Just finished the last of the past-their-best-by-date Christmas hams! :)

(er, had a frozen one that I took with me, just finishing up in Grand-Bourg.)

Just a few more items left in the fridge & freezer...

My main upcoming concern is the bureaucratic BS. It's enough of a pain to deal with bookings and stuff anyways, I'm sure it'll be more annoying with COVID crud, plus I'm out of practice for travel.

(Made it without serious bureaucratic annoyances!)

The main things I'm looking forward to include the ride itself with the gorgeous geography, plus that feeling of starting off on another adventure! :)

Super extremely grateful to go traveling again, even if just for a short ride! :)

Yeah! Now my stuff looks like a few bags, much of which I can use up quickly! Much better than feeling like I have an apartment full of stuff! :)

Feeling more ready than ever to leave!!!!!

Just a couple more days. Tonight, tomorrow night, then I'm gone Saturday morning!!!!! :)

Plan: spend at least a month or so in Marie-Galante, then hopefully the COVID BS has cleared up!

Christmas ham that's cooked up with a bunch of garlic, pepper, and various other flavorings can eventually take on a chorizo-y flavor.

Just 24 hours until Friday night, then another 12 hours or so until I leave Saturday morning. Around 40 hours total since I don't plan to leave at 5:30 AM.

The process of packing and preparing to go has itself been fun!

Bit more rain. Somewhat concerning, but whatever, I'm going!

COVID politics has produced some serious problems for people. Makes sense that people are angry!

I think I've gotten slightly fat, or at least pudgy, while staying in Capesterre. But I sometimes get a bit pudgy even while touring. :)

Just one more day to go! Until I go to Marie-Galante!

Just say no to COVID fascism!

Dying to live! :)

More rain. Not looking like the most super-promising weather to ride. Ah well. I'll find a way! :)

Turning sunny again! :)

A couple of medium bags on my handlebars. Somewhat like having front saddlebags. If I had rear saddlebags or a trailer, I could probably also carry more stuff, but whatever.

Probably gonna give some stuff to friends!

(Did.)

I think I'm down to: final packing, see friends, leave keys, go!!!!! :)

Not a day too soon to leave! I think I'd just be sitting around in frustration if I left next week.

No matter how much stuff I get rid of, it seems like I have way too much! :)

An ideal traveler should pack so light that it feels like you walk out of your place with just the clothes on your back!

Or not even that, if you travel in nudist destinations! :)

Just about leaving!

I now feel like things are roughly under control, for leaving.

Also, like there'll be a lot of chaos after leaving!

(A fair bit, but manageable!)

Finding a few more packing optimizations...

Just about just about leaving! :)

Continuing to pack, clean, etc. Things remain heavier than I want, I guess that's how it'll be when I ride. At least I think the bike should handle well enough to get there!

Feeling like going now. Down to the last preps. A few more hours tonight, then the big start tomorrow! :)

Maybe an incentive from the cruddy border situation to restart touring in stages? Or maybe a disadvantage? Anyways I'm riding!

Seems so weird! Tomorrow I'm checking into a hotel on another island!!!!!

Around a year after I already thought it had been a while!

Plan: hit the road, keep on going!!!!! :)

I've felt consistently excited about hitting the road again!!!!! :)

Looking around the place, last checkups! Don't think I'm forgetting anything critical...

The plan is in motion!

The plan is emotion!

When I walk back into my apartment now, it looks and smells more like a hotel room I'm leaving! :)

At least I get to go like I want!

This COVID political situation is disgusting. Let's destroy it!

I'm expecting tomorrow to be a difficult day!

Heheh, slept in somewhat after staying out late saying bye to friends!

Now to finish packing and ride!!!!!

Looks like great riding weather!

Not 100% sure this makes sense to go now, but glad to go!

And a mouthful of caviar for breakfast! :)

Now working my way out the door! Even with all the preps, delays, etc., it feels sudden to go!

Andale!!!!! :)

Only two more full days in Capesterre!

Huh, this morning the old phone looks like it may not be working any more?

Yes, looks like it is! :)

It just had to do a system update that I'd started last night.

Jejej, they updated the weather forecast to now predicting rain practically every upcoming day other than Saturday!

I guess it's my lucky day! :)

I can understand why women sit so often. It probably feels more comfortable to sit when you've got a big butt! :)

Woah, weird. A bird's flying around in the kitchen, and the door's closed! I think it must have flown in through the bathroom window.

Jejej, bird knocked over an empty water bottle. I think the bird probably tried to land on it.

Poor bird's having trouble getting out. Like me! :)

I'd forgotten about the bird and went to make a coffee. The bird flew into glass windows on the door. Then into the bathroom. Then I wanted to go to the bathroom, thinking the bird had flown out the windows, but the bird's still there. Seems to be struggling to fly out of the bathroom window.

Bunch of nice weather days. Makes me wanna ride instead of staying inside!

Poor thing's terrified. I wanna go to the bathroom though! :)

My plan worked. I went to the bathroom with a towel to push the bird out, then it flew out the kitchen doors that I'd opened for it.

Seems like many phones only work in some countries (as far as mobile data goes). Makes it somewhat inconvenient. Ah well, guess I'll carry two phones for now, test 'em out.

Just working through some old checklists. Doing other tasks in preparation for the big ride!

Huh, more rain. Here's hoping that it doesn't rain or at least not too much on Saturday. At least I should have enough time if I just have to duck out of a short downpour.

Down to my last cup of coffee from the huge container I had! :)

Finally working through some of my old checklists for leaving Capesterre from like a year ago!!!!! :)

I'm struggling psychologically not to complain to myself. As much as it's a frustration to have to stay in one place when you want to travel, it's at least a decent place, plus I've done a bunch of valuable things while here. For all I know it may work out even better in the long term anyways.

