I am thankful for two sea days between Vancouver and San Francisco, enjoying a much needed lie-in today. Dining times have returned to normal now that the Alaska part of the journey is now over. Gone is all that magnificent scenery for day after day, and now, the hours of daylight are more realistic. I therefore didn’t miss my breakfast this morning, now that closing time in the Lido is back at 11am! And probably, the dinner buffet up there will end later also.Outside, the seas appear calm in various shades of grey, colour co-ordinated with a leadened sky. I am neither surprised, or disappointed.I shall have lunch with former table companion Erma thus using our Diamond status vouchers in the Verandah. Off and on, we go back around 20 years.(2nd July, 09.38hrs) Day 33/69The afternoon was brighter yesterday, and when the sun was out, warmer. But I did not object to the cooling influence of the predicted north westerly breeze which came to fruition. I just managed to achieve my walking target before 16.00hrs (midnight at home).This morning, for the first time, a slight disadvantage to having a cabin aft on Deck 8 became apparent. I was awakened at around 6.30am by the sound of what might have been deck furniture being moved, above, which is a public area. This went on for half an hour. Today, the weather appears identical to that of yesterday, and my plans are merely to relax and walk most of the day. I will join Denise and Erma for lunch in the Britannia Restaurant. They seem to have “hit it off”. Erma at 90 remains the interesting and agreeable company I remember from twenty years ago.
I shall add to this later in the day. The weather brightened up much earlier; outside, and blue skies have reigned since mid-morning.After lunch with Denise and Erma in the Britannia Restaurant, I joined Ken and Eileen for afternoon tea with her daughter and son-in-law.For the first time (up to now, 6.25pm) I have not used the lifts. Climbing from deck 1 to 9 was somewhat of an effort! Although it was a fine clear and warm afternoon, the sea was choppy, but with northerly winds from behind, turbulence was hardly noticeable.During the afternoon, I caught the end of a good live concert recording, but was unfamiliar with the symphony (I presume) being played. I did guess Mahler to begin with, but was far from sure.I joined Eileen, Ken and family for a very different show in the Royal Court. It was in the form of a gypsy musical with familiar chart music adapted to the style of simple unsophisticated music. These rural arrangements highlighted the talent behind the lyrics and melodies which originally were drowned or lost in noisy contemporary technology. I have to be in the Queens Room at 8.30 tomorrow for a long day out to the Napa Valley Railway. Those two sea days passed very quickly! We bade farewell to the Asian couple who I ascertained were from Hong Kong, but resident in Vancouver for some years. At Los Angeles, we bid farewell to Marycil who joined us a day after we left Vancouver. We also wish “Top Sailor” Erma good luck as she takes herself to New York to re-join the ship.
More news and perhaps pictures, tomorrow.
David.
Smile!
David's Cruise 