Sunday, June 05, 2011

Heading Out...

Needless to say, blogging hasn't been high on my list for the past week or so. On Wednesday, I began my official sabbatical and celebrated with a trip into Chicago to see the Cubs play. My daughter had wanted to go to a Major League game (this was her first) and I'd never been to Wrigley Field... So we took the train into the city and the Red Line out to the ballpark and watched the Cubs get beat by the Astros. Afterwards, we made a stop by American Girl store, the place where I hold on tight to my wallet (actually, I let her and her mom shop as I read), then had dinner and walked around the lake shore before returning via the Southshore, taking the 8:40 PM train. It was a late day--as we had 2 hours to drive after we got off the train, but it was worth it.

I needed to write more about the trip, especially the ads in the urinals at the Goose Island brewpub, but I don't have that notebook with me (Sorry Bone, I know you live for such tidbits of info, but it was too much to see a service advertising rides instead of DUIs at the boot of the urinal). I also took photos (and then changed out my card in my camera and hadn't load the photos onto the computer) of me packing for my 13 week trip across Asia and Europe. It's pretty light--a backpack and a day pack that can be strapped to the larger pack. The photo of my medical kit is pretty impressive. I can take care of most things this side of surgery.

And a trip wouldn't be a Sage trip without some last minute drama, this time provided by the visa service folks (the guys who gets visa from various embassies. They got me my passport back today at 10 AM (my flight was at 5:40 PM). I am now in the airport in San Francisco, waiting a flight for Taipei and then will board another flight for Jakarta. On the 16th, I'll move to Singapore and begin my journey up through Southeast Asia with the goal of making it to Beijing by July 24, when I meet a group for the Trans-Siberian Trip. I'll be back in the US in September. I still don't know how much blogging I'll do, but I have a netbook with me and will try to occasionally drop a line and add a photo.

Speaking of photos, here's some from C-town! I hope I can sleep on this flight across the Pacific!

Look at the old style scoreboard at Wrigley Field

What a view!

Chicago lakefront at sunset

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15 comments:

  1. the walking manSunday, June 05, 2011 7:53:00 AM

    I have never been on them but have paid for a few of those trans pacific flights and I guarantee you they are long enough to sleep and wake then sleep some more on Sage. travel safely1

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  2. Ron ScheerSunday, June 05, 2011 9:00:00 AM

    Hope you can stay in touch. I'm past the point of journeys like this and have to rely on vicarious ones. Bon voyage.

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  3. EdSunday, June 05, 2011 9:09:00 AM

    My secret for sleep on a trans-Pacific flight is lots of drugs, the over the counter kind. Anything that makes me sleepy I take it and spend hopefully the next 8 to 12 hours drooling. Of course if you read this, it is well too late for advice but perhaps the next long flight.

    Have fun and a safe journey!

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  4. Karen S. 21 Wits or twincitiesblatherSunday, June 05, 2011 10:22:00 AM

    What a beautiful day to spend with your daughter (stunning Chicago photos too) before heading out on this wonderful journey...be safe, take care of you, and drop as many photos and words of Sage wisdom that you can when you can...you'll be missed but you will be enjoying a fantastic journey through life! Dream away and live well where ever you go Sage!

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  5. Charles GramlichSunday, June 05, 2011 10:41:00 AM

    I'm excited for you, man. Enjoy and be safe.

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  6. AnonymousSunday, June 05, 2011 12:50:00 PM

    Have a lot of fun and whenever they come, we expect/demand oodles of stories and photos!

    As for Chicago, it's a great town and Wrigley is one of the best venues to watch a game -- especially when the Cardinals are kicking their butts!

    Cheers.

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  7. sageSunday, June 05, 2011 7:22:00 PM

    I'm in Taipei, waiting on the flight to Jakarta. Slept for 6 or 7 of the 13 1/2 hours of flying, spent the rest of the time reading about the British defeat on Malaya (written by the Japanese officer in charge of logistics, Col. Maanobu Tsjui, "Japan's Greatest Victory, Britain's Worst Defeat" and alternating between listening to Simon Winchester's Krakatoa and talking with a former officer of the South Vietnamese army who was going back to Vietnam for the first time since fleeing in the late 70s, taking his family with him.... Interesting flight.

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  8. CRiSSunday, June 05, 2011 8:38:00 PM

    Can't wait to read of your adventures!

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  9. Michael ManningSunday, June 05, 2011 10:25:00 PM

    Your travels are incredible, Sage. Travel well and travel safe!

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  10. A Plain ObserverSunday, June 05, 2011 11:20:00 PM

    good luck, be safe, come back safe, keep writing and charge the battery on the notebook so it is ready when you are.

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  11. LynnTuesday, June 07, 2011 4:04:00 PM

    I hope you have a wonderful time on your trip, Sage. And going to Wrigley Field got it off to a great start!

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  12. IleanaTuesday, June 07, 2011 8:16:00 PM

    I smell a book deal coming out of all this. What an adventure! Enjoy every breath and every minute...as we sit here and live vicariously through you. :) Happy Travels, amigo!!

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  13. sewa mobilWednesday, June 08, 2011 5:06:00 AM

    Very nice, thanks for the information.

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  14. HilaryThursday, June 09, 2011 1:07:00 PM

    Wow.. what an amazing trip you have ahead of you. I can't wait to hear all about it.. whenever you can and do post.

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  15. UnknownSaturday, June 11, 2011 2:33:00 PM

    I like the Chicago lake front photo. Enjoy your travels!

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