Knocked off many of my items other than the last preparations right before going, and the ride itself! :)

At least things are starting to make some sense. Until this week or so I had a bunch of vague ideas, feelings, plans regarding leaving. Now I feel like things are roughly in shape to go.

Whew! Checking off even more of my higher-importance goals for leaving! :)

The unmanageable-seeming mess of leaving now seems more manageable, through managing! :)

I think my remaining tasks involve dumping as much more stuff as I can. Find a place to leave my extra books. Say bye to friends. Go! :)

Nice feeling to move your to-do items earlier instead of later! :)

Germans seem really good at computer programming! :)

Still getting rid of tons of stuff! How much stuff can one accumulate?!?!

Quarantine the politicians!

I feel like it's now a different game. Optimizing, minimizing mass & volume, instead of packing up.

Leaving in a couple of days! Still feels weird, but also like the "right" choice. I'm not doing much these days other than prepping and relaxing, so I may as well at least ride.

The food seems like the big thing that's overweight in my luggage. I could just leave it.

Can't believe the weather's shaping up ideally for riding! After all those rainy days when I felt under the weather anyways! :)

On the verge of a new adventure!

I feel great, if somewhat nervous.

Getting readerier to go. Nearly emptied the fridge.

I feel more like a stud when in travel mode! :)

A somewhat complicated process just to leave from a place you've settled into over a year.

Tons of small obstacles along the way, that's normal!

There isn't enough time to do everything, so just select what you care about deeply and do it! :)

Just left the books out in a public market. Also withdrew some cash, should be my last withdrawal in Capesterre.

A bit of weight at a time! Just like I'm on weight watchers! :)

Super hot out. I've felt these days like come South America I'll want to do fewer hours at a faster rate than my previous touring. Not sure to what extent that's the Caribbean heat and humidity talking, or my age, or having different desires.

I think I'm more risk-averse now than a few years ago, due to age. I think I still have some edge, though!!!!! :)

Apartment's starting to feel empty... Just a few more chore before going...

Feels great to lose weight! :)

Remaining activities before going... Remove as much more stuff as I can, see my local friends, ...?

At least while stuck in Capesterre I've had plenty of opportunity to take care of tasks like fixing up my calendar, data backup, and other computer things.

Weird to see leaving Capesterre on my calendar in a couple of days! This week!!!!! :)

It's often tough to get what you want. Often we're our own obstacles. I think it makes sense to push oneself gently towards goals. Enough to accomplish some difficult goals, but not so hard as not to enjoy the ride.

Now feeling intellectually, emotionally, physiologically, and logistically ready enough to ride!!!!!!!!!!!! :)

The only thing better than garlic is roast garlic! And the only thing better than roast garlic is roast garlic and butter. And then you've got your hot peppers and onions, and so forth...

How's DNA for a service? Turn a bit of saliva into deeply penetrating information about all parts of yourself! Go science!

Can't wait to go! I'm sure there'll be some things I forgot, didn't prepare for, etc. That's part of the adventure! I mainly just want to go new places! :)

Super grateful to go! The faster you act the better, often. Also, the less COVID fascism the better! :)

Three more nights!

Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, then go Saturday!!!!! :)

Probably gonna be a busy few days. Get rid of as much stuff as I can, see my friends, wrap up all my preps, then go!

Feeling largely over my New Year's recovery! :)

Travel. The great gift of freedom. To go to newer, better places! :)

Starting to feel more like checking out of a hotel in a few days, instead of like a long-term apartment rental! :)

It feels great to leave!!!!! :)

Fuck COVID fascism! Closing down borders over a cough. The shame.

I'm going!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :)

A bit closer to going!!!!! :)

There's gotchas anywhere you look. I guess just handle them.

I'm leaving in four days? Weird!

Looking at my food and drinks, I can see that I have some Italian genes... tomatoes, sardines, garlic, coffee! :)

Jejej, looking at some of my notes from when I arrived in Capesterre Belle-Eau... Didn't expect to stay this long!

Just taking one copy of my book, hardcover. I'd thought earlier of taking a bunch of copies in hardcover and paperback to hand out, but they're quite heavy. Not sure what I'm gonna do with the other copies I have here, I guess just leave them behind somewhere.

Gonna take my Eagle Eyes goggles, of which I now have a bunch. Hope they don't break during riding!

Weird, old phone light goes on when I plug it in. I thought it didn't charge? Or am I misremembering the problem? Maybe it dried out?

Oh, maybe it doesn't charge properly even if the light goes on?

Charged up to 2%.

Seems to be going on...

Even has the correct time.

Seems to work fine...

Like getting a free phone!

One that I think works with the wireless bands that they use in other countries, instead of France/Guadeloupe. Extra useful!

Also, one that runs normal Android instead of Huawei. Another extra! :)

Maybe it makes sense to hoard? :)

Jejej, instead of the light & tight ride that I'd been envisioning, I think it's going to be a slow slog overloaded with stuff I should've but didn't throw out! :)

Phone seems to work just fine, still charging.

I'm still working on many of the same things as I was back when my old phone worked. Planning travel to next destinations, mainly. COVID messed things up!

At least I finished some of the projects I'd been working on last time I used my old phone!

Phones have advanced noticeably over the last few years. The most noticeable difference for me is how much faster they now charge. The phones themselves also run faster, and have far more cameras, sensors, and other features.

Down to my last bottles of insect repellent!

Finding ways to pack at least somewhat lighter & tighter! You adjust as you go, and I plan to keep doing so later on.

The more I pack and use, the more I feel ready to go!

Still consistently feeling in agreement with my decision to go!

