31st May: Day 1 “Journey of a Lifetime; among other things, across North America by rail.”

Surely, it can’t get any better than this.

It is Day 1 of 69 of a journey which begins with, a now, almost “routine” westbound transatlantic ocean crossing to New York, and then, a train ride of around four hours, to Schenectady for my first night on the North American Continent. Nevertheless, I remain as excited as I always have been, but perhaps, without having counted the days from months before. Mid morning the following day, I shall continue from Schenectady to Toronto on Amtrak’s Maple Leaf, continuing a journey I first took in June/ July 2013. From there, after 4 nights at The Royal York Hotel, it’s back on the train for a three days and a quarter, journey to Jasper in the Canadian Rockies where I am informed that mousse which roams the streets, should not be approached!The remainder of the journey to Vancouver, is by The Rocky Mountaineer travelling in daylight for two days, spending the intervening night in Kamloops. Three further nights ensue in Vancouver, before embarking Cunard’s Queen Elizabeth for a rare foray into Alaska, not usually in Cunard’s repertoire. The journey home, again on the Queen Elizabeth, is by way of Victoria, Vancouver, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Cabot St. Lucas-Mexico, Guatemala, Costa Rica, Panama, Aruba, USA, Canada, Iceland, Scotland and Ireland.The ambience in the cruise terminal this morning at Southampton was almost celebratory with people either returning home from their European and/or U.K. vacation, or travelling across “The Pond” either for the first or umpteenth time. I did meet one couple who would be making their way by train and car to Vancouver for the 49 night voyage home on QE, and another who were taking, not for the first time, a round trip, allowing just one day in The Big Apple. Core!

I am very pleased and impressed with my almost new (2016) single cabin on 3 Deck, where the photo gallery used to be. The accommodation resembles that of a decent hotel with two large circular windows separated by a spacious writing area. To my mind, this rivals the balconied staterooms which, although for double occupancy, seem to occupy little more area. For that reason, I declined the now rare opportunity for a complimentary upgrade.

As has become a more regular occurrence, my neighbour Roger, brought me down from home in my car, obviating the panic of being ready in time for trains, and assuring plenty of “wiggle room” to allow for the most catastrophic of possible events…within reason! Still being unready for a hoped for midday departure from home, we managed to avoid being caught up in a major accident which had occurred earlier. Congestion at embarkation was minimal and I am now safely on board awaiting my luggage.
History repeats itself; the compulsory life boat drill is taking place at muster station K in the Queens Grill, which was the location I was allocated when occupying cabin 4198 on QM2’s maiden voyage to Fort Lauderdale in January 2004. Could this a ploy by Cunard to encourage “guests” to book for higher grade Grills accommodation on future voyages?… I’m sure it isn’t!
Well, that’s another boat drill complete; soon we shall slip our moorings and the now familiar journey along the Solent will begin.The dull and cool feeling day of earlier, suddenly morphed into something more akin to the beginning of summer. I do like this single cabin, but, time will tell whether it’s a quiet part of the ship. I watched yet another sail-away, at the aft end on Deck 8, with the resident pop group belting out familiar melodies prompting occasional dancing, but not the full floor of previous “sail-aways”. But, the atmosphere remains convivial.There is little further to add. Watching through these big circular picture windows as we progress along the Solent creates another perspective to this familiar journey. In the near distance, I was able, eventually, recognise Portsmouth where my brother, Tommie, was a chemistry lecturer at the university. Opposite, and, obviously out of sight, on the starboard side, Ryde, on the Isle of Wight, where his remaining immediate family remain settled. I had become very “heavy-eyed” by the time we did cast off at around 17.45.

Note: Blogging is becoming less easy; photographs fail to upload and for some reason, the spacing of my script defaults to continuous writing with few gaps. This might be an “at sea” problem which may resolve itself later on. It might be, on the other hand, the limitations of my phone, or the non-paying deal I have with WordPress. Helpful comments always welcome!

Thank you for reading this.

David.