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Destinations Detours and Dreams January 2023

Behind The Scenes

I've seen a number of social media memes about an eagerness to say goodbye to 2022, opening all the doors and windows to let the year fly out. Although 2022 was a mixed bag for me with its share of challenges, I don't feel that same eagerness. It was just a year. It had its good and bad, much like I expect the year ahead will.

Some year-ends see me more reflective or doing more future planning than others. This year-end isn't one of those. Still, I am doing one thing that seems to have become a year-end pattern: looking at blog clean-ups and/or updates. Some years I tackle that more intensely than others. This year isn't one of those intense years, but the blog is getting some focus.

Many of my posts are what I consider "evergreen," meaning the content is relevant long past its publication date. For example, content about museums and other attractions still operating today. I go back to old posts and update them with changed information as I know it. That being said, you may still come across something with outdated information because I'm not aware of the change or I haven't had a chance yet to update. I always encourage readers to check websites of any attractions I highlight before visiting.

When I update old posts, I may revise the photos, re-organize the content, or add new information. Sometimes an old post needs so many changes or is written in a way so different from what I would do now, I decide an entire new post is needed. I've done less than a handful of these re-worked posts to-date. There is one more slated to come in the new year.

I am still on Twitter, at least for the moment. I've watched the news and people's comments about the chaos since Elon Musk took over. I've not experienced a great deal of the chaos on my own feed so far, but, like many others, I have joined Mastodon as a possible alternative. Mastodon operates a bit differently with decentralized servers, so signing up for it can be a little intimidating. Like anything new to someone, there is a bit of a learning curve. So far, the platform holds promise. If you want to follow me on Mastodon, I'm at @donnajanke@mastodon.social.

A Peek Ahead

A boomer travel blogging colleague started their year-end newsletter with this quote from John Lennon:

Life is what happens to you while you're busy making other plans

That quote resonated with me and seems fitting at the moment. I am not making a lot of plans for 2023. I do not have the year mapped out. Plans will evolve with the year.

I do have a couple of blog posts planned for January, but, at this point, I don't know whether there will be more than that. There are several local places on my radar to visit, but whether I get there in January or have time to write about them is up in the air. I am working on one project that will take a fair bit of time. I am also doing some background work on the blog that will consume time. While that work won't result in any changes you'll see, it should help me with ongoing maintenance tasks.

Wishing you all the best in 2023.

December Destinations Detours and Dreams Stories

Moose Jaw Western Development Museum

Saskatchewan history with a focus on transportation at the Western Development Museum in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan, Canada

A Visit To Nonsuch Brewing Taproom In Winnipeg, Manitoba

Nonsuch Brewing Co. in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada offers Belgian-style beer and tasty food in its centrally-located taproom

From The Archives

Touring Beautiful and Unique Homes in Puerto Vallarta

One the charitable projects of the International Friendship Club in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico funds cleft palate surgeries for children. They run home tours during the tourist season to fundraise for that initiative. The tours take visitors through three or four spectacular houses. My sister and I enjoyed a tour several years ago. I wrote about it in this post. Last winter, my sister volunteered to help with the tours. She will be doing that again this winter as one of their tour directors. The homes toured this winter will not be the same ones as in the post, but the post will give you an idea of what to expect.

Articles That Caught My Interest This Month

Here are links to a few articles I found of particular interest this month. Maybe one of them will be of interest to you too.

8 Essential Travel Tips I Learned As Travel Editor Of The Washington Post

Canada's Train That Takes Hitchhikers - An article by BBC Travel about the train known locally as "Skeena" or "Rupert Rocket" that runs a two-day, 1,160-kilometre trip from Jasper, Alberta to Prince Rupert, British Columbia with an overnight stop in Prince George, British Columbia.

Winnipeg airport receives autonomous wheelchairs, a first in North America - Self-driving wheelchairs at the airport in my home city of Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada deliver passengers from check-in through security and to their gates.
Here is another article on the same topic with a bit more information: Automated accessibility by the Winnipeg Free Press. It is behind a paywall, but I believe you may be given a chance to view a couple of articles for free before the paywall kicks in.

Woman Discovers The Magic Of O'Hare Airport On All-Night Layover: "It's Amazing In There." I must admit my daytime layover in Chicago's O'Hare airport was anything but amazing. I found this article interesting. As crowded as the airport has been when I've gone through, it was hard to imagine the empty spaces she described.

Donna Janke is the author of Destinations Detours and Dreams, where you can find travel stories from near and far, the familiar and the obscure, the beautiful and the bizarre, with a focus on history, gardens, nature, art, architecture, culture and the snowbird life. She tells her stories through a combination of narrative, photos and personal reflection. Sign up for the monthly newsletter here.

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