with most viral illnesses but the massive crush that we saw is done. And given places are now open with some guidance, I think it's safe to say there won't be an overwhelming 2nd wave. :) So..... hope??
I like your optimism Liesa but the US is still not doing very well. I think some of the openings may have been premature. Where I grew up in PEI, they have locked out any tourism for the season. Non resident property owners like myself may apply to come to the Island but face two weeks of strict quarantine. Plus there are no trains running until November and I really am not fussy about flying right now.

Here are the stats from today just for interest sakes......

Country,
Other
Total
Cases
New
Cases
Total
Deaths
New
Deaths
Total
Recovered
Active
Cases
Serious,
Critical
Tot Cases/
1M pop
Deaths/
1M pop
Total
Tests
Tests/
1M pop

1USA1,869,190+9,867107,583+658618,8671,142,74016,9495,65032518,323,00455,382330,848,770

Canada92,390+6857,395+6950,27134,7241,6482,4501961,695,91844,966
 
I like your optimism Liesa but the US is still not doing very well. I think some of the openings may have been premature. Where I grew up in PEI, they have locked out any tourism for the season. Non resident property owners like myself may apply to come to the Island but face two weeks of strict quarantine. Plus there are no trains running until November and I really am not fussy about flying right now.

We may be looking at different data sets, but they are close. Either way, I’d say those are amazing numbers! Today I looked and the number is 478 deaths... of 328.5 MILLION people. That’s 0.000000143074581% :) With 21,000 new cases that’s only a 0.000063926940639% rate of infection per our population. I doubt those numbers, short of zero, will ever be better. Every region needs to determine their own comfort level of moving forward for sure, but those are numbers with considering! I’m thrilled I can be out and about again for sure. Just also read that Italy has reported that the virility of Covid is becoming less deadly now and they are also moving forward with re-opening. Sooo happy as that directly affects my trip. :goodvibes I’m really glad that this is resolving and each country is finding their own path.:hug:
 
Just also read that Italy has reported that the virility of Covid is becoming less deadly now and they are also moving forward with re-opening. Sooo happy as that directly affects my trip. :goodvibes I’m really glad that this is resolving and each country is finding their own path.:hug:
I really hope everything works out for your trip! It sounds lovely. :) I am not going back to Disney until this settles down a bit. I cancelled my December trip with Bill last week and had already rescheduled Jack's birthday trip to August /21. It'll be even more fun as we will celebrate his 21st and have fun sampling drinks around World Showcase. In happy news, I am hoping to book at March Break trip to Hilton Head Island and visit Savannah. I think that could be a really fun trip if the travel restrictions have eased up by then. Fingers crossed!
 


Is your daughter in private school? Jamie and Stuart still have three weeks to go to finish up grade 12. Jobs are scarce on the ground around here too. Jack is getting the student emergency benefit which will give him $5000 over 4 months so he has little incentive to look for anything else. Not a lot of ambition/drive around here these days either!

Yeah she is in a small private school. They still have exams but they are optional, not sure if she is doing them or not. Is Jack 18? Don't they have to be 18 to get that student benefit? My son definitely would not have any drive to do anything if he could get $5K for nothing!

I really hope everything works out for your trip! It sounds lovely. :) I am not going back to Disney until this settles down a bit. I cancelled my December trip with Bill last week and had already rescheduled Jack's birthday trip to August /21. It'll be even more fun as we will celebrate his 21st and have fun sampling drinks around World Showcase. In happy news, I am hoping to book at March Break trip to Hilton Head Island and visit Savannah. I think that could be a really fun trip if the travel restrictions have eased up by then. Fingers crossed!

Yes @Steppesister your trip does sound fantastic. I'm on the fence about Disney and when to go back. TBH I'm actually not THAT worried about contracting the virus myself if I go on a solo trip, I just don't want to bring anything home with me. But also, I really worry about logistics, ie: we probably won't be able to get travel insurance that covers COVID anytime soon...so if we get stranded somewhere with it...that's a terrifying thought. Also, if we have to quarantine when we get home for two weeks...that adds a lot of time onto whatever length of vacation you want to have at Disney...so. But that said, things seem to be changing daily, so we shall see!
 
Yeah she is in a small private school. They still have exams but they are optional, not sure if she is doing them or not. Is Jack 18? Don't they have to be 18 to get that student benefit? My son definitely would not have any drive to do anything if he could get $5K for nothing!
Jack will be 20 in two weeks. He's going into third year university so had no trouble qualifying. Grade 12 students can get money in July and August if they have accepted college/university for next year. Jamie and Stuart are taking a gap year so they don't qualify. I am encouraging them to keep their eyes open for work but there is really not a lot around.
 
