More winter in Flagstaff

 I shoveled 110 meters of snow.....

Winter in Flagstaff

Last Sunday it snowed, 12 centimeter. Still on the ground where there is shade during the day.
The past 7 days, it is blue skies and sunshine. Early morning it is -7 Celsius in my trailer.....

After running or hiking I sit in my easy chair outside and read while the sun is climbing higher. Around 12.00 it is about +7 degrees inside....

I run and hike about 27 kilometer per week.

Elk in Flagstaff

 Yesterday morning there were about 15 female Elk grazing between the house an the barn.

Running Flagstaff

I was supposed to go to La Paz, Mexico. But, I did not go. Why? 

2  weeks ago a big blood clot was discovered in my lungs (I drove myself to the hospital because I was very short of breath.  At the end of this post I will go into detail why I had a blood clot)

Twenty hours in a hospital bed with Blood thinner dripping into my arm. 

The day after I got back home I started walking 2-5km every morning. Feeling much better. 

After 7 days of walking I had my first 5km run. 

A bit slow but happy that I was able to do it without stopping or walking.

I have been running every 3rd day and walk/hike the other days. Improving each time.

Today's run I had a better average speed than what I did during my stay in Patras!

8 years ago I was treated for severe blood clots in my right leg. It was a result of a running accident, a long flight from Phoenix to Holland. The blood clots were discovered when I got back in Flagstaff, after another long flight.

The blood clots caused damaged in the arteries in my right leg, which "damaged" the blood flow.

I now have to take blood thinner medication for the rest of my life, to prevent new clots to form....

Flagstaff

Winter in Flagstaff.

When I get up in the morning it is between minus 2-minus 4 degrees Celsius. 

Turning on the propane heating system is not worth it: it takes too long to warm up and uses too much propane doing that. 
So, after my morning run or hike I sit outside, in the sun, with my winter coat on, drinking tea and reading a book. At 13.00hr the temperature in the trailer is around 12-14 degrees. I turn the heat on and keep it around 18 degrees.

Flagstaff

Yesterday was the first snow of the season. 
Also the first snow I have seen in 6 years (spending winters in Greece.

Went for a 2km walk this morning. Blue skies!

view from my trailer

Flagstaff

Fall is here, shorter days and cooler nights.
The temperature early morning varies between 4-7 Celsius, in the afternoon around 23 degrees.

Lots of sunshine.

In 2002 I was living in a trailer park on the Navajo Nation. Here some pictures..

Flagstaff

 Fall has just started, with colors

Pumpkinsand Elk. Groups of 20-30 females with 1 or 2 males.

Running Flagstaff

Today was the first time I managed to run 8km, no stopping or walking and with energy left over. 

I could not do it in Patras, my guess is high humidity and heat in Patras, much cooler and low humidity in Flagstaff. 

When I started running at 06.45 it was 12 degrees Celsius, as I am writing this post it went up to 20 degrees.

I finished cleaning the trailer, and all the small things that did not work, do so now. (mostly charging of batteries).

Diesel for my truck is 2 dollars more than when I left here 2 years ago. So, I am going into town only twice a week....

I sleep like the dead, going to bed at 21.00 and getting up at 06.00.

Flagstaff

 I ran 6km this morning, my regular route starting at my trailer

Running over the Rio bridge in Patras is easier...Altitude! 

My breathing here in Flagstaff (2100 m) is about 1/2 times faster than in Patras (sea level). Thin air.

Flagstaff

After putting new (2x) batteries in my truck, it started right up, and smooth idling. Yesterday I reactivated my car insurance and this morning drove into town. Strange, after 2 years of not driving, I felt like it was yesterday...

The car picture is from May 2019, I could not find one in the summer months....

Flagstaff

 I feel like I am a god

Day 1: I arrived from somewhere 

Day 2: Changed chaos into order, by section (cleaning inside the trailer, section 1) 

            and created communication (New phone number)

Day 3: Took care of the elements of water and fire (filled the water tank and turned on the propane gas)
             and created Transport (replaced car batteries)

             Changed chaos into order, by section (cleaning inside the trailer, section 2)

Day 4: Activated Transport (the car started)

Day 5: General Cleanup

A short work week

Flagstaff

I went to sleep around midnight and I woke up at 6.30am .

