David's Cruise

Who would have thought that just a few hours ago, the uninspiring vista that is San Pedro, and Los Angeles suburbia beyond was lit up by exploding fireworks as Independence from Britain was celebrated with typical enthusiastic fervour. No visual evidence even hints at last night’s annual nationwide celebration.

The skies are grey and mountains of stacked containers are this morning’s backdrop. Tours to more glamourous parts were on offer, but seeing the outside of an “A-lister’s mansion is less inspiring to me than the cranes and containers which dominate the view from the Lido, where I enjoyed breakfast. No doubt, I shall venture to the Queen Mary for possibly, a final pilgrimage.

Distant fireworks last night.

Views from Deck 9 aft, this morning after a late and prolonged breakfast.

You wouldn’t have guessed it, I am once more, and possibly for a last time, on board the Queen Mary in Long Beach. The grey of the morning soon burned off to reveal the warmth and blue skies one associates with southern California. It remains popular tourist attraction with those irritating but necessary gimics to raise funding to (excuse the pun) keep this project afloat. It is, in fact 52 years since Queen Mary was withdrawn by Cunard and went to Long Beach to become a unique place to visit. The Promenade Cafe is busy and waiting in line is necessary. My tomato soup turned up not very warm. It was replaced by a fresh bowl, only just acceptable. However, the staff are rushed off their feet and further complaint might have been counter productive. The turkey club sandwich did the trick but was probably not the fare I should live on!

I saw a few parts of the ship I hadn’t come across on previous visits. However, I am more concerned about getting back to our ship. Therefore, I will leave any further exploring for another time, or, be more than satisfied with the visits to Queen Mary I have paid since 1991.

For whatever reason, I didn’t have the inclination or energy to walk all over the Queen Mary. It was very busy and had become increasingly shabby on the inside. Almost 50 years of being open to the public has taken its toll. If I am in this part of the world again, I will still stay on board. Externally, it does look pretty good…for the time being.

I returned to the QE in good time, but needed and took an afternoon power-nap.

We have new table companions who boarded today, a couple from Australia who are most sociable. When I arrived for dinner, Chris got up and introduced himself and his wife Sue. There may well be further “comings and goings” between now and the end of the voyage.

All the best,

David.

It’s still Independence Day here in California and after dinner we shall, on board Queen Elizabeth, have our own celebration with R.M.S Queen Mary as a backdrop along with fireworks let off in the night skies of Long Beach. I expect the open decks to be crowded. Nevertheless, I hope for a good view, and to be deafened by the pyrotechnic choreography in the California sky. There has been an earthquake today near Los Angeles, the biggest for 20 years with aftershocks. Thankfully, there are no reports of casualties and seemingly minimal damage. The epicentre was inland and therefore no disturbance at sea.

I have walked and relaxed most of this warm day, and for the first time, indulged in a little sunbathing on the open decks, and a little on my balcony.

The Boston Pops Fireworks Spectacular is being relayed across the U.S A. and to our ship. It’s three hours later on the east coast and already dark. The whole event is so overproduced and “long-winded” I am having difficulty keeping up, and maintaining interest. Commercials punctuate the broadcast with the frequency of rush-hour buses.

Dinner is served 45 minutes early to enable all “guests” to enjoy the extraordinarily rare event of fireworks, Queen Mary and today’s Queen Elizabeth coming together, not only on Independence Day, but on the 179th anniversary of the first Cunard sailing, from Liverpool this day in 1840 to Halifax and Boston. The fireworks on TV were ok, but the broadcast quality was very poor. So before it all wraps up, I am off to that early dinner! Service feels deliberately slow tonight; however, I did manage, just, to enjoy probably a best-ever fireworks display with noise and colour aplenty. I tried to take an image from the 15 minute video I made of the pyrotechnic display….not overly successful!

Back in my cabin, we are now at San Pedro Cruise Terminal, Los Angeles. Fireworks are going off all over the place – it’s like New Year’s Eve at home. I can enjoy the celebrations from my little piece of private outside space. It’s not cold, but certainly not humid.

But now, it’s July 5th. I have been on board since June 20th, and on vacation since May 31st. This has been a holiday of contrasts. I have no idea what will come to fruition tomorrow in L.A. I really ought to revisit Queen Mary just one more time.

All the best,

David.

This won’t be the first time I have been in the U.S.A. at the time Americans celebrate independence from Great Britain back in 1776. Was it really six years ago that I watched the celebratory fireworks from a pleasure boat in New York’s Hudson River? Later today, we shall be within clear sight of the former Cunard liner R.M.S. Queen Mary at Long Beach as that city’s fireworks decorate the night sky with colour, choreography and explosive cacophony. I cannot get enough of such occasions!

I slept well last night despite several wake-up calls of nature. And today, the morning grey is already giving up its fight with blue skies and clearing views of the California coast off our port-side. And now, oil field platforms (I think that’s what they are) tarnish the image I once had of southern California of pristine countryside and endless warmth. Nevertheless, California does have that laid back “feel good” ambience, much celebrated in vintage pop music.

