November 24, 2025

Kansas City, MO

Monday, Monday. There are not guarantees. It isn’t raining ye, but I suppose to before too long. I went to Winstead’s for breakfast. Two eggs up, hash browns, two sausage patties, and toast for $10.25. The price is good, the eggs, toast and hash browns were fine. The sausage patties not so much. But hey for $10.25 what more could you want.

The only assignment I have today is to pickup Oliver from the dentist about 13:00 and then take him to American Fire BBQ & Grilling Supply in Lee’s Summit. Apparently, he wants to smoke a turkey for Thanksgiving. There will be a traditional turkey, but IV bought a smoker this summer and Oliver wants to try a turkey. So, I watched some TV, had a cigar and waited for my pickup call.

It gone 13:00 when Oliver texted and said he was ready for pickup. Using the Jeep Renegade, I drove down to the plaza and connected with Oliver. The plan was for him to get a little more experience driving before his driving test on Wednesday, however, he was still a little out-of-it from the novocain from having three cavities filled.

It is all of 30 Km (20 Miles) to American Fire BBQ but most of it is on highway. Well the first part really isn’t “highway” but more like expressway. It is a divided road (Technically Highway 71) with two lanes or more in each direction and the occasional stoplight. IT eventually developed into a highway with three or four lanes in each direction and then connects to Interstate 470 which is a proper freeway. Not too many turns, but a lot of traffic in a vehicle I am not completely familiar with.

It did take us more than the thirty minutes that google said it should, but I was being overly cautious. The guys in the shop were great. They helped us pick out a rub, told him how to prepare the turkey, remove the breastbone and flatten the bird out, brine, and how to smoke it and for how long.

Driving back was much more of a challenge. The rain was pouring down. The Jeep seemed to find every puddle along the way to lose traction in. I didn’t like it at all. We made it back to the house.

George and V made risotto for dinner. Not bad, but a little too much onion for me. After dinner I had a cigar and then we went back to the apartment. I worked on entering everything in TripIt for the adventure to Jordan and Egypt. It is getting more and more exciting.

We both did a little packing and repacking. We have packed for Thanksgiving and Christmas in Kansas City, and for the expedition to Antarctica. So some of the clothing will stay here for our return. We are allowed one suitcase of 23 Kilos (50.7 pounds) and one of 8 Kilos (17.6 pounds). Strictly speaking that isn’t true. Going to Chile we can have three 23 Kilo bags, but going from Santiago to Porto Williams, the baggage is limited.

We are on Silver Sea Cruise Line this time. It is out first time on this cruise line. We aren’t completely sure of the dress code, but from reading it appears it is more upscale than Regent’s. I am not completely convinced the idea of an upscale dress code is for us, but we’ll see.

Half of each of our “big” suitcases is cold weather clothing. Most of which we picked up in Iceland. The rest is day clothing. Of course, there is another complication; the fact that Santiago is in summer, a low of 10C and a high of 24C (51F – 81F), Antarctica will be 0C (32F) and snowing. The temperature in Antarctica doesn’t seem to change much. But we have to be comfortable in both climates.

We played a game of cards and called it a night.

Buonanotte e ciao,

Enrico e Maria