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!!!!! :)