United States of America (Wisconsin) - Week of October 4, 2026

Hello! 

Greetings once again from Eau Claire, Wisconsin!  

This was the week I received a timely reminder of how I've been neglecting my body. Six consecutive sessions of yoga over six days drilled home the message that I ignore my flexibility at my own peril. Compounding my loss of flexibility is the extra weight I'm now carrying. It's time to reverse this unhealthy path I'm on. I want to have the best capability to enjoy my life.

How was your week? What interesting people did you meet? What interesting conversation(s) did you have? What one thing did you do that took you out of your comfort zone? As my good friend (and yoga guide) Stasha would say, every new activity helps build a new neural pathway. A healthy brain contributes to a healthy life!

The Dells Mill

The relatively stationary travel lifestyle I currently enjoy has opened to the door for me to express increased gratitude to the universe for my blessings. The warm and caring reception I've received frommy friends in Eau Claire is amplifying my gratitude. I'm realizing I've simplified my life and dispensed with my belongings so much that I now avoid even the most common daily problems most people have. I have zero concerns about house maintenance/insurance, car maintenance/insurance, maintaining a wardrobe for work/social events (beyond the one suit and five ties I now own), property taxes, landlords, neighbors, and the list goes on. What I do have is the most incredible blessing of being part of a global community. I have friends around the world where I can visit who immediately embrace me with kindness and thoughtfulness. I think my good friend Jes was right when he referred to me as a global citizen!

On a completely different topic, I'm now investigating the opportunities to return to doing project work. There was a two year period in my work life where I was able to work remotely to avoid the Canadian winter. My weekly travel blogs that I wrote from Barbados last year provide good insights into how the universe had blessed me. Fingers crossed I'm able to find the magical combination of returning to work and work remotely. I will see what the universe has in store for me!

Finally, I enjoyed the thrill of Amazon Prime Days during the week. I had several items that I needed. Yes, I do get wrapped up in the shopping frenzy when I can find a great deal for the few things I need. Two top finds I was most excited about were (both coincidentally from Columbia):

• Men's Arctic Crest II Hybrid Full Zip Jacket - a jacket I can use as an inner liner/stand alone jacket for my Columbia Interchange jacket (3 in 1 jacket). I lost the original inner liner back in November 2024 after landing in Auckland, New Zealand. Great price - I paid $80 USD (list price - $175 USD) 
• Men's Steens Mountain Half Snap II Fleece Pullover. My current fleece pullover, a trusty friend through my travels, especially appreciated for keeping me warm during flights, was showing its wear and well overdue for replacement. I left my old friend at an Eau Claire donation centre. Best of all - I paid about $28 USD (list price - $65 USD)

BTW - I had donated six T-shirts to Salvation Army during my last stay in Mississauga. 

May the universe bring endless blessings and moments of magic 🦄  to you and your loved ones in the week ahead. 🙏

Travel Administration

I thought you might be interested in what I recently discovered booking car rentals through SixT Car Rentals and National Car Rental/Enterprise-Rent-A-Car. Timing, location and account type all factor into getting your best price. SixT has a dynamic pricing model (last minute deals) which has translated into better daily rates if I booked a car rental nearing to when I need to pick up the car. SixT's last minute deals are consistently better (~20 %) than the corporate rates I get through National Car at Pearson International Airport. 

My car rental experience in the USA was considerably different. I booked a car rental through Enterprise in Eau Claire which was over $500 USD cheaper than my original booking through SixT at the Minneapolis Airport. Interestingly, I booked my Enterprise rental without using my corporate account as the non-corporate National Car rate was also over $500 USD less expensive for the same vehicle type and rental period. Enterprise and National are different business within the same company. 

Travel Update

Rinse and repeat on my travel plans. I'm holding steady on my travel plans to the end of this year. I'm still pondering what I'm going to do once I return to Toronto from Seychelles on December 26. 

I return to Canada on Sunday, October 18 then depart for Istanbul on the evening of Monday, October 19 arriving in Istanbul at 14:40 on Tuesday, October 20. 

Travel Maps

I enjoyed a week of minimal travel - short drives (~ 25 min max) to the golf course, yoga, apple orchard, and Dells Mill & Museum would be the highlights. This map is last year's map as my travels this week were to identical destinations as last year. 

Wisconsin: October 2, 2026 to October 18, 2026

On a Personal Note

My trusty French press, coffee grinder and dark roast coffee beans accompanied me on my journey to Eau Claire. I was determined to start my day with the java of my choosing. Yes, I'm a man of simple needs.