Already starting to feel some pressure to make it out on time! :)

Moving more things into the processed pile, my bags, the garbage, etc.! One thing at a time! :)

Hmmmm... I have like ten or fifteen pounds of groceries... Way heavier than I'd usually want to carry. Potentially enough to cause some bike issues, but also some delicious groceries. What to do?! :)

Jejej, now I have two phones to check... Double the addictive power! :)

I'm moving my fairly heavy (five pounds or so) winter jacket with a stuck zipper into the probably-not-taking pile. I don't think I'd need it for bike touring in the Caribbean while staying indoors. Useful for camping, which I did before.

Already feeling far too heavy, my pack-in-progress. Aiming to dump tons more stuff.

I'm at least getting somewhat more comfortable disposing of things that I'm confident enough I won't need. E.g. I think I can live without my phone manual in fifteen different languages. :)

Feels kind of fun to recombine/refactor, throw stuff out, etc., in preparation for bike touring. Sort of like computer programming for mechanical things.

Old phone works! Now at 100% charge!

At least much of my remaining baggage weight is easily disposable, e.g. food that I can use.

I think I'm now at the stage of packing where it's technically feasible to go, but still somewhat impractically heavy.

Around 3 PM, January 18, 2022: I think I'm ready enough logistically to go! :)

Took me somewhat longer than expected, but I guess I should expect that.

I'm about where I thought: I can carry it, but just barely. I think it's around the upper limit of what I could take, maybe slightly beyond. I think there's a natural tendency towards those frontiers. I'm going to aim to lighten up!!!!! :)

The morning after booking, I feel like I made a great decision! I just wanna get out there!!!!! :)

Ride!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :)

I still feel somewhat under the weather from New Year's, but solid enough to ride! :)

Last onion in the oven! That sounds like it should be a phrase. :)

I'm sick of seeing the same things each day. And of having the choices of staying indoors or going over the same few routes. I want to travel to new outdoors locations!

No more booze in the place! No more fruit in the place!

Starting to feel increasingly like a young guy's fridge: pre-cooked foods and condiments! :)

I think when I get back on the road, I'm going to feel way overloaded but hopefully able to ride at a decent clip!

Yeah! Weather says no rain Saturday. Does say rain Sunday, when I'm not preparing to ride. Who trusts the weather, anyways? :)

Interesting. Looking at the local listings, vacation rentals cost around as much here as on Marie-Galante, maybe even more?! So I guess I can probably find somewhat affordable longer-term rentals on MG?

Apartments/hotels are like people, the average ones generally look and work about the same, plus there are a few rotten and a few wonderful ones! :)

Looking back over my booking process (jejej, overanalyzer)... Seems like I made some missteps that would plausibly have become issues anyways. Often I feel like that's the case, there are gotchas along the way that you're going to encounter. As such I think it makes sense often just to go ahead and start your planning/actions, even knowing that you'll make some mistakes. Instead of thinking (probably wrongly) that if you hold off you'll eventually find some method without hitting those gotchas. (For some types of activities where you can't afford the mistakes, I think it can nonetheless make sense to plan even more overanalytically to wipe out as many of those gotchas as you can beforehand.)

I referred to reviews and other details a bit more than average this time. Sometimes I just book without looking, other times I've exhaustively looked through details before booking.

Another trivially small frustration: office solution for note-taking is working slowly, I'm mainly reverting to the basic note-taking tool.

At several stages during the planning it looked like it may have become infeasible, e.g. due to difficulties with finding rentals, but I think that doesn't make sense. It should be feasible.

Already adding to my calendar the upcoming plans! Dominica ho!!!!!

Aiming for March/April, after vaccines, but may have to push that back if the COVID fascism remains bad.

It's been one of my slower years, with COVID BS, but at least I did take care of some long-term projects like DNA sampling, new bank accounts, etc. Plus I tried some more French Caribbean culture.

Even with a place and a boat ticket booked, it feels surreal that I'm going!!!!! :)

I'm going to armar my bici, see how ready I really am! :)

Adding structure to my notes...

Can't wait to travel around MG! I'm going not only for the vaccines, but also so that on these clear days I can go explore new places! :)

I'm doing some OCD planning, and that's ok. I haven't bike toured in like over a year. And it's a somewhat complex ride to start, with a ferry ride.

You can adjust to tons of stuff. As such, I think it makes sense to pick what you want, force yourself to do it, then make necessary adjustments. I think I and others have already covered that idea a ton.

It feels great to go ahead with projects! To make progress!

I don't mind the OCD planning, it's kind of fun! :)

At least I'm seeing some results from my OCD preps up to now!

The more time passes, the more I want to go! And the better I feel about the decision. Act now!!!!!

Just go ahead and do great things!!!!! :)

Fuck COVID fascism! :)

Time to pack for a ride within the country but to another island! :)

Now assembling my final packing checklist! Not that many critical things.... phone, laptop, wallet, passport. That's enough to see the world!

There's not much of a more relieving feeling than packing stuff while throwing out the useless old things! :)

I think I should just get rid of as much stuff that I won't use as I can, instead of carrying it around by bike for kilometers. Not sure that I'm gonna go through with that.

I'm going to make a "maybe" pile. Things that I should probably leave but for whatever reason have difficulty throwing out. Old phone, old laptop, old jacket. Broken things that I have some vague thought of repairing but in practice probably would never use.

I think I'm now down to somewhat around or slightly over what I'd feel comfortable carrying with saddlebags. Given that I'm doing the next islands/rides with only a backpack and some "carry-ons", I want to take off more weight. Shed some pounds.

I have far more food than I need or can use before going. I may leave some, or carry it to MG then eat it there. Like carrying some groceries.

Last few days in Capesterre!!!!!

Go out there and make some accidents happen! :)

Ready to rock & roll!!!!! :)

I think I've found my place? Renting for the weekend?