Talked to Toad and Julie and then at 08.00, feeling like a zombie, 

I drove the rental car to Sam's club to get groceries.

Back to the house to drop off the groceries and then back into town to drop off the car at Budget car rental place.

From there I ran, the plan was to run as far as I was able and walk the rest. 

(Jetlag, lack of sleep and heat (it was warm).

Parts of it I had to walk (the red line sections)

From the end point I walked another 3.5 km to the Trailer.

Back at the trailer I started cleaning inside the trailer, moving chairs around outside the trailer.

At night I fell asleep at 08.45 and I woke up at 02.00am. 

Did some work on my laptop and my blog.

Travel: Patras-Athens-Frankfurt-Phoenix-Flagstaff

Sep 01

10.30 After 2 1/2 hours flying, landing in Frankfurt. My friend Dagmar came from her work to visit we me. Standing in line took about 30 minutes. The counter Rep entered my Green Card info, but did not ask about the Covid certificate.

Had tea with Dagmar in terminal 1. 

13.15 Went through security, not a long line and it went fast. Waited for the Phoenix flight.

16.30 (Local, Frankfurt time) Departure for Phoenix. (one hour delay).

18.45 (Local, Arizona time) Landing in Phoenix. After collecting my luggage, trough customs (no questions at all). Outside it was 40 degrees Celsius) Took the shuttlebus to the Budget rental car. 

20.00 Driving to Flagstaff

22.30 Arrived at my trailer...

05.45 I got my suitcases from storage, (11 euros per case) and checked-in with Aegean Airlines. 

My jacket weighs a ton, so does my backpack. 

And I have 2 suitcases instead the entitled one. 

And the big  suitcase was way over 23 kg.

I paid 100 euros for all that heaviness.....On, the suitcases are checked in all the way to Phoenix.

It is now 07.00. Security line was moving fast, no issues. In 15 minutes the gate will be announced. The flight is at 08.15.

In Frankfurt I will have to check-in with Condor, because they want to see my Covid vaccs.  

02.00 It was quiet for about an hour around midnight, but now it is busy again in the departure hall.

I dozed off for about 10 minutes.......

I am going to collect my suitcases from storage at 06.00 and check-in.

Aug 31 
Finished the laundry this morning. 
15.10 I took the train from the house to downtown Patra
16.25 The Bus to Kiato at 16.25 from there at
18.00 The train to Kato Achaia and another train
19.15 To the Athens airport
Good connection.

It is very busy at the airport. I was able to store my luggage until tomorrow morning, pickup at 06.00am when I check with Aegean airlines. Walking around with my backpack. When it gets quiet in the terminal I will sit/lay down somewhere to rest.....

Patras

 This morning I did my final run in Patras: from Kastellokampos to Rio

and for the last time, the ferry boat back.

my next run will be back in Flagstaff: On September 2, from the Budget car rental to my trailer.

Patras

I am slow getting ready to fly to the USA. But, my two sitcases are upstairs, my running clothes are already inside of them and today I am sorting out which electronics I take with me, and in what suitcase.

This plant is growing at an rapid rate, 7-8cm every day. I guided several shoots around the light fixture.

Patras

The last 4 days it has been cooler: only 25-28 degrees Celsius instead of 34-37 degrees. Also a little less humidity (the view of the mountain range across the bay is much clearer)
For the first time since the summer heat started in June, this morning I ran 6km without walking a short distance, averaging 6.57 minutes per km).

Patras

In the afternoon it is still hot in Patras. but because the sun comes up about 30 minutes later, the mornings are cooler than in July.
I am going back to the USA, flying on Sep 01 from Athens to Frankfurt and from there with Condor to Phoenix. 
From Phoenix with a rental car to Flagstaff.

