Location map 3.55 am

Well the lifeguard said that the pool was 38 degrees and the water coming in might have been, but it definitely didn’t stay that warm for any time at all. It was very bouncy again with water hitting the top of the steps occasionally. It did look like it was steaming though with the warm condensation hitting the cold air! Not many braved the pool, I did see one bikini clad lady dip a toe in and then disappear off to the hot tub! A young Japanese girl who did get in for a short time said it was a natural wave pool. It sure had some waves today!

I was a bit late for brunch as it had taken longer than usual to do my 45 minute set of exercises as I had to keep stopping to stay balanced. It was over an hour before I got out. The shower in this room isn’t as nice as the others, it keeps varying between hot and cold!

Something a bit different happened mid afternoon. The ship turned around as there was a medical emergency and someone had to be taken off the ship. We had to return to an emergency designated area and wait for the Canadian Coast Guard’s helicopter to pick up. It must have been nearly 5 hours. So we are going to be late for our 1 pm docking at Juneau. I have an excursion booked for then as well, so we find out in the morning what is happening.

It was a grey and rainy day, with the fog horn going at times too.

Spoilt again with some goodies, and Miss Piggy as a towel animal!

Happy Mother’s Day again.

Location maps 2.30, 3.30 and docked.

Had a dreadful night, don’t think I slept more than a couple of hours in short snatches. Anyway, the last morning of cruise 2 & the first night of cruise 3 so didn’t get much done as had to wait around for a new door key, wait for the new room to be ready and then wait to meet the new room attendant. Funny thing is the room is exactly the same configuration as the other two were. However, I am on the other side and at the front, so now the pool is basically above my head and the food is at the other end of the ship. I’m also travelling backwards when sitting at the laptop.

Here’s the panorama from the balcony.

It’s still cold and overcast, so here’s hoping the cloud clears a bit, things look so much better with a bit of sun!

Here is a photo of Seattle retreating in the background and a few photos of the land we’ve been travelling past.

And here is a photo I took last night as the light was finally fading, you can see mountains amongst the clouds!!!

Location map 2.30 am

I forgot to take one when we were docked. But here’s the panorama from the balcony.

I did overdo it today, managed 4 times my usual steps for the day. Was quite stuffed when I got back to the ship, lol. I had a tour to the Butchart Gardens. It was a 45 minute bus trip with a very knowledgable driver, pointing out all sorts of things. The gardens themselves are a private concern but are over a hundred years old in the making, with a huge amount of staff and looked like an enormous amount of tourists! They were very well maintained and cared for. We had 2 hours in which to wander around, but I only got about a third of the way before getting back to the bus on time!

It was actually a good time to visit as being spring, things were blooming. Rhododendrons, bluebells, tulips, heather, lilacs, and so much more.

It had originally been a limestone quarry, but when the limestone ran out Mrs Butchart turned it into the sunken garden

I had to go back to my room when back at the ship to get out of coat and trousers as it’s not exactly warm out! Lunch was lateish again! I was supposed to have started packing, but didn’t. Had dinner with Carl and said goodbye to him there as he’s getting off early and I’m staying onboard. There aren’t any tours of Seattle, only a scenic trip to the airport!

I have to be out of the room by 8.30 am but my bags have to be outside by 10 pm tonight so I suppose I’d better get started as it’s 8.30 pm now!

I couldn’t resist the bumblebee in the heather!

Location map

No sunrise again, too many clouds. It was 9 degrees this morning and the pool was sort of warm in spots. However, it was very bouncy again and got quite rough at times. I actually quit 5 minutes before the end of my usual stay as it got quite nasty. Didn’t want one of those poor lifeguards jumping in to rescue me, lol. Lots of swell out on the ocean and the ship has been bouncy all day.

Here’s a photo of the Wind Jammer dining room as they are closing up this side for the lunch setup.

The inside of the ship is comfortably warm, except near the doors leading outside, those foyers are not so pleasant.

Carl joined me for dinner after his gym session. He’s been doing lots of planning for his Canadian tour. He said he even has bear spray as well as insect spray!!!

Here’s another of those unsigned displays.

Probably won’t see the sunset tonight as it’s at 9 pm. Just a bit late for me, but looking out at the clouds, not going to see much anyway, so here’s it at 7.30.

Location map and lack of sunrise 6 am!

A very grey start ot the day, horizon filled clouds! The pool was a little warm, but you have to take a shower before getting into the pool and that was very cold indeed. Quite windy and only 12 degrees, but I think the wind chill factor must have been nearer zero, lol. Pool wasn’t too rocky either as you can see the ocean was quite smooth again. Not so much this evening, a bit of rocking going on now.

Stayed an hour in the pool which was an extra 15 minutes, too scared to get out, LOL. At least the interior of the ship is heated now as well so it wasn’t too bad getting back to my room and that lovely hot shower.

This is a portion of the corridor I use to get to and from the pool. I’m about half way down it, so much the same behind me!

There are also displays in the corridors, but they have absolutely nothing in writing to say what they are for or contain.