Jejej, it feels somewhat crazy to start travels after you're "settled". Nonetheless, it makes its own sense! :)

Jejej, one of the weather sources says thunderstorms, another says sunny. I think I'm gonna risk it anyways. Weather stations can't seem to predict a week out.

Now I'm trying to balance my travels with a somewhat regular work life. Before I often sacrificed any work regularity for travels.

I think I've found my place to start MG!

Hm, my plan may not exactly work out. For some reason the ferry website now offers me only one of the two destinations. Not the town with the rental. I think I can adapt!

Looks like a far more constrained schedule to St. Louis than Grand Bourg. May not fit in my schedule. I guess aim to find a different apartment rental.

Talking to my friends at the bar "en face", apparently Marie Galante is calmer than Capesterre.

I guess I like pungent flavors: smoked ham with Scotch Bonnet hot peppers, melted goat cheese, roasted garlic, and onion... With coffee, vodka red bull, and champagne red bull :)

I suppose if we're to look for any people to blame for COVID fascism, it's arguably the naive people who can't really even take responsibility for their actions. The politicians who exploit those naive individuals presumably don't care too much whether the scary thing that they use to manipulate people is COVID, drug dealers, global warming, or any other bogeyman. People happen to respond to medical fears and xenophobia, making COVID a useful tool.

On the other hand the naive people are just blindly responding to their feelings, while the politicians are deliberately manipulating them to advance the politicians' own careers, so I still think it's somewhat fair to blame the politicians rather than the naive people.

False advertising: usually hotels/apartments/rentals present themselves as better than they are, comparable to how individuals wear make-up, exaggerate their abilities, etc.

Dealing with the practically inevitable frustrations in going... At least I'm in the operations stage! :)

What an obnoxious situation. Ferry apparently only goes to one town, the rental places are mostly in another town, and with the couvre-feu it doesn't seem reasonable to plan around going from one town to the other on the same day as ferrying.

There are some advantages to the situation. The town where the ferry often goes is also where the vaccines are, and where some of the long-term rentals are.

At least it feels "normal" to deal with these frustrations again! :)

A day of frustrations. Event where I'd planned to see some friends before leaving canceled due to couvre-feu. Finding out that ferry mainly runs to town where the rentals aren't. Ah well. Figure it out tomorrow.

Jejej, all the vaguely reasonably priced places have terrible reviews! :)

Booking places is one of the areas I sucked at anyways, plus it's been a while since I've traveled, plus this is a somewhat small and overpriced destination. It's turning into an exercise in frustration, but it'll work!

Seems suckily expensive there. Can't wait to go to Dominica, for which MG is on my way!

After several days of studying, perhaps excessively, I've at least found a place that I'd be fine with staying in Marie Galante next week, that I can book. It costs more than I'd want, but whatever, it's just a night to start. I've probably blown through far more time than it's technically worth if you just did a cost analysis, but that's ok, I like looking at maps and travel info anyways, plus I learned a fair bit about the destination! :)

I think I've now seen the listings for practically all of the available hotels and Airbnbs for the upcoming weeks. So I'm ready as can be to book! :)

Remaining contents of my fridge include mainly Christmas hams that I'm no longer sure are safe to eat! :) Just about ready to go!!!!! :)

What if instead of a drawing, the smiley face were some guy's photo? :)

After living in Canada for decades then living in the tropics and other warm places for a decade, I'm pretty fuckin' sure humans aren't supposed to live in cold climates.

Finished the last of my local rum! :) From the distillery just down the street! :) Ready to go!!!!! :)

women:money::men:sex

Get rid of the jackass COVID politicians!

Tons of ripoffs out there. Airbnbs that ask more than hotels without offering the same features. Hotels that deceive about their locations and prices and amenities. People who want something for nothing.

Look through the marketing, to the substance.

Yahoo! I found the one semi-decent place where I'm going! Time to rent! Over-priced, but that's Guadeloupe.

They even have three pools, if the ad is to be believed! :)

I'm booking a place and a ferry. I'm sick of messing around. It's been enough time and effort. I'm taking a shot. Let's go!!!!!

I'm on the way out of Capesterre! Then Guadeloupe! Can hardly believe it!!!!!

I have a reservation!!!!! On a different island!!!!! I can hardly believe it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1

When people act selfishly/deceptively, on a consistent basis, it makes them fat, gives them bad reviews, etc. Act respectfully, decently, even if imperfectly.

Things are just for now. Enjoy the ride!

Why does the ferry credit card processor offer expiration dates twenty years in the future? Does anyone issue cards that last that long? If so, where I do sign up?

Yahoo!!!!! I have a ferry reservation and an apartment reservation!!!!!

I'm going to Marie Galante!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I think it's valuable to have activities that apply some pressure/stress. Gives you motivation, excitement, rewards.

I admit I've gotten comfortable in Capesterre. After some of my rougher adventures recently, I appreciate the comfort. Nonetheless, I'm feeling ready to leave my comfort zone as they say, to go out there and explore new places!

I'm aiming to do remaining Lesser Antilles as fast as possible. not much of interest.

Yahoo! Now I feel like I'm only in Capesterre for a short visit! Not to stay!

Still annoyed about the international borders and other COVID crud, but whatevs, at least it's a start!!!!! :)

I just wanna get out there and ride!

There's a bunch of intellectual aspects to planning bike touring, as well as a large emotional component. Then there's the physiological action when you're out there!

I think it combines several positive addictions: travel, exercise, novelty/new experiences, etc.! :)

There's some nice enough stuff in Capesterre, and it's been an extremely valuable place to stay throughout the last while. Still, I'm ready to rock & roll!!!!! :)

Just wrapping up like a burrito and going!!!!!

Leaving in a week and a day?!