Let's see...what's new around here...ho hum.....crickets...
:rolleyes: That happens.
I have made brownies, banana chocolate chip muffins and am perfecting the smoothie bowl...so that's something!!
What is a smoothie bowl? I know what a smoothie is, but... bowl?
Take that Jamba Juice.
:laughing: You get 'em Kathy!
made out of coconut or something.
Ew! No!
Was going to try baking own bread too...ordered something called "bread pan set of 4" from Amazon....and what showed up was...mini loaf pans for say, mini banana bread loaves or something so...yeah, had to go back to Amazon and get actual bread pan...waiting on that now...
:laughing: Whoops!
I have seen my parents and a couple of friends for socially distanced park walks but that is it.
As long as you weren't in the park a few weeks ago when 10,000 people decided to venture out?
I just don't get how it's ok to go into stores and shop....but not ok to go into the homes of friends and family.
At least with the nice weather, I've been able to visit my folks quite a bit. We sit in their back yard, apart.
sorta like how "safe sex" was drilled into everyone (although not everyone practices that either so...there's that...)
:lmao:
Now we just have to convince him to go back - assuming we are allowed to cross the border by then.
Yeah... who knows when that'll happen.
Starting to give some thought to when I may be able to use my AP again...maybe I should book something for Jan or Feb?
When was your AP supposed to expire?
 


Today I looked and the number is 478 deaths... of 328.5 MILLION people. That’s 0.000000143074581% :) With 21,000 new cases that’s only a 0.000063926940639% rate of infection per our population.
I'm afraid your math is wrong.
The percentage of deaths that day was 0.0001455% and the infection rate is 0.00639%.
Still small, though.
Put another way, on that day, you had roughly one out of every 20,000 people get infected with 1 death per 750,000.
 
I'm afraid your math is wrong.
The percentage of deaths that day was 0.0001455% and the infection rate is 0.00639%.
Still small, though.
Put another way, on that day, you had roughly one out of every 20,000 people get infected with 1 death per 750,000.
Thanks! And yes.... very, VERY small!
 
What is a smoothie bowl? I know what a smoothie is, but... bowl?

498949

This is a smoothie bowl! So basically just a very thick smoothie with toppings...sometimes also called Acai bowl, but since I don't have acai...I can't call mine that...they sell it at places like Jamba Juice and Booster Juice and such...makes for a reasonably healthy breakfast or lunch...It's taking some practice to get the texture right to put the toppings on so they don't just sink into it like soup, takes frozen bananas and not too much liquid...but then it's tough to get the blender to actually blend...so it's a process....but getting there!!

As long as you weren't in the park a few weeks ago when 10,000 people decided to venture out?

OMG no. Funnily enough, I really do like that park (Trinity Bellwoods) and if this was a "normal" summer I would frequent that area for its restaurants and such, and often stroll through there with ice cream after dinner...but, obvs this isn't a normal summer, and so far it's a bit too far from my house to think about going to without access to a bathroom or being able to go into any shops or restaurants etc. But that was insane. I'm quite surprised actually that we haven't seen a huge spike in cases directly linked to that day. I think there probably was some related to it but they aren't doing enough tracing to really know if it came from that, or those idiots that were there aren't getting tested because they now realize how stupid they were....who knows...

At least with the nice weather, I've been able to visit my folks quite a bit. We sit in their back yard, apart.

Yeah I have done that with my parents too. The problem is the whole not wanting to share either food or bathrooms, makes the visits have to be reasonably short. Sigh.

When was your AP supposed to expire?

Funny, I was wondering about that. Originally supposed to expire March 9, 2021, so I imagine it will be good until about July. I was talking to a friend about it this morning. In a way, I'd love to try to go back in 2020 (if our govt lets us) because that way I would have gotten to experience Disney "in the before times" and have pictures of "normal" theme parking etc, and then also in 2020.....masked and socially distanced theme parking...? I can't plan anything right now as you know as a Canadian...but if the stars align...I may try to do a trip in the fall, if anything last minute is even feasible with the new processes etc. Failing that...I'll probably try to go in Jan or Feb...at least then if masks are still needed it won't be quite so hot....

Regarding the AP...when I log into MDE, it still says my pass expires March 9. I'm assuming this will automatically readjust once the parks are reopened to allow the extra time for the closure? I hope I don't have to call to make that happen....
 