Dinner tonight is retimed to 7.45 to allow everybody on board to view the fireworks.

Last night’s show in the Royal Court was very well performed by what I would call an “Andrews Sisters” tribute act who brashly serenaded their audience through an over adjusted P.A. system. It was a convincing performance, with wonderful American patriotic fervour which offended a small few who “legged it”. Tonight, they will be belting out the U.S. National Anthem, outside on deck 9. (We lost that one 243 years ago!)

Time for a deck walk – more later.

David.

The brochure advised early booking as this tour had a limit of 32 guests. I was on the phone immediately to secure my reservation.

I didn’t make a point of watching as we sailed under the Golden Gate Bridge at around 04.45hrs. We would dock at San Francisco at around 7am, by which time, I would be preparing for my day out on the Napa Valley Wine Train. Any shore excursion with trains as a main element of the tour will always attract my attention. And I was not disappointed. The commentary from our tour guide was informative and delivered in a pleasing way. Soon, we were left to enjoy the passing wine fields draped countryside, just having important landmarks brought to our attention. The train was fascinating. Vintage one hundred year old clerestory passenger stock was marshalled with carriages from more recent eras. High end cuisine and wine was served throughout the three hour experience over a round trip of 30 miles, including the locomotive changing ends.

Being late (01.00hrs) I just enclose a handful of images taken today.

Below, are pictures taken from on board Queen Elizabeth as we leave San Francisco.

Arrival at San Francisco today (3/7/19) marks my complete circumnavigation of the world on transport other than aeroplane.

1) QM2 World Voyage 2018, Southampton to New Zealand and Australia, out via west Africa and Mauritius, back via the Far East, Suez Canal and the Mediterranean.

Cape Town to Port Elizabeth was by bus. Adelaide to Melbourne was by local flights via Canberra.

2 and 4) I would travel from Melbourne back to Adelaide by train in March 2019.

3) San Francisco to Sydney, 2019 Queen Victoria World Voyage sector, February 2019

4) Melbourne to Adelaide March 2019 by train, The Overlander.

5) QM2 Transatlantic crossing 31/5/19

6) New York to Schenectady, Toronto, Jasper, Kamloops and Vancouver by rail. June 20197) Vancouver to Alaska and San Francisco, arrived 3/7/19.

I think that’s it; we are celebrating later today!

All the best,David.

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!

As you can see from my previous blog, the only other box ticked off my “to-do” list, which I didn’t mention, was to sample the SkyTrain for just one stop. The lunch I enjoyed with church member James became longer than anticipated and the only certain way to reach my ship on time was to use public transport.

U.S. Customs formalities were carried out before embarkation and although time consuming, at least these procedures won’t eat into our day at San Francisco.

Day after day, I have gazed upon tranquil seas and glorious landscapes as we sail from port to port. Tonight leaving Vancouver, the once dramatic countryside is less so, but no less easy on the eye. The sky is clear, but we are warned of 15 knot winds from the north west with temperatures pegged at 61 degrees Fahrenheit.

I reflect on this morning’s church service. There were so many reminders of St. John’s in Buxton. But the healthy size of the congregation in Vancouver wasn’t one of them! The Dean, in his homily, reminded me (& many of the congregation) of the Simon and Garfunkel song “Silent Night/Seven o’clock News” where the gentle melody of the well known Christmas carol and its comforting lyrics seem to lose the battle with a radio news bulletin of depressing and alarming content. I do hope my brief discussion with him after the service about this did not offend in any way; I found what he had to say was profound throughout, and that did remind me of St. John’s.

Arrival at Vancouver brought the curtain down on those whose Alaska voyage had come to an end. There has, as a result, been a slight change of occupants at our dinner table. Joan has left the ship to venture to New York (I think) to pick up Queen Mary 2 on which her son is a lecturer. Lynne and her mother, Carol have come to the end of their Alaskan adventure, and by now, Lynne will be reunited with her two small children…and thankful husband! A recent addition to our table has been “Top Sailor” Erma Klindt, whom I first got to know in 1998 when I joined her and her friend Doris Lorz at the Captain’s Table on QE2. Two people of (as yet) unknown far eastern origin have joined us. They are travelling as far as San Francisco. This gives us little chance to become acquainted. They have either signed up to, or are contemplating a world cruise next January. As for me, I do not recall much need for contemplation!

I have to remind myself of the extraordinary events so far on this journey; the danger being that so many experiences, treats, and events, so many scenes of immeasurable magnificence, glaciers, snow covered mountain peaks, forests, rivers, wild life and other pleasures can merge into something hard to remember. Will I remember, for instance, tonight after dinner, being serenaded by a string trio in the ship’s atrium. Mozart unamplified is a rare pleasure.

This 49 night voyage is divided into three segments. From what I gather, the first was between Vancouver and either San Francisco or Los Angeles, then to Ft. Lauderdale and finally from there to home. However, Cunard seem to have allowed guests to join and leaves at port of their choice.