I don't need this any more! No more practical or psychological reasons to stay! Time to go!!!!! :)

Still feels surreal! Going! :)

No longer want to, feel like, or think that I should stay! Time to go!!!!! :)

I think I can even see Marie-Galante from my balcony, but I suck at geography and I'm not sure if that's what it is. :)

I'd rather be bike touring! See new places, do new things, instead of just sitting around here cooking or whatever.

Goodbye, cockroach-infested apartment! :)

I think I've done the main preps, and could go tomorrow (if in a slightly messy way). Weekend to party, say bye to friends. Next week to book ferry and apartment, finalize packing and preps. Then ride!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :)

I've seen the same things already! I'm ready for something new!!!!!

Just announced to the person I pay rent! I feel like the process is underway!!!!!

I already feel like I'm on the road again! It feels great!!!!!!!!! :)

Now that I'm "on the road", it feels normal instead of intimidating to go! The main remaining issue is the COVID for Dominica+, but we'll deal with that later...

Ready for a new and different set of problems! :)

Already knocking off some items from my action list! I can feel the headway!

I could technically buy an e-bike in Guadeloupe, but I don't think I will. I'd have to give it up before going to South America anyways. Doesn't seem worth the bother for now. Maybe if I come across a deal.

Looking at the map, I think that is Marie Galante that I can see from my balcony.

Looking at the classifieds, I see a few decent e-bikes for sale, and I also know that there are some decent new ones nearby, but I think they're a bit pricey for such a short ride, and buying them would interfere with my ride plans. I think I'm likely to hold off until South America.

I'm looking forward to going soon!

Now transitioning from days down to hours!!!!!

7 x 24 = 168 hours until the eve of my planned departure!

I think I've observed this before in other places I've left: even the annoyances start to seem like quaint things that I'll miss, e.g. recurring noises from the neighbors.

The countdown is on!

Under 200 hours. Its like taking an intensive course in readying to bike tour, in one week! :)

Woah, crazy. If that's indeed Marie Galante, which I think it is but I'm not entirely sure, then I can probably practically see Dominica (my next country)! It's not that much farther than MG.

I haven't done a long-distance ride for a while. I think I'll be fine. During my local workouts, I've felt satisfied after only half an hour or so, but that involves running -- harder on my knees than is riding.

Try to see the problems as opportunities of a different sort!

I've felt consistently over the last few days (as you could probably tell from reading) that leaving Capesterre feels like the "right" (desirable) decision. That's a huge relief, because before that I'd been telling myself that I should leave soon, but with mixed feelings as to whether it actually felt "right".

The pleasures of the road -- too many to count! The annoyances too, but you can forget many of those and they often apply if you don't travel too. As far as pleasures... the new sights, smells, experiences... The discoveries, the satisfaction of covering distances, the fresh air...

I think I've noted this before, or at least something along the same lines: I think what I'll miss most about the French Caribbean is the French cheese.

I think what I'll miss the least is the annoying aspects of the Caribbean like the sometimes oppressive weather, and the sometimes annoying music.

Super pleased to be going! Ready to bust out! Anything to travel!

If you were a food, what would you be? I think I'd be a giant burrito, overloaded with sauce, vegetables, proteins, rice and/or potatoes, and other fillings! :)

Woke up feeling super excited to go! Even if it rained last night, I'm a little under the weather, etc. Whatever, I just wanna travel!

Skies are clearing up! Body's clearing up! Mind's clearing up!

Feeling the excitement of starting another huge adventure! Or at least a small one, we'll have to see how the border situation goes. :)

A little enthusiasm goes a long way! In travels as in life!

I feel like I'm getting my life back!

It's a relief to see my ever-shrinking stockpiles, e.g. onions and garlic.

Go light & tight! :)

Not only with "things", but also with computer applications, psychology, etc., it's often better to have small efficient designs.

I'm really looking forward to going to Dominica+, but Marie Galante serves as a practically necessary way station for that, plus some interest of its own.

Now leaving Capesterre feels not only like something I'm vaguely planning or something I'm thinking about, but something that's rapidly approaching in practice!!!!!

Now Kreyol feels more like a language that I know poorly, instead of a language that I don't know! :) I can look up words and phrases in the dictionary, I can assemble words and phrases, and I can somewhat make out what people are saying. I still struggle in conversations, but I feel like I'm mediocre rather than just starting out. :)

For a range of common topics, I can now produce and comprehend approximately correct sentences in Kreyol by writing. I think that spoken Kreyol is a bit fast and full of new phrases/slang for me to converse fluently. I can usually at least make out broadly what people are talking about, and some specific details, as well as say at least some basic comments on the topic.

If you're learning a language, I think it makes much more sense to use it in person and through media rather than attempt to learn in school. I think you can pick up in a few weeks or months of use more than you'd learn in years of school. Not that I'm against learning languages in school. It can give you a basis in the grammar, plus some of the culture, and at least some practice. Just that I don't think it's as effective as learning through direct practice within the culture.

Also, I think it's much easier to learn a language when you're interested in the culture, the people. Maybe somewhat obvious, but I think that having that motivation can make a huge difference.

I guess just aim to be happy with whoever you are, whatever your age! :)

Oops, I think I've been mispronouncing another word, and thus I think misunderstanding its etymology. ("gen", to have)

Going through the Dominica COVID BS for the nth time, I think I know it practically verbatim. :)

They have quarantines without fixed constraints, at traveler's expense. Costs a ton plus fascism, who wants that? Maybe I'll stay in Marie Galante until the fascism clears up.

Nearly through my huge thing of coffee! I think I'm even going to finish it before going, which I didn't expect.

COVID is one of the numerous viruses present in our bodies anyways, generally without any effect. If you look at people and test whether they have this specific virus, you can find some percentage of sick people who have it. Correlation doesn't equal causation, doesn't indicate that the virus itself actually does anything. People with COVID present generally don't have symptoms, i.e. it's just part of the usual ecosystem of viruses, bacteria, and the like present within the body.