Why?
The original rental period ends on October 01, with an optional of renewal for me or the owner.
Things changed: The apartment in Patras, where the owner was living, has been sold and he wants to come back to the house as per Sep 01.

Patras

It has been hot and humid since Jun 10. The dogs sleep in the shade during the day and come alive (and bark) at night.
World events has increased the electricity bill from around 70 euros per month last year, to 105 euros this year for the months of June and July.

Oh, the euro has now the same value as a dollar....

Patras

The Running Project has come to an end. Not the running, but the posting on my blog and Facebook page. Twice per week I do 6km and 1 time per week 7km.
Right now it is too hot and too humid for me to do 8km. Starting in the Fall I will train for the 8km.

All the plants in pots on the terrace

The Running Project 17

 Running in two parts;

A) from the house, over the bridge to Rio

B) from the Ferry landing to the house

About 8 1/4 km. It went well. I started running at 06.45, so not too warm yet. 

In Antirrio I took the east dock Ferry back to Rio.

Patras

There are three rosebushes in the garden, with a lot more roses than last year.
Here a yellow one:

I keep onions in a bag in the pantry. Three of them sprouted a long center stalk. I cut of the mushy part of the onion and planted them in a flower pot, which I put outside. The stalks withered, put then new stalks grew. One of the is about 50 centimeters tall and it looks like it will be flowering. A flowering onion plant....

The Running Project 16

Fast the first 5 km and then, although I started at 07.25, it got warmer and my running slowed down..

The Running Project 15

Yesterday I ran from the house to the Patra train station.
It was already warm because I started too late: at 08.00 and the route had 1 incline and 1 hill.
So....I walked 2 short distances.

Patras

 Lots of churches in Patras. Like this one - Kastellokampos

Patras

 Feeding the dogs, every day..

The Running Project 14

I did 7 km from the House in Kastellokampos to Rio and back. Without stopping to walk a distance.
Going good. It was warm and humid, already at 07.15, when I ran.

Flying over Patras

 I combined my 2 drone videos of Patras into one:

Patras

The ocean in close by (7 min walk), I started swimming again, after the winter, on June 01.
Here is proof

The Running Project 13

Last Friday my friend Dagmar was supposed to fly from Frankfurt for a vacation in Patras.
Supposed to, because her flight got cancelled without any notification. 

I was going to pick her up and in the bus going to Lapas (close to the airport) when she called me that she would spend the night in an airport hotel inFrankfurt and fly today instead of Friday. Luckily my bus was still on the way, out of the city, and I was able to get out. Near the Media Market. 

I ran 8km towards home and walked the 9km.

This morning I got up at 05.15 to check with Dagmar if her flight was happening. It did.
This time I took the train to Kato Achaia, 

thinking there would be taxis there to take me to the airport. There weren't. 

I took the train back to Patra and Dagmar took a taxi from the airport, 

and we ended up meeting at the Patra train station.

We are back at the house now, it has been a long day....

Patras: from the Air and Walking

 

Athens visit

On Friday I took the bus and train from Patras to Athens. Meeting up with my brother and his girlfriend. They flew in from Holland to Athens on Thursday and are renting an AirBnB until Tuesday. I am staying at my friend Hara's apartment.

The last time I saw them was in March 2020, at the beginning of the Corona era. In the evening we went to eat in a restaurant where I ate with friends every evening, 50 years ago.

A good view of the Parthenon. Recently an elevator was built for people with a handicap. You still have to take a taxi all the way up on the south side of the Plaka to get to it.

WE ate in at the same restaurant Friday and Saturday evening. All the street and restaurants around Monastiraki were very busy with people.

Saturday morning I went running, 7 km.

After a small breakfast and a lot of tea at the AirBnB we walked to the ancient cemetery: Kerameikos.

After dinner we walked back to the AirBNB and said goodbye because I am going back to Patras early Sunday morning. I took  the metro at Monastiraki to get back to my friend Hara's apartment.

On Sunday I got home in Patras at 11.55. Time to say hello to the dogs.