Once again a quiet day. Caught up with Carl at dinner. Another hour forward on our clocks tonight. Sunset was also nothing much as too many clouds still around.

Location map

Had a bad night, so no sunrise this morning, as I slept through it! The pool was only lightly heated, so didn’t stay in as long as I usually do, however I had asked Carl to pop by and get a photo to prove I’ve been in the pool, LOL Icy wind again!

The pool was actually very quiet today, none of the regulars in the deck chairs! Getting too cold for them. The water also was quiet. Not much of a swell out there today, the ocean was very flat.

Just mooched along doing the usual once again! It would be nice if there wasn’t a bank of clouds on the horizon at sunset time!

Location map (6 pm) and sunrise colour 5.30 am

I usually sit out on the balcony, after the sunrise, for a couple of hours or so and do the location map at the same time. Well it’s getting too cold to sit out first thing! So I snapped the sunrise colour and went back to bed, forgetting the location map until dinner time, sorry!

There wasn’t much heat in the pool this morning, just enough to take some of the chill out of the water. It’s the icy wind when getting out that’s more of a problem. Not sure if this is going to continue much longer, lol. Mind you I’m quite amazed at myself for what I have managed to do pool wise.

The day just disappears. By the time I’ve been to the pool, showered and had brunch it’s usually getting on for 11 am. Then a bit of family tree, games & reading, more family tree and it’s time for dinner. I joined Carl tonight, as I’m quite a bit slower than he is getting there, LOL.

Here’s a photo of deck 5 from deck 7. Not quite sure why it turned blue, must have been something to do with the glass I photographed it through, even though it doesn’t look blue visually, the camera obviously sees something else.

Also, here’s the latest towel animal, a seal. We have another time change tonight, Perth will be 16 hours into the future!

Location map 7 am

We had to go forward another hour last night, and as I was awake half the night, it was 7 before I woke properly and I had missed the sunrise. However, I hadn’t missed the pool opening at 8. They were a little late as they were having problems removing the netting which is used overnight. It hadn’t had warmed water pumped in for very long so it was slightly chilly in spots. Once again it was very bouncy but a different bounce to the last session, maybe we were hitting the ocean swell at a different angle.

After brunch I went down to the excursions desk as I hadn’t been able to book a tour in Victoria (Canada) before I left home. Sorted that and then back to my room for, guess what, rest and relaxation, LOL.

I did finish the jigsaw, as Carl didn’t like it overly much, I couldn’t just leave it partly done!

Carl popped into the dining room to grab some water, all hot and sweaty after his gym session. He sat and chatted for a while before heading off for a shower and a late dinner! The sunsets are getting later too, so was back in my room after dinner to get it.

Location map and sunrise 6-6.30. The sun appearing from behind the island of Hawaii.

All the misty stuff floating over the island is vog. Volcanic emissions reacting to sunlight and oxygen, basically volcanic smog. It is permanent in this area with the active Kilauea Volcano. They are expecting another eruption in a few days time.

We had to catch the tender again to get to shore. I had booked a glassbottom boat excursion, so then hopped onto another boat. the Marian. She was built by the guides’ father, in their backyard on the island. First off there was a large pod of spinner dolphins in the bay. We cruised over a couple of areas of coral reef. These were formed by corals growing on volcanic rock.

Lots of pretty fish, especially the bright yellow tang. Only thing with looking down is that you see the tops of everything. Until a swirl of water push the fish to their sides. There were long-spined sea urchins as well.

There were manta rays too, but hard to photograph. The ship looked good through a port hole!

Back on board for lunch and some relaxation! Then caught up with Carl at dinner. He had already eaten, so he kept me company while I had mine. We have 5 days of cruising now to Canada & the US. It’s getting close to the end of holidaying!

Location map and hint of colour 6.12

The pool was nicely heated again and not as bouncy as the last time. But still a swell or two to contend with occasionally. It did try raining a few times, but nothing much happened. However, the wind was icy when out of the pool and wet!

I had a bad night, didn’t sleep much at all, so after brunch I tried napping, but not to much avail. Here’s hoping tonight is better. Watched the Napali Coast pass by, read, played a few games, did some family tree, what a way to occupy ones time. LOL.

The Nāpali Coast State Wilderness Park, located on the northwest side of Kauaʻi, Hawaii, is a breathtaking 16-mile stretch of towering sea cliffs (pali) up to 4,000 feet high, deep narrow valleys, and waterfalls. Accessible only by air, sea, or a rigorous 11-mile hiking trail, it is renowned for its remote, pristine beauty and volcanic, rugged terrain. The ship went along the coast, then turned around and came back so balconies on both sides had a view. However, it was a bit like the New Zealand fjords, too much moisture hanging around making visibility very poor.

Managed to bump into Carl as he was coming down the stairs from the gym and I was heading for the elevators after dinner, bowl of fruit salad in hand.

The ship has definitely got more rocky as the day has gone on. When I went out to see if there was a sunset, there was a very strong breeze and white water rushing from the front.