Fache contre le fascisme COVID! :)

Jejeje, I like this automatic translation of the above blog post:

Kite Capesterre

=

Mwen panse ke li enpòtan pou gen aktivite ki aplike kèk presyon / estrès. Ba ou motivasyon, eksitasyon, rekonpans.

Mwen admèt mwen te vinn alèz nan Capesterre. Apre kèk nan avantur ki pi graj mwen yo dènyèman, mwen apresye konfò a. Sepandan, mwen santi mwen pare pou m kite zòn konfò mwen an jan yo di, pou m ale deyò epi eksplore nouvo kote!

Mwen vize pou m rete ti Zantiy yo pi vit ke posib. pa gen anpil enterè.

Yahoo! Kounye a mwen santi mwen sèlman nan Capesterre pou yon ti vizit! Pa rete!

Toujou énervé sou fwontyè entènasyonal yo ak lòt COVID crud, men tou sa, omwen se yon kòmansman!!!!! :)

Mwen jis vle soti la epi monte!

Genyen yon pakèt aspè entelektyèl nan planifikasyon vwayaj bisiklèt, osi byen ke yon gwo eleman emosyonèl. Lè sa a, gen nan aksyon an fizyolojik lè w ap deyò!

Mwen panse ke li konbine plizyè adiksyon pozitif: vwayaj, fè egzèsis, kado/nouvo eksperyans, elatriye! :)

Gen kèk bèl bagay ase nan Capesterre, epi li te yon kote ki gen anpil valè pou rete pandan tout tan ki sot pase a. Toujou, mwen pare pou rock & roll!!!!! :)

Jis vlope tankou yon tòtiya epi ale!!!!!

Kite nan yon semèn ak yon jou?!

Mwen pa bezwen sa ankò! Pa gen plis rezon pratik oswa sikolojik pou rete! Tan pou ale!!!!! :)

Toujou santi sureèl! Pral! :)

Pa vle, santi tankou, oswa panse ke mwen ta dwe rete! Tan pou ale!!!!! :)

Mwen panse mwen ka menm wè Marie-Galante nan balkon mwen an, men mwen souse nan jewografi e mwen pa sèten si se sa li ye. :)

Mwen ta pito fè vwayaj bisiklèt! Gade nouvo kote, fè nouvo bagay, olye pou yo jis chita isit la pou kwit manje oswa kèlkeswa sa.

Orevwa, apatman ki gen ravèt! :)

Mwen panse mwen te fè preparasyon prensipal yo, epi mwen ka ale demen (si nan yon fason yon ti kras sal). Nan wikenn nan fèt, di orevwa ak zanmi yo. Semèn pwochèn nan liv Ferry ak apatman, finalize anbalaj ak preparasyon. Lè sa a, monte!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :)

Mwen wè menm bagay yo deja! Mwen pare pou yon bagay nouvo!!!!!

Jis anonse moun mwen peye lwaye a! Mwen santi ke pwosesis la ap sou pye!!!!!

Mwen deja santi mwen sou wout la ankò! Li santi bon!!!!!!!!!!! :)

Kounye a ke mwen "sou wout la", li santi l nòmal olye pou yo entimidasyon ale! Pwoblèm prensipal ki rete a se COVID pou Dominik+, men nou pral fè fas ak sa pita...

Pare pou yon seri nouvo ak diferan nan pwoblèm! :)

Deja frape kèk atik nan lis aksyon mwen an! Mwen ka santi pwogrè a!

Teknikman mwen te kapab achte yon bisiklèt elektrik nan Gwadloup, men mwen pa panse mwen pral. Mwen ta dwe abandone li anvan ou ale nan Amerik di Sid de tout fason. Li pa sanble vo deranje pou kounye a. Petèt si mwen jwenn yon kontra.

Gade kat la, mwen panse ke se Marie Galante ke mwen ka wè nan balkon mwen an.

Gade nan anons yo, mwen wè kèk desan e-bisiklèt pou vann, epi mwen konnen tou ke gen kèk desan nouvo tou pre, men mwen panse ke yo se yon ti jan chè pou yon woulib kout konsa. Mwen panse ke mwen gen anpil chans kenbe la jouk Amerik di Sid.

Mwen anvi ale byento!

Koulye a, tranzisyon soti nan jou desann nan èdtan !!!!!

7 x 24 = 168 èdtan jiskaske lavèy depa mwen te planifye!

Mwen panse ke mwen te obsève sa a anvan nan lòt kote mwen te kite: menm anmèdman yo kòmanse parèt tankou bagay etranj ke mwen pral manke, pa egzanp. bri renouvlab soti nan vwazen yo.

Dekont la ap kòmanse!

Anba 200 èdtan. Se tankou pran yon kou entansif nan prepare toune bisiklèt, nan yon semèn! :)

Woah, fou. Si sa a se vre Marie Galante, ki mwen panse li ye men mwen pa totalman sèten, Lè sa a, mwen ka pratikman wè Dominik (pwochen peyi mwen an)! Li pa pi lwen pase MG.

Mwen pa fè yon woulib long distans pou yon ti tan. Mwen panse mwen pral byen. Pandan antrennman lokal mwen yo, mwen te santi mwen satisfè apre sèlman yon demi èdtan oswa konsa, men sa enplike nan kouri - pi rèd sou jenou mwen pase monte.

Eseye wè pwoblèm yo kòm opòtinite nan yon kalite diferan!

Mwen te santi toujou nan dènye jou yo (jan ou ta ka pwobableman di nan lekti) ke kite Capesterre santi tankou "bon" (dezirab) desizyon an. Sa se yon gwo soulajman, paske anvan sa mwen te di tèt mwen ke mwen ta dwe ale byento, men ak santiman melanje kòm si li aktyèlman te santi "dwa".