This is a smoothie bowl!
Wow! Kathy, that looks amazing!
So basically just a very thick smoothie with toppings...sometimes also called Acai bowl, but since I don't have acai...I can't call mine that...they sell it at places like Jamba Juice and Booster Juice and such...makes for a reasonably healthy breakfast or lunch...It's taking some practice to get the texture right to put the toppings on so they don't just sink into it like soup, takes frozen bananas and not too much liquid...but then it's tough to get the blender to actually blend...so it's a process....but getting there!!
Good for you! I like everything I see there including the fact that there's no acai. :rolleyes:
OMG no. Funnily enough, I really do like that park (Trinity Bellwoods)
I quickly googled where that is. I'm sure I must've gone past it a few times. Certainly been to Chinatown enough and must've gone down Queen St in that direction.
and if this was a "normal" summer I would frequent that area for its restaurants and such, and often stroll through there with ice cream after dinner...but, obvs this isn't a normal summer, and so far it's a bit too far from my house to think about going to without access to a bathroom or being able to go into any shops or restaurants etc.
Yeah... bathrooms. There aren't any! That puts a bit of a crimp in... just about everything.
I'm quite surprised actually that we haven't seen a huge spike in cases directly linked to that day.
Still early. That was only a week and a half ago. But... I guess we'll see?
or those idiots that were there aren't getting tested because they now realize how stupid they were....who knows...
There it is.
Yeah I have done that with my parents too. The problem is the whole not wanting to share either food or bathrooms, makes the visits have to be reasonably short. Sigh.
I'm fortunate enough that I can visit for a few hours.
Funny, I was wondering about that. Originally supposed to expire March 9, 2021, so I imagine it will be good until about July.
Ah!
In a way, I'd love to try to go back in 2020 (if our govt lets us) because that way I would have gotten to experience Disney "in the before times" and have pictures of "normal" theme parking etc, and then also in 2020.....masked and socially distanced theme parking...?
Hey! That's a good idea.
.I may try to do a trip in the fall, if anything last minute is even feasible with the new processes etc.
I hear you. I was sorta thinking along the same lines. Just not sure at this point.
Failing that...I'll probably try to go in Jan or Feb...at least then if masks are still needed it won't be quite so hot....
I too was thinking maybe Jan or Feb... but hoping masks will be done, by then.
Regarding the AP...when I log into MDE, it still says my pass expires March 9. I'm assuming this will automatically readjust once the parks are reopened to allow the extra time for the closure? I hope I don't have to call to make that happen....
My AP was supposed to expire this year in April. It's not showing up at all now. I don't know if it will reappear when the parks open or if I'll have to call. I don't think it will matter as it's not likely that I'll get down there before it expires even with the added on days.
 
Hey! That's a good idea.
I too was thinking maybe Jan or Feb... but hoping masks will be done, by then.

Assuming that eventually things return to some semblance of "normal" or similar to the "before times..." I think that it would be pretty cool to experience a vacation under these strange conditions...so that in future when things are better...we will remember these weird times and hopefully know that things are better? If that makes any sense...

That and I just don't want to go without any kind of vacation for more than a year! I'm used to getting on a plane at least monthly...sigh....
 
Assuming that eventually things return to some semblance of "normal" or similar to the "before times..." I think that it would be pretty cool to experience a vacation under these strange conditions...so that in future when things are better...we will remember these weird times and hopefully know that things are better? If that makes any sense...
Hmmm... I do get that.
"Gather round kids and I'll regale you of a tale of a vacation where everyone wore masks... and it wasn't Halloween!"
That and I just don't want to go without any kind of vacation for more than a year! I'm used to getting on a plane at least monthly...sigh....
Monthly? You're doing (or were) much better than I was. Good for you!
 
Hmmm... I do get that.
"Gather round kids and I'll regale you of a tale of a vacation where everyone wore masks... and it wasn't Halloween!"

Right? Let's hope that masks aren't the new normal for too terribly long around here anyway...I hope before too long we DO get to a point where the kids look at pics and go "why is everyone wearing masks in those photos...?" Instead of not even questionning it!
 
Right? Let's hope that masks aren't the new normal for too terribly long around here anyway...I hope before too long we DO get to a point where the kids look at pics and go "why is everyone wearing masks in those photos...?" Instead of not even questionning it!
::yes::
 
I don't know that I can really call this an "update" because well...nothing has changed in 4 months....but something to do lol.

In Disney news.....hmmm I wore my Minnie Mouse shirt today....and um......oh, I decided to take Disney's offer of an additional one month extension on my AP rather than cancelling it. I had used five days of it plus parking and a whack of discounted merchandise, you know, when the world ended in March. I had just activated the AP on March 8. So with the closure extension and the additional month, my AP is now valid until August 3, 2021. I HOPE that I will be able to make use of it for at least one trip before then. I had really hoped that perhaps they would give something extra for Canadian AP holders since our land borders are still closed. However, since you can technically fly to Orlando right now (even though you would not be able to get travel insurance and would probably get stuck in the USA if you got COVID...and would also have to quarantine for 2 weeks when you got back....) they will not extend further for Canadian AP holders. :( So. I really do hope that someway somehow, it will be safe enough for me to travel to the USA before August 3, 2021, and if not, I guess I will just have to eat that additional cost. I hope it's the right decision, but if I cancelled and it turns out I would have been able to go, then it would end up costing more I'm sure than what I'm losing for the balance on the AP. I have no idea how they would have calculated what I got back...but that is the feeling I get. So.

