Cruising

      In 2019, pre-COVID, busylizzy and I went on my first (her second) cruise. She was taken on a cruise by an employer a few years previously but left me at home. Willingly, I might add, as competing with her boss for the attention of any of the ladies including my wife was a situation I was not willing to engage in. 

     The cruise was to Alaska, and what I remember of it was quite lovely and a great time to spend with my grandsons and their parents. But three days of it are a blur as I spent most of that time in the tiny washroom memorizing the pattern on the tiled floor, while wondering if  I was going to live or die. There are few things in life nastier than a Norovirus. At one point, burial at sea seemed like a good alternative. 

     I recovered and now seemed the right time to again 'test the waters' as in trying cruising once again.  

     The thought came upon us suddenly and out of the blue as friends of ours were telling us that they were going on a Vancouver to Hawaii and back to Vancouver cruise in October. We love Hawaii and the thought of not having to fly to any of the destinations was very appealing. 

    With permission from our friends, we joined them, and embarked upon our Journey on October 5. 

     I am blogging about the trip so I do not forget some of the details and impressions of the trip on the Koningsdam, one of the beautiful ships in the Holland America line. 

   By late afternoon we were underway and saying goodbye to Vancouver and its beautiful cruise ship terminal. 

     When you pass under the Lion's Gate (First Narrows) bridge, you know it is real and there is no turning back. Many of us stood on deck to catch a last glimpse of  the Port of Vancouver. 

     As a bit of a photographer, I was wondering if all the colored leaves would be down when we returned. They were just starting in early October. 

     The seas were calm as I tried to remember if I had packed the seasick meds. 

     More to come.