Plezi yo nan wout la - twòp pou konte! Anmèdman yo tou, men ou ka bliye anpil nan sa yo epi yo souvan aplike si ou pa vwayaje tou. Osi lwen ke plezi ... aklè yo nouvo, odè, eksperyans ... Dekouvèt yo, satisfaksyon nan kouvri distans, lè fre ...

Mwen panse ke mwen te remake sa a anvan, oswa omwen yon bagay sou menm liy lan: Mwen panse ke sa mwen pral manke plis nan Karayib la franse se fwomaj franse a.

Mwen panse ke sa mwen pral manke pi piti se aspè yo anmèdan nan Karayib la tankou move tan an pafwa opresif, ak mizik la pafwa anmèdan.

Super kontan yo prale! Pare pou kraze! Nenpòt bagay pou vwayaje!

Si ou te yon manje, kisa ou ta ye? Mwen panse mwen ta dwe yon tòtiya jeyan, twò chaje ak sòs, legim, pwoteyin, diri ak / oswa pòmdetè, ak lòt fouraj!

When I look out my window now, I want to go to Marie Galante, not hang out in Kapste!

I feel like I have to go!!!!!

Feels stupid to run in place when I could be seeing new things!!!!!

MG feels closer each time I look!

I'd had a fair bit of uncertainty regarding how my Capesterre departure would go. So far I'd say it's going roughly average within the range of my expectations.

Aside from the COVID fascism, I'm actually liking this life stage (starting 40s) much more than I would've thought!

Freedom, health, balance! :)

Super good-looking! :)

I'm on the longest workout I've done in a while, and I feel like I can go on as long as I want!

This is gonna be a different style of touring for me, and I'm looking forward to it!

I could go on and on.... I'm going to post this, then start a new blog entry. I'm readying to book a place in MG!!!!! :)

Announcing MarketingWOW!

Starting a fun new project! #wiki #marketing #WOW

You can edit it with your own links and content...

I’m free(ish)!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :)

Marie-Galante doesn't look that exciting to me for itself, but I do look forward to at least having something different, and getting back into touring.

I guess I’m spoiled from travel, if gorgeous tropical islands, exotic ruins, and the like don’t excite me that much. :)

I think that the Caribbean has some of the most overpriced places on the planet.

I’m super ready to leave!

As soon as the COVID BS is over…

I think it'll take a bunch of my time, effort, and attention to get back on the road. Should at least keep me actively busy for the next while! :)

Preparing for the future! Doing what's feasible now, even with frustrations, to make the future better! :)

I already feel like I'm running out of time to see as much of MG as I want! :)

At least if I can go outside each day and see new things for the next while in MG, I'll feel better than stuck in Capesterre I think.

I think it's important to do whatever work/processing/preps you can ahead of time. And to take some risks. Doing the hard work makes the activities themselves easier.

Jeje, Dominica is courting wealthy foreigners by advertising that they're not as dangerous as other Caribbean or Latin American countries. :)

Looks like they have more cruise ships and flights coming into Dominica. At least things seem on track to become somewhat free again.

Dominica looks somewhat comparable to Guadeloupe but in English, which matches up with what I've heard. Not that exciting, but at least somewhat different. And headway towards my next continent!

Fascism sucks!

The bureaucracy of travel, and bureaucracy more generally, sucked hard enough even before Coronavirus!

As of now I'm leaning towards taking the shot 22 Janvier if I can. Would make the 29 plan unnecessary, and would give me some additional time on the road instead of just analyzing.

One of my favorites in Capesterre Belle-Eau, an agricultural area where they grow tons of bananas: bananes pesees. Fried plantains, usually served with pikliz (a spicy Haitian slaw, something like carrot/garlic/onion/hot pepper/vinegar/salt), and some meat like fatty pork, or sausages, or fried chicken.

Give me liberty or give me death! This COVID fascism lets me feel what it must've been like to deal with earlier fascisms. Kind of stupid to live without freedom!

Not that much critical stuff remaining to do in Capesterre. Maybe go this week, or maybe use it for final preps.

Woke up feeling considerably better! Looking forward to touring again in a week or two!!!!! :)

I think my last remaining big decision for going is whether to go January 22 or 29.

One of the extremely convenient things about staying in one place is just being able to leave things around. One of the more fun things about travel is the need to "use it or lose it"!

Weather's looking fine now and for the upcoming week! Maybe push out sooner rather than later?

I'm acting around leaving next week, with the subsequent week as my leeway.

Trying to remake these travels even with the COVID BS.

Now transitioning more fully from the planning to the acting stage of leaving Capesterre!!!!! :) How much longer until I'm actually riding?! :)

Not sure yet if I'll enjoy the extra week here planning, an activity in which I do delight. :) Nonetheless, there's also that compelling pressure to go. Once you start, things make a lot more sense than beforehand.

I think & feel that this is the opportunity I've been waiting/working/looking for!!!!! :)

Now packing/throwing away junk! Deliberately micro-managing/documenting my preps, as I've been stuck in Capesterre/Guadeloupe for years and it's turning into a serious issue just to leave! :)

I've accumulated way more stuff than I want. Would probably make sense just to leave a ton of it behind but I guess I'm a pat rack. :)

At least I can throw out more product packaging than before. I feel like I've gotten over some of my psychological issues in the last year, if not anywhere near all. :)

Herbal medications: costs way more, does way less! :)

Finally, decent bike touring weather!!!!! Feels like it's rained non-stop for months! Now the sun's out, and there's even just about the right cloud cover! :)

I think I'm down to a light enough mess of stuff that I can ride with it!