Finally, those very long hours of daylight are consigned to the recent past as we head south. By the time we are in the vicinity of Iceland, the long hours of sunlight won’t be quite so remarkable. But the scenery may well compare well with what we enjoyed recently. There are numerous pleasures to anticipate. It will be good to re-acquaint myself briefly with San Francisco before heading out to the Nappa Valley Railway for a three hour train ride with lunch and wine tasting on board. Those who know me will expect me not to partake of the wine!

I have no plans for when we call at Los Angeles, but may well elect to revisit R.M.S. Queen Mary.

Finally, I have glanced through my recent blogs. While they document my journey adequately, electronics and technology beyond my understanding seems to re-space what I write. Occasionally, I will tidy up blogs that I have posted, even a long time ago. When, eventually, I have them printed in book form, they should look ok.

Many thanks or reading,

David.

I had plans for my final day in Vancouver. Being Sunday, I would attend Sung Eucharist at the small Cathedral directly opposite the hotel I stayed at when I first arrived not quite two weeks ago. I would then “do” the SkyTrain, as much as possible, and finally venture to Grouse Mountain for a panoramic view of the city. I anticipated that should make it in plenty of time for the 4pm sail away.

I arrived at the Cathedral with a good twenty minutes to spare. Sung Eucharist had been adapted for the traditional summer festival. The choir and church officials were in “west coast civvies.” I am assured that for most of the year, worship at Christ Church Cathedral is more formal, but still far removed from equivalent worship in the U.K. I enjoyed the service, and did not feel thousands of miles from home. In fact, I joined those who stayed afterwards, for a coffee. A member of the Parish Council, I presume, the equivalent of our Parochial Church Council befriended me; we talked until most people had gone home, and then continued the conversation over lunch at the Hotel Vancouver (formerly a Canadian Pacific hotel). It was a self service buffet, a kind of high-end all-you-can-eat occasion. It was most enjoyable and numerous personnel made us most welcome throughout our meal.It is now 5.55pm. Our ship has left the port and have just passed under the Liongate Bridge. It is a gorgeous afternoon and as ever, the surrounding landscape is clear and attractive.

All is not gone forever. I shall spend some days here at the end of August next year prior to a second and third voyage around Alaska and Japan.

Like St. Magnus in London, I would like to think I could make the occasional visit to Christ Church Cathedral.(above) Before the service, and the organ.

Leaving Vancouver. (above, and below)

I am quite sad to leave Alaska and the Pacific Northwest, but encouraged by the prospect of returning before the time I no longer want to travel. Lunch reminded me of those marvellous occasions with church members back at home.

With best wishes,

David.

Yesterday, I bade my own farewell to all that gorgeous and spectacular countryside that the remoteness of Alaska offers in unimaginable profusion. Hubbard Glacier provided the vivid climax of this most scenic of voyages. I have made a promise to myself to return for one final time, probably one that actually, I won’t keep. As this rural splendour faded into the horizon, we dived into some kind of sea mist which persisted well into the following morning. The muffled (in my stateroom) and mournful ship’s siren warned vessels every few moments of our presence within a ten mile radius. Outside, the ship’s whistle is anything but muffled. The mist cleared gradually to reveal leadened skies but still, a calm sea. Occasionally, what I thought were whales would make a tantalizingly spit-second appearance on the ocean surface.

A numbered edition of a book charting the history of QE2 has been on sale. Leather bound, just 150 copies exist; I assume this update on the former liner is also available in general format. The Captain had a signing event at 2.30 this afternoon. I bought three copies, one unsealed for future reference, signed by the Captain, one, also signed, as a present and one unopened for my Cunard archive, (or as a possible investment!)

29th June, 08 35hrs

I had a single course lunch in the Lido, and a sandwich and (dry) scone up there after a deck walk.

I have decided on a return to Alaska late next summer, but probably without the train ride across North America. Much will be a repeat of this year, but rather than returning eastbound, my intention is continue north to Anchorage and west to Tokyo from where I shall visit various ports of call before flying home from Tokyo.

Today I shall be in Victoria, Canada.11.27hrsOne of the better Cunard tours, a splendid afternoon tea served at 10.45hrs! I discovered the magnificent flavour of black tea. TWG 1837 (The Wellbeing Group). The bus tour around Victoria was pleasant and comprehensive. We travelled through most residential areas as well as to a point overlooking the city, and past the important sights. Apparently, The Empress Hotel also serves afternoon tea from 10am!

Here are some pictures taken this morning.

These pictures go some way to portraying how pleasant this part of the world is; I could not avoid the reflection from the bus windows!

David.

(The last of these pictures)Taken during the Wildlife and Brown Bear Search, 25/6/19. It is unusual for Mount Fairweather to be free of cloud or other obscuring weather conditions. At 10.30 that evening, from my cabin was an unobstructed view as the sun set. Here are some pictures taken this evening from my accommodation.