Author: Peg

I am perfectly happy to stay on the boat.

No problem with the view. However, the 6,000 passenger behemoth next door seems to be sucking up all the wifi in the area.

Grateful to have such a first world problem.  
Heading north tonight.

 

There are currently 6 cruise ships parked in the neighborhood. We are the smallest. Also oldest. Not a problem.

A totally cool, damp and gray day at sea.

But the coffee was hot and the drinks were cold.

Nassau tomorrow.

If the day gives you clouds. Enjoy them.

Enjoying this cloudy sea day. 

Perhaps i should fold some paper or maybe take a nap.

 

Slept late this morning.
Little rocking of the ship.
Totally dark and quiet interior cabin.

I am indulged with 2 visits to the Japanese restaurant per voyage.

Heading into Bermuda. The sea is all turquoise and wonderful. I will be getting my exercise on land this afternoon. Boat docks at 1430. Departing at 0930 tomorrow.

Wasn’t much interested in getting the off the boat. A nap and my book were  calling. But. I got off.

Think we have two sea days next. I am good at sea days.

  

A perfectly normal sea day on the floating shopping mall.

Suits me fine.
Walk 3 miles.
Read some.
Eat some.
Drink coffee.
Fold paper.

I made it into the isolated splendor of The Crown lounge.

Tables suitable for modest origami.
A fine espresso machine.
View of the ocean.
And No people.

Speaking of folding

Tomorrow Bermuda.

And Duck Woman remembered us.

I am not entirely certain that this is a good thing.

And here it is:
my interior cabin on Deck 3.

Apparently this cabin is designed for four people.

Or perhaps “state room” for four people.

In any case, they would have to be four people who liked each other very much.

I believe two more beds descend from the ceiling.

OK, this post is mostly a test to be sure that ship Wi-Fi works and that I can still update the blog from the phone.

Perhaps something more interesting will appear on tomorrow’s post.

Or not.

OK.
Enough already.
If I wanted this weather, I would move to Seattle.

All my cruise gear.

Total weight:
a hair under 15 pounds.

And does this matter for a cruise I am reaching by car?

Nope.

It matters because the next trip involves a couple of float-plane flights.

And every five pounds over the ten-pound carry-on limit costs fifty dollars.

Talk about an incentive.

I do not think I can get under ten pounds.
But under fifteen?
Probably.

And no, I am not planning to dress like the Michelin Tire Man.

Truth be told, the backpack contains a shocking number of “luxury” items:

a dead-tree book,
Bose headphones,
a generous supply of origami paper,
and a travel mug.

Clearly, I still have room for improvement.

Twenty-five years ago: 27 May 2001

The sun is still MIA.

I gotta get outta this place!

No, it is not the weather.

It is the soup.

Banana, Pineapple, Orange & Kale Soup

Honest.

It was actually on the menu.

So naturally, I asked Robot for assistance:

“Banana, Pineapple, Orange & Kale Soup appeared on the asylum menu. Please create an 800 x 800 pixel image to illustrate that horror.”

I never actually saw the soup.

And I am reasonably certain it was not that vile.

But I saw absolutely no reason to ask for a do-over.

As for the trip:
I just need to toss everything into the bag.

I think everything else is done.

Twenty-five years ago: 26 May 2001

I decided I had to ignore the weather and DO SOMETHING.

So:

Huge breakfast.
Bacon. Eggs. Waffles. Fried apples.
The result was an immediate food coma.

Then I went for a walk.
Never mind that it was drizzling.

Then:
Nap time.

Also, an exciting discovery:

I can get from Victoria to Vancouver by float plane.
If the weather is good, the trip should be fabulous.

And if the weather is bad…
Well.
It might be exciting.
Thirty minutes of sheer terror.

The only downside is that the Seattle-to-Victoria ferry leaves at 8 AM.
Ten AM would be far more civilized.
This is an extremely first-world problem.

I probably should not complain.

Twenty-five years ago: 25 MAY 2001.

Chill and damp does put one in the mood to prepare to sail south on Thursday.

And then there are the “theme nights.”

One of the evenings is “80s Night.”
I am entirely prepared for that.
I am 80s.

OK. Got that covered.

So now:
What about a “Summer Adventure”?

How am I going to escape DC and 47?
NASCAR? Cage fighting? Who knows.

I consulted ChatGPT, AKA Robot.
Robot suggested Victoria, BC.
Sounded reasonable to me.

Then I discovered that VIA Rail had a solo sleeper cabin available on The Canadian from Vancouver to Toronto on July 6.

These cabins usually sell out a year in advance during the summer.
There was exactly one available.
I wanted it.

That is when the fun began.

First, I had to log into the VIA Rail website, which I had not visited in years.
Password reset.
That should have been my warning sign.
Then my credit card was declined.

GRRRR.

Immediately, emails began arriving informing me that my card had been cancelled. Excellent.

So I launched an assault on Citi.
First chat. Then phone.

At one point, I may have yelled: “F-you!” at the automated phone system.

The automated phone system responded by hanging up on me.
On the third attempt, I finally reached an actual human being.

Important life skill:
Do not yell at the human.

I immediately switched to:

“Oh, I am so sorry. I am sure this was entirely my mistake.”

After five attempts, the human finally managed to force the charge through.

Oddly enough, I think the breakthrough occurred shortly after I said:

“Thanks for your help. I’ll just use another card.”

And now, dear reader, I am the proud owner of a Vancouver-to-Toronto VIA Rail solo sleeper cabin for July 6.

For the record:
The ticket is 100% refundable up until departure.

Most likely plan:

• • Fly to Seattle
  • Ferry to Victoria
  • Ferry to Vancouver
  • Train to Toronto
  • Fly back to DC

I last took the Canadian in August 2012, also traveling east.

Twenty-five years ago: 24 May 2001.

I like watching clouds. But then, I am very easily entertained.

Chilly and wet start to summer. I feel sure there is a lifeguard at the pool across the street – wearing a parka.

Do not do this to your orchids. 
Orchids – at least grocery store orchids – are tropical.
Just for giggles, I asked ChatGPT for help with this message.

I think “treat your orchid like a princess, not a polar bear” about sums it up!

As for me, I am enjoying a delightful lazy day. Absolutely zero reason to budge from my comfy chair.

Twenty-five years ago: 23 May 2001.