Hotel Drama

My week started with fire alarms going off at my hotel accompanied by evacuation late Saturday night/early Sunday morning. The alarms were set off by a group of young people vandalizing a sprinkler head. Thankfully there were no injuries and warm weather, just the inconvenience of being evacuated in the middle of the night. Unfortunately several hotel guests had to be relocated due to the flooding caused by the sprinkler system. Eleven rooms are now out of commission until repairs are completed by the end of this year. 

 

Enjoying Eau Claire

We've enjoyed a week of unseasonably warm autumn weather! Excellent opportunity to explore the historic areas in Eau Claire and stroll on the trail that follows the Chippewa River that flows through the city.

 

Historic buildings along Water St.

Chippewa River near Water St.

Connell's Family Orchard

I returned to my favorite orchard twice during the week to pick apples and raspberries. I know my father would be pleasantly surprised, or more accurately -  vigorously shaking his head, at the sight of me picking raspberries. Many summers, while growing up in Lac La Biche, my siblings and I were conscripted by my dad to go berry picking with him. He was determined to share his passion for picking berries along with increasing the amount we had by enlisting his kid's labour. While we reluctantly joined in his expeditions, we were always eager to enjoy the fresh berries when they were served at home. Amazing how things change in life. There is so much truth to the saying - 'My father got wiser as I grew older!'

Raspberry picking

I picked a full pail of raspberries during each of my two trips to the orchard. Beautiful weather, few people and plenty of berries that were easy to pick. An issue we always had with my father's version of berry picking was having to climb through thorny bushes in deep ditches to where the raspberry plants were found. Berry picking in the orchard was so much more civilized!

Ripe raspberries ready for picking

Rows of raspberries, flat ground,
so easy to pick

Fellow picker

Yes, I had company when I was in the 
raspberry patch

'Fruits' of my labour!

Raspberries For Another Day

I gave away most of the berries I picked, after washing them that is. The other trick to keeping raspberries for a longer period, if you have too many to eat immediately, is to freeze them on cookie sheets and then put the berries in freezer bags to be stored in a freezer. 

Washed and set for freezing

Packaged, ready to give away

MacIntosh Apple Picking

My real challenge with picking apples is that the picking experience is over far too quickly; perhaps 15 minutes at most. My second challenge is my inability to bite into apples because of the precarious condition of a front tooth. One bite would assuredly cause the tooth come loose. 

I managed to find a good home for the bag of apples I picked. 

Apples up close

Row of apple trees

My apples

About 3 kg/7 lbs

The Dells Mill and Museum

A favourite destination I have is the Dells Mill and Museum, especially in the fall when the trees are changing colors. The added bonus, if you visit on Fridays and Saturdays, is the chance to buy fresh baked goods at the bakery within the mill. I've had the blessing of meeting Hermaan, the owner, several times over my multiple visits to the mill. 

The mill is the place I learned about einkorn, the world's only non-hybridized grain left, that is grown on Hermaan's farm. I've used the flour to bake the most amazing tasting cookies that are accessible almost everyone given the flour's low gluten levels. 

BTW - Mill photos, taken during autumn, have been used to create nationally recognized jigsaw puzzles!

Valley Golf and Events

Valley Golf is my golfing go-to course when visiting Eau Claire. It's become the only time I'll golf during the year. The green fees are super reasonable ($34.50 USD including cart for 18 holes), it's a beautiful/well maintained course, I typically have the course to myself and I get use rental clubs for free. I enjoyed two rounds of golf during the week. 

I find that golfing on my own is a good option as I tend to frustrate good golfers with my less intense attitude to the game. While I'm good enough to keep pace with good golfers, my cavalier approach can be disconcerting to my fellow golfers. There is small group of friends plus my three brothers who are patient enough to have me join them for a round of golf. 🤣🤣🤣

The unexpected change at the course this year was the change in ownership that happened about six weeks prior to my first round. Sadly, Brad is now gone. The gift I did receive from the golf shop staff was continuing to honour Brad's commitment to provide me with free rental clubs. I was provided with this privilege after selling my golf clubs to Brad two years ago.  

View from 6th tee, highest point on course

View from 6th tee -
leaves are just starting to change colors

Friends

Visiting Eau Claire and area is all about reconnecting with friends. 

John & Craig

The Mill Museum, shop and bakery are open on Fridays and Saturdays. John and Craig are the two 'greeters' you meet as you approach the building. Actually, you'd have to go out of your way to avoid meeting my two friends. These unpaid volunteers strike up conversations with anyone willing to take the time to speak with them. Local area ambassadors, they are. 

