Part One of Day Four

The doors to the bow of the ship were opened for our viewing opportunities.
Really warm layers of clothing were needed to go outside.
Another cruise ship was making the same trip into the inlet with us.
Catamaran pulled alongside our ship to take some fellow travelers on a tour.
You couldn't help but stay by the railing in anticipation of seeing more.

Amazing views of changing scenery unfolded with each mile traveled.
Really great chance to see lots of ice drifting and breaking as we passed by.
Mountains rising straight up out of the sea!

Another Brief Interlude

You know how some mornings start out and you are a bit "foggy"? Well this wasn't foggy and our town, soon to be city's too small to be "smoggy". This was B.C. "smoky" coming over the mountains. Yes - it was very smoky here for a few days. Pray for rain to cut down on the airborne ash and soot when you really didn't want more moisture this summer? Glad the smoke didn't last too many days and very glad they got the rain where they really needed it!!

Day Three

Day Three on our trip to Alaska,
We awoke to waters quite rough.
But we knew that an ocean in motion
Could produce a day that's quite tough.

By ship, we take what is offered.
It's all in the course of the tour.
With wind and sky you must look out
And realize it's what you signed on for.

The service of song and prayer started
With curtains wide open to the sky.
While the waves tossed about our poor vessel
As Church goers we swayed with each sigh.

Though food still seemed quite appealing
With not one of us flat out in bed.
A Kitchen Tour and then Chef's demonstrations
With carved penquins and roses of red.

Listening to the Vista Lounge Speakers
We discovered their yattering quite boring.
We didn't want to hear more about diamonds!
But we didn't dare go to sleep and start snoring.

"Dutch Tea" later was really quite tasty,
With tray after tray of various sweets.
No Boterkoek though for the tasting
But we had many other tempting Dutch treats.

A walk around the ship in the fresh air
Burned calories and cleared our heads too.
In preparation for another Formal Dining
Experience. The first of just two.

Walking to and from the night's floor show
Was an experience too funny for words.
With laughter and arms held out sideways
We could only uncontrollably swerve.

Back in our rooms we took Gravol
And lay quietly, not hoping for more
Than to find ourselves awake in the morning
To skies clear and seas calm, Day Four.

Day Two

On Day Two of our trip to Alaska we found ourselves safely on board, with little thanks to a taxi driver who squeezed four adults and numerous pieces of luggage and carry-on into his little Toyota Prius. What was he thinking cancelling our other driver (with a van) and taking this one himself! It was only a short trip from the Chev dealer in Vancouver to Canada Place, but without a bungee chord holding the trunk lid down we would have arrived without something for sure!

Breakfast at Starbucks surrounded by flowers and sunshine and bustling office workers was actually very relaxing, finally!

Sitting in neat straight rows with fellow passengers waiting to board the ship was painfully slow! It would have been boring as well if we didn't strike up conversation with those next to us.

Finding our stateroom finally and stepping out on the balcony was exhilerating!

Having our first Mariner's Lunch with another couple was stretching but satisfying knowing we could carry on conversation with complete strangers and come out smiling at the other end.

Exploring the ship and becoming acquainted with our new "home" for the next week was fun!

Pulling away from dock and sailing under the Stanley Park Bridge was filled with anticipation.

After an excellent supper we took some time to relax before the evening show. The skies were clear and cloudless. The sea was deep and dark and calm. The air was warm and very pleasant. In the distance we could see possible rain clouds. Not even they could dampen our spirits. They weren't raining on our parade right then and there so they were of little concern to us. We had made it safely to the ship and capable hand were tending to our vehicle woes.

We were now on our way to a relaxing and fun-filled week with wonderful company, ready to live moment to moment and enjoy every one!

THERE'S OUR SHIP!


PULLING AWAY FROM DOCK!


"UNDER THE BRIDGE"


GOOD-BYE TO VANCOUVER AND TO CANADA!

You know you're getting tired when ...

More on Alaska later.

In the meantime - you know you're getting tired when .........

Day One to Alaska

Before summer truly began (if you can believe it has begun with weather like today's) we went on another adventure. Sure we've been to Alaska before - but I think we could visit many times over and experience new things every time! Somehow I don't think we are done going to the far north. At least as far as a cruise ship takes us.

It's been over a month since we first left! With today being a windy, rainy day closer to Fall than Summer (brrrr) it feels like a writing/reading sort of day! Time to Blog! We left for Alaska on June 11th (the day after B's big convocation celebration!) This time we were traveling with C & J. Right at the beginning of these adventure stories let me say they are good traveling companions. Fun and willing to go with the flow as the first story will tell you!

(Can you tell they are brothers? We heard that many times over during our days on board the Zuiderdam!) Without realizing it you could drive right across this new bridge and miss the immensity of it's planning and construction. That small "thing" going across is a tandem semi! That gives you a bit of perspective.

After a few stops for breakfast, ice-capps and gas we were travelling the Coquiholla by later afternoon. We made good time - now the adventure. We began having vehicle problems. As it turns out we had a Fuel Injection Regulator Module give out. All we could think about was - we have to make it to the ship!

Regardless of the un-nerving circumstance with the vehicle, we had an enjoyable supper at a place called "Duke of Dublin". It may have been a converted old home in downtown Chilliwack - we weren't sure, or if it was new building. Either way the food was great as we sat out in a sun room enjoying the warmth of sunshine streaming through from the west. "Bangers & Mash" was passed by for a delicious choice of "Hot Turkey Pastry". One should never let the pressing concern of a vehicle stop the enjoyment of a tasty meal!

Our stay for the night was in a truly historic building. The Royal Hotel, even though being older, was being maintained to keep it's charm from years past yet provide comfort for the present day traveler. Tall deep windows may have looked out on stagecoaches making their way into town, or cowboys tired and ragged from a day on the trail looking for a place to rest (but not until a visit to the saloon down the road). Even with modern shops now peering across the street at the relic standing graciously in their midst, the Royal stood proudly as if to say, "I have stories to tell of things you have never seen nor heard". Pictures lined the lobby walls giving glimpses of these tales.


We even had the tiniest of balconies off our suite. The TV seemed a bit out of place though!

What would the next day have in store for us? We checked out our options for a GM dealer in the morning. Two choices, one in Chilliwack itself or chance the drive to Vancouver and leave the truck with a dealer just a mile from Canada Place. The latter seemed more appealing, if we could get it to work out. C & J graciously woke up early and we all missed breakfast til later so we could maximize our time to drive the hour or so to the more desirable choice of Vancouver. But that is another whole day to come! A restless night with lots of praying what to do brought us into Day Two of our trip to Alaska.

Years Later!

Many years ago when I was just a little girl my Daddy made me a doll crib. I still have it! Through the playing of many nieces and our own three boys it has survived. The girls probably used it as a doll crib (maybe even put their baby sister in it!) whereas our boys probably used it as a canoe - or a battle ship - or fighter airplane. Who really knows with the new adventures unfolding every day with three energetic boys. No matter what imaginary stories it created, it survived. The other day hubby pulled it out from under the stairwell in search of a tough tote of baby clothes long ago given to our son (now a Daddy himself.)

Not being sure what to do with the "doll" crib, but not willing to put it back into the dark recesses below the stairs, it was sitting in the play room downstairs when the need arose last Saturday for a comfy spot for a sweet new little girl to rest while her Mommy and Grandma painted on the new garage being built for her family. It worked just fine. Somehow I think her Great-Grandpa would have been proud to see the little one resting peacefully while busy hands around her worked til the days end. So there it will stay as long as needed in the coming months.