Travels Continue…but no more tan for Ran!

Randy and I returned from the Hill Country of Texas recently, and in a week we are off to explore the coast of California from Los Angeles to Shelter Cove.  I’ve never been on Hwy 1, or seen the dramatic coastline of California. No time like the present! We are seeing friends and even some family along the way, and also spending some time at Lake Tahoe…and of course, I find myself worrying a little about Randy.

The Hill Country was fun, but for Randy, there is much to consider.  As a double lung transplantee at 9 months post, there are issues that must be planned for.  We need to be sure he has all of his medicine, and plenty of masks to keep out germs or pollution, or whatever.  I wanted to go rafting on the Guadalupe, but ended up not doing it for fear of Randy falling in.  Randy is immuno-suppressed so his body won’t reject his new lungs, but this opens up other dangers of infection and illness.  He is not permitted in lakes or rivers, but he is allowed in the ocean.  Now, what about Alpine lakes and rivers?  I’ll have to research that. Besides, I’m the one who falls out of rafts and boats, not Randy.  I’m sure he can stay inside the vehicle, so to speak.

Randy is 50 times more likely than you or I to get skin cancer.  Yes, you heard me correctly.  50 TIMES MORE LIKELY. That is downright scary.  And anyone who knows Randy knows how much he loves the sun.  This is a guy who loves to lie in the sun, basking, without sunscreen.  He cannot do that anymore.  His skin is paper thin, any time he bumps into something or scrapes against something, he is injured.  Band aids are  necessary items, along with antibacterial wipes.  A friend who is a diver and a quadriplegic familiar with infection risk recommended we carry the same soap and scrub doctors use, and that we used at the hospital.  I think that is a great idea, and I plan to do that on our upcoming travels.

Exploring northern California puts us within range of the University of California San Francisco, a leading lung transplant center.  It is good to know we’re not too far.  I found a boat for a dinner cruise and to watch fireworks on July 3.  I’ve also booked whale watching out of Moss Landing, near Monterey.  A special tour of the Monterey Bay Aquarium is on the schedule as well.  We meet friends in San Francisco who will travel with us to Shelter Cove, so we are also looking forward to that!  You can bet I’ll be posting photos as I look for seals, sea lions, otters, whales, and all other animal life I can find.  Maybe we’ll see a bear when we go to Lake Tahoe!  If we do, I’ll be taking photos of it!