Victoria

I had a WHALE of a time today chasing Orca!

March 22, 2021March 22, 2021

I had a WHALE of a time today chasing Orca!

Orca Network is the amazing non profit that posts about the sightings. Then other people comment each time they move to a new location. Such a cool way to be able to capture these individuals. Who knew it was something so simple as a Facebook page could help you track the resident and transient population.

www.orcanetwork.org

I started volunteering with them in September 2020 and took some very educational classes via zoom. We got to learn about all the different types of whales that visit the Salish Sea. So far I have been able to see Orca as well as a Grey Whale that is visiting the area. There are a group of about 30 individuals that visit year after year. I am excited so see more as they begin to arrive in larger numbers. Last I heard it was up to 9 individuals identified so far! I don’t have a photo of them yet but its bound to happen any day now!

Living on Whidbey Island has been an adjustment of its own. I wouldn’t say its warm by any means. If you bundle up its very pretty, sometimes I even get out of the car! I know this is so sad. But I’m a very cold person and when that wind hits you its like I’m back in Chicago waiting for the bus at the lake front. I will say they don’t have Orca in Lake Michigan. I think they are one of my favorite animals.

They tell you to wait for Summer, it will be SO HOT …. they said …. Well I was here for Summer and it never actually got HOT here. This island has a natural island breeze but its also only 52 degrees out and then in true Washington fashion it will start to rain.

If you live in Washington or you are looking to put together a road trip across the state you should check out my post about the Coho Campground at Wynoochee Lake. You could spot Orca on the ferry across the peninsula. They are all over the Salish Sea and pop out when you least expect it.

Travel

Travel Like a Billionaire

February 25, 2021February 25, 2022

Travel has and always will be a passion of mine. I would like to share that passion here with you on TRAVEL like a BILLIONAIRE and show you how to travel like a billionaire for FREE or close to it. My goal is to show you how to travel the world like a billionaire but with points and miles. Yes you read that right points and miles. I have been traveling like this since 2008 starting with Kris-crossing the United States then I set my sights on foreign lands.

Did you know that by signing up for a specific credit card timed with your normal charge of your car insurance you can be already over the minimum spend amount needed for a 100,000 point bonus? Check out my How to page here and if you are ready to get started answer my 5 questions and email me your answers.

So here is the big question …. How to TRAVEL like a BILLIONAIRE? In less than a year I was able to earn Medallion Status with Delta Airlines. I want others to know how simple it is to achieve this and so much more!. This is not an ad. This is not a commercial. It’s my real life. By using specific cards in conjunction with your planned trips for 2021, 2022 or even 2023 and beyond you can rack up a slew of miles and use them for free flights, upgrades and even Dom Perignon! < – – – YES! That happened at the Delta Sky Club in LAX. I was able to have my first sip of Dom thanks to a few miles that I had in my account!

This is the part where some will shame you for what you do with those points and miles once you earn them. I think as long as it brings you joy and maybe to a new place that works for me! This is also the part where people will disagree with what card or cards you should be using. This brings me back to my first 2 points. As long as it brings you joy and maybe to a new place that works for me! There are a few things I think you might want to know before you go off and apply this but that’s just me. The Chase 5/24 rule, what is a referral link and thinking that annual fees are not worth it just to name a few. I started my travel hacking journey back in 2008 when I had an American Airlines Citi Advantage card. I used those points to fly from Chicago to Los Angeles in May 2009 when my grandfather was admitted into hospice. I originally booked the flight to come home 4 days later but after talking to the airline I was able to keep an open ended ticket and come back after my grandfather passed. This allowed me to spend almost 2 months with my family and the flexibility to come home when it was time. I have booked so many flights with points and miles since then I have lost count. I have also used them to get my favorite magazine subscriptions sent to my house. The best advice I can give to someone just starting this journey is research, research, research! I can not say it enough, I have learned some mistakes the hard way myself but I have also seen the mistakes others have made and then shared with the community.

So join me at TravelLikeaBillionaire.com or on any of the fun social channels!

Travel

Active Duty Service Members and Dependents

December 22, 2020December 22, 2020

How many people do I know that are Active Duty in the military or know someone who is?

Your going to want to read this.

Have you ever heard of something called the Military Lending Act? Or Service Members Civil Relief Act?

I called Chase and they confirmed Active Duty gets all annual fees for credit cards WAIVED!So then I called Bank of America about my Alaska Airlines card. They asked would I like a statement credit or a check for my annual fee I paid in August when opening the card.And now the crown jewel … American Express my love who I have paid a $550 annual fee to this year. I believe $250 last year and possibly $199 the year before. They are now processing my request and I will be notified with a decision. Fingers crossed, that all the amounts are in the form of a check in my mailbox in 2021!

Do you have a credit card that you paid an annual fee to while active duty? You might want to call them and ask them about MLA and SCRA. You could also have a check coming to you in 2021!

HAPPY CHRISTMAS

For more information on what it’s like to travel in 2020 check out my latest post https://torsadventures.com/2020/12/14/traveling-in-2020/here.

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