I learned about John's children and grandchildren over the two plus years I've spoken with him. Periodically he'll let his kind and gentle heart peek through his superficial crustiness. He's fun to talk with, with the ability to take a humorous poke at his demeanour. My entry conversation entry point with Craig was his experience working for Enterprise Rent A Car. His life changing moment (when he decided to retire) at Enterprise, was during a trip moving cars between destinations within Wisconsin. He thought the people he was driving with were traveling at an unsafe speed so he decided enough was enough. 

John (L); Craig (R)

Aubrey (Great Clips)

I'm delighted to introduce the young woman who cuts my hair when I'm in Eau Claire. I met Aubrey when I needed a haircut in early 2024. Great Clips is located near the The Yoga Rooms so going to yoga and getting my haircut was so convenient. Aubrey is now a new mom and she is the lead stylist (well deserved from my experience) at this Great Clips location. Aubrey blessed me with sharing photos of her beautiful baby boy. She is a wonderful and interesting person to speak with AND does a masterful job cutting my hair. I'm still trying to figure out why I skipped having my hair cut by her last year!

Scott (Global Finishing Solutions)

I met Scott through my project management activities at Global Finishing Solutions. Scott, a 25 year veteran at GFS, is the IT manager (and IT was an important part of a system implementation!). Scott is a man of integrity, has a common sense approach to work and managing his team, an exemplary husband and father. He is the type of person you'd want as a friend. I aslo had the gift of Scott hosting me a day trip to go fishing back in September 2024, after my work at GFS wrapped up. Scott invited me to join him and a small group of people for a 30 minute walk which started a rive minute stroll from my hotel. Talk about convenient! We had a wonderful time catching up on our respective personal lives. I also reported back on my Maldives adventures as this beautiful set of islands is on Scott's travel radar. 

Guides on My Yoga Journey

I'm sharing, in the following short descriptions, but a brief glimpse into amazing women who continue to influence my episodic yoga practice and, I think more importantly, my overall appreciation of how supportive my friends are. You find more information about each instructor if you click the link next to Stasha's name below. 

I was bathed in love and so much attention throughout my daily visit to attend classes. I was welcomed as if my year's absence was nonexistent. How blessed I am!

Stasha (The Yoga Rooms)

My very first yoga class in Eau Claire was with Stasha as a student in her 8 am Soul Flow session on Sunday morning. Stasha has the most amazing energy of anyone I know. I think she's another person, like me, who follows the mantra 'If you not living on the edge, you're taking up too much space!' She explores most nooks and crannies in life, embraces challenges with fervent energy and displays a real love for life and people. 

Beth (The Yoga Rooms)

Beth is fundamental to my restorative practice as I try to repair all the damage I've done to my body throughout my disregard for appropriate warm up and stretching activities earlier in my life. She has a heart of pure gold always cognizant of creating the best yoga student experience in her Avita classes. I was blessed with her help to provide additional poses during this visit to address the whispers in my right hip.

Jenny (The Yoga Rooms)  

I love Jenny's classes as I can relay on her to have the right intensity in her class. Her practice provides me with sufficient time to savor the pose we are in, along with sufficient time to move between poses. I'm totally ok with fewer poses in favor of a fuller experience within the poses she chooses to guide us through. Salt of the earth personality who is dedicated to her student's experience. 

Amber (The Yoga Rooms)

Most of my experience with Amber is through email as I arrange for a monthly membership which I cancel immediately as I'll be attending classes for a limited time in October. Amber has this special gift of communicating love, peace and understanding through email, one of the toughest modes of communication. Love and gratitude are her signature words which she consistently delivers through her messages. I've also had the gift of her yoga class during this visit. She's also all about the experience. 

Wendy (The Yoga Rooms)

Wendy, The Yoga Rooms owner, is pure magic - both from a business perspective and a yoga class experience. She has shaped Eau Claire's yoga community through her yoga teacher training program. Her yoga classes are consistently waitlisted. She establishes a level of connectivity with every student in her class, as if she is having a personalized interaction with you. She understands people, their motivation and how to address their needs in a personal and meaningful manner. I'm always blessed to have a conversation with her during my brief visit. BTW - I always look forward to receiving their well thought out and engaging emails. I always have at least one valuable takeaway after reading the email. 

Next Week

More yoga, golfing, visiting with friends, enjoying the warm autumn weather, helping out at the Masonic Temple, raspberry picking and attending the final day of our Scottish Rite Fall Reunion on Saturday, October 17.