I have been watching vicariously people who have been at Disney since re-opening. I have to say I'm definitely envious of the low wait times, though it looks like DHS is still pretty busy, if pictures can be believed. It sure would be nice to get in a few rides on ROTR...but I guess that will have to wait. I wonder if the new Remy ride is still opening this summer at Epcot...has anyone heard about that? I'm sure it's somewhere here on the DIS, I haven't been around enough to see it. I have to say I'm excited about that one.

In other news....there isn't any!! Life's moving pretty slowly around here. Most of Ontario has reached "phase 3" which means that most things can re-open with safety protocols and masks and social distancing in place. But Toronto is currently stuck in phase 2 - which means only patio dining, no inside, and a lot of other businesses are still closed. Not sure when we are moving to phase 3 here, but I'm really in no hurry. It still feels like a zombie appocalypse out there to me and I'm in no rush to resume normal living when the virus could explode again at any time, and there are so many covidiots out there not taking this seriously enough.

That said, I did go to my first outdoor patio lunch a few days ago. It was nice to have someone else do the cooking, but the staff were overworked and we waited a long time both for a table and to get our food, and it just felt like they need more time to work out the kinks. I may try it again in a couple of weeks.

We have a long weekend coming up here so we will probably head a few hours North to my parents' cottage where we can really social distance!! It's fun, but it takes a lot of planning to avoid going into the nearest town for supplies. We can go if we need to, but the small towns do not appreciate the city people coming up from higher COVID areas just in case, so we really try to avoid going to their stores and services. It's sad though because at the same time they really rely on the tourist dollars in the summer. It's kind of a lose-lose situation. But then...COVID really is all around. I'm getting very tired of it and keep hoping for some kind of miracle or that we'll wake up and this will be a bad dream. Sigh.

On that happy note....I'm going to go watch some more mindless Netflix and call it a day!!
 
In Disney news.....hmmm I wore my Minnie Mouse shirt today....and um......oh, I decided to take Disney's offer of an additional one month extension on my AP rather than cancelling it.
I went the other route and canceled mine.

I also did not wear a Minnie Mouse shirt.
So with the closure extension and the additional month, my AP is now valid until August 3, 2021.
Makes sense. Mine was only good until end of September and I have a feeling the border will still be closed even then.
I had really hoped that perhaps they would give something extra for Canadian AP holders since our land borders are still closed.
I had hoped that too, but... oh well.
However, since you can technically fly to Orlando right now
What?
I have to say I'm definitely envious of the low wait times,
Yes, but... not so sure I'd want to do Disney with a mask. Although that might become the new normal. Hope it doesn't come to that, but who knows.
I wonder if the new Remy ride is still opening this summer at Epcot...has anyone heard about that?
No, haven't heard anything.
Toronto is currently stuck in phase 2 - which means only patio dining, no inside, and a lot of other businesses are still closed.
Understandable, if not pleasant.
It was nice to have someone else do the cooking, but the staff were overworked and we waited a long time both for a table and to get our food,
I remember when I first went out after we moved out of stage 2... soooo nice.
We can go if we need to, but the small towns do not appreciate the city people coming up from higher COVID areas
I can see that too. DD23 and I were looking to head up north but were thwarted by logistics. But... I did wonder how we were going to be received.
 
I went the other route and canceled mine.

I also did not wear a Minnie Mouse shirt.

It was a tough decision re: taking the extension vs cancelling. I think if my pass was expiring in Sept like yours I def would have cancelled though. I did some Disney math and I figure to break even on mine, I need to do 4 park days before August 3, 2021. Hopefully that is doable. Nothing is for certain but here's hoping by then it's safer to go the USA, or at least safe enough that Canadians can get travel insurance!

I can see that too. DD23 and I were looking to head up north but were thwarted by logistics. But... I did wonder how we were going to be received.

Yeah it's a tough one. I think now that cases are down everywhere in Canada maybe eventually we'll be able to "bubble" with our whole country? Wouldn't that be nice? I'd at least like to travel to some lesser known parts here that I may otherwise have overlooked. Also considering doing some hiking and camping...which I have to say haven't really appealed to me much in the past!
 
I did some Disney math and I figure to break even on mine, I need to do 4 park days before August 3, 2021. Hopefully that is doable.
I sure hope so. I'd hate to think that another year + might go by before we could go.
maybe eventually we'll be able to "bubble" with our whole country? Wouldn't that be nice?
Yes! We can travel West, but not East (at least not really).
Also considering doing some hiking and camping...which I have to say haven't really appealed to me much in the past!
I've been camping or to the lake a few times already with one or more members of my family. It's nice to "get away" even if it isn't very far.
 

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