Looking through my recent blogs, basically agreeing fairly consistently with my earlier thoughts, even thought they're somewhat inconsistent. :) I think that the general trend or gist is shaping up towards going soon, turning middle aged, opposing COVID fascism, etc.! :)

Maybe I should select which of the upcoming two weeks to go on the basis of when I'm out of food and coffee? :)

It's a fun feeling to pack your stuff. Feels like you can do anything -- use up whatever you want, be rude to your neighbors if you want! :) Of course, then you wouldn't want to change your mind and stay behind... :)

Using up things that I've wanted to use up for months! Feels great!!!!! :)

The barricades are on my route, but they look passable! :)

My apartment is starting to look empty! Like I'm only here for another week or two!

I'm thinking, if the weather's nice may as well go for a ride next week? More importantly, maybe force it in case the weather's then rainy the next week. Don't want to get stuck in Capesterre into February!

What am I gonna do here the subsequent week anyways? Indoors workouts? Blog about travel plans? I'd rather go outside and have some travels to blog about! :)

I think I've got my packing to the next stage, with things sorted into a manageable amount to take versus things I can leave.

Next? Maybe start putting things into the bags/containers that I'll use?

With each thing I use or throw out, I get somewhat closer to going! Take the actions you can!!!!!

Things are starting to feel manageable!

Looks like a straightforward ride. Basically a straight shot up the coast from Capesterre to the ferry station. The ferrying, apartments, and other logistics are I think the trickier thing. Plus the courage to go out there and ride!!!!!

From the satellite map, I think that Marie Galante looks less developed than this part of Guadeloupe (Capesterre Belle-Eau).

M-G looks quite small, but whatever. New place. Get back into my travel habits. Get the vaccines so that I can travel to other countries again ASAP. Fuck the COVID fascism!

I think I'm going to force myself to MG a week from tomorrow if the weather's decent, I feel well, there aren't serious riots or roadblocks, etc.!

Doesn't seem too aggressive to me. I think I'm essentially ready except for the actions to do while physically leaving.

Don't want to defer/delay much, I'm kind of dying to tour again.

I think I'm at the stage where I'm just sitting around instead of traveling. I'm not starting big new projects in Capesterre. I'm feeling packed enough to go, I think there are enough places to rent. Let's go!!!!! :)

Do what you can when you can!!!!!

It’ll probably take me over a month in Marie-Galante anyways. Around three weeks between the two vaccine shots (I disagree with the laws around this but it seems practically necessary to travel). Two more weeks after that before I can go to Dominica at the earliest. Also some time before that to make plans, and some leeway time.

Sometimes it takes a mishap to open the door to opportunity!

Looks somewhat more expensive on Marie-Galante, which I already expected as I think it’s a more touristy location. Looks like there are more rentals available than I’d expected at somewhat reasonable rates. I think it should work. I’m also considering renting an apartment by the month, instead of renting vacation type places by the day or week. Seems to make things even more affordable, around the same as I’m paying in Capesterre! Not a reason to stay!

Kind of fun to plan travel! :)

Somewhat tricky, too. Trying to arrange ferry, apartment, ride, etc.

Huge downpour of rain! Guess I’m not booking a place just yet! :) We’ll see how this plays out…

Trying to figure out the French classification of jobs. I think I’m a profesionnel liberal, rather than an artisan ou commercant, auto-entrepreneur, CDI, CDD, etc.! :)

Weird, I think I can do even better than I have. Figuring out how the local markets work. Sometimes you have to go through mishaps to find better ways! :)

I could buy a bull or a pig or a goat! :) I think I’d go for the goat! :)

This is turning into an adventure! :)

Looking through rentals, I feel like I’m traveling again!!!!! :)

I’m finding tons of rentals after a lengthy search. Doesn’t seem so intimidating to go now. Aiming to leave soon! :)

I feel like I’m regaining some of my travel skills, which had withered away over the last years of COVID!

From what I’m seeing on the map, Marie-Galante looks quite comparable to this part of Guadeloupe. Not that surprising, given that they’re parts of the same small country. I think maybe a bit more chill on Marie-Galante, like for vacationers (even more so).

If you go to the Caribbean, I think that the Greater Antilles (larger islands to the west) have generally better weather, prices, and in a sense culture than the Lesser Antilles.

Waking up planning to go in a week or two! Still feels surreal!!!!! No more grocery sprees locally!

Still feeling somewhat sick but whatever. I’ll recover! I AM recovering, I already feel noticeably better than a few days ago.

New phrase for me: “a la une”, as in “on page one" (of the newspaper), to describe an item of main importance.

I think I can go through with leaving in January! Even after deciding I’ve felt somewhat iffy due to weather, illness, roadblocks, rentals, etc. Now that I’m looking into the details it seems quite feasible. I’m mainly focusing on whether to aim for January 22 or 29 to leave.

An extra week to recover? Or push it while I can?

Now leaning… 22 if I can, but with considerable leeway given the extenuating circumstances.

I’m not too concerned about a week after like a year or two.

I’m going in January unless there’s a severe override, e.g. too sick/rainy/fascist to ride! :)

Feels great when an action plan is underway! Even if it’s loaded with caveats. A lot more mental clarity than when waffling uncertainly over whether to go ahead. Feels like a train under steam, instead of negotiating over logistics.

See the freedom! Feel the freedom!

I think I’m down from weeks to days until I go!!!!! :)

Tell me when the COVID meme’s dead! :)

I now feel like I have a feel for the rental market and the geography of Marie-Galante!

Ready to go! Maybe a last week of recovery from illness, letting the weather clear up, etc., then push out?! :)

Super excited to go! Then even if COVID drags on a few more months, at least I’ll have new places to explore!

Also if COVID wanes, I can then more easily and rapidly travel to new countries!!!!! :)

Now attempting to focus on my local-ish travels instead of the COVID crap, let that situation fix itself.

Rock on!!!!!