Trish's Post-Covid Travel Blog

Do you remember in the early 2000s when it seemed like you couldn’t surf the web without encountering a new travel blog? Trish could be just the woman to bring back that trend. With a twist. Hers could be a very niche blog about traveling to a different country for a son’s wedding after having just recovered from COVID. 

As planned, Allen and Russell flew to the States on August 27th. Trish and Kirstin had tickets to fly out on the following Tuesday. They did just that, but things didn’t quite go as planned. For a while it looked like Trish might not be able to travel at all, because COVID set off her asthma. Steroids and a negative COVID test meant that she was good to go. Well, “good to go” might be stretching it. But she was going! 

The less-direct route to the airport!

Trish and Kirstin made the decision to drive to San Pedro Sula a day early to allow Trish time to rest up after the long drive and before the big day of air travel. Monday morning they each got their official negative COVID tests. They were getting ready to hit the road when they received word that the road they had planned on hitting had been partially washed out. That was the most direct route to the airport and it normally meant a 3-4 hour drive from Gracias. They had no way of getting updated information from the road, so as any good GPS system would tell you, they calculated a new route. The new route they calculated was significantly less direct, but that couldn’t be helped. 

They set off for San Pedro Sula in an SUV. Since last year’s hurricanes, the road they were traveling has consisted of equal parts asphalt and potholes. Trish described the potholes as “axle-breaking holes.” She mentioned that it's easy to navigate potholes on back roads where you have no option but to drive at slower speeds throughout the trip - but this road is the Honduran equivalent of an interstate highway. The potholes become extra dangerous when you come upon them at speeds of up to 50mph! Kirstin took it nice and slow to protect the vehicle. The good thing was that they actually spotted a lot of road repair work going on. The drive took six hours, but there weren’t any major problems. Trish, who has all of the energy of a limp noodle these days, was able to get a good night’s rest before their flight out on Tuesday morning.

When Trish originally signed up to use wheelchair services at the airports, they thought it was just a precaution. It ended up being necessary since it would have been extremely difficult for Kirstin to give her mom piggyback rides through the airports. Plus, the guys pushing the chairs know where to go, so Trish and Kirstin didn't have to worry about getting to the right terminal, baggage claim, etc.

They flew from San Pedro to Houston where they caught a second flight to Seattle. Their second flight was the maiden passenger flight for the aircraft. Trish said the pilot and crew members were thrilled to be going up in the shiny new plane. The passengers were giving each other side eyes and trying to remember all of the words to Nearer, My God, to Thee in case things took a Titanic-y turn. Okay, I made up that last part. 

The plane arrived in Seattle without incident. When Trish and Kirstin got there, they met up with Bethany, whose flight from Virginia had arrived minutes earlier. Allen’s mother flew in from New Hampshire a little later. Christopher, Audrey, and Russell showed up in two cars to give everyone a ride to the Airbnb where the family is staying. I’m going to go out on a limb to say that the future bride and groom were in one car and Russell drove the second vehicle. The other way is just weird. Rachel’s flight was arriving the following day. 

There are many family activities and wedding activities planned before the wedding on Saturday. Trish is being a good girl and resting up after the exhausting trip. She said that her energy comes and goes in waves, but she is conserving her energy for the absolutely essential elements of the trip - the rehearsal and wedding. Let’s all pray that the limp noodle’s stamina is restored soon. 

 - posted by Christi