Part 1: Motoring to San Diego, enroute to Hawaii, 05.01.10 *****
Part 2: Washington and Oregon, Enroute to San Diego & Ship 05.01.11 ****
Part 3: Klamath Lake, and then on into California, 05.02.25 *****
Part 4: The Ship ms Ryndam, Holland America Line, 05.02.26 ****
We drove directly to San Diego over four days, without much time off, or much rest, and we were both getting pretty tired of travelling by car. We arrived and
spent the night in a hotel almost right across from the pier where our ship was
to dock.
Last time we were here Ben scouted out a fenced and guarded lot where we could safely leave our little blue car with cold weather luggage we didn't need on the
ship locked inside. I rested in our hotel room while Ben went to park the car and walked back to the hotel. He bought some food and we had some fruit salad and made a light supper in our room. The hotel was nothing special. It was acceptable, and provided what we needed. It was near the ship and near a place where
we could safely leave the car.
The next morning our ship docked at 7:55 am and it was a pleasure to see it there looking so completely shiplike as Holland America ships do, and so friendly and waiting for us. We breakfasted in our room on fruit, cereal and coffee and then drove our luggage to the ship's baggage hall at the pier. Even though it was
just across the road it was across four lanes of traffic, and that was the easiest way to accomplish things. Everything near the shore was very well-guarded against terrorists.
I waited with our luggage in a big white, airy tent of an embarkation lounge while Ben walked back from the car. I wore a tomato red jacket which seemed to be much admired. Somebody softly sang "Lady in Red", which was flattering and made
me feel pretty. :-) We showed our passports, and received cabin tickets, and keys. Photographers took our pictures, as they did of everyone, and we boarded.
Walking up the big gangplank is always a thrill. A wonderful, fresh time at seais about to begin, and the feeling of anticipation is marvellous. Uniformed officers and staff welcome you as you enter the ship. Ben and I went to the Lido Deck for lunch. Last time we boarded too late and lost that chance to sit over the ocean and eat a pleasant lunch. Our luggage was waiting at our stateroom door
when we got there. The television inside was, as usual, tuned to the ship's channel which was anouncing the mandatory lifeboat drill at 4:15 pm. So were the ceiling speakers in the hall. I hung away my clothes, put on warm clothes and my
life jacket as instructed so that I could withstand immersion in the icy North
Atlantic in December if necessary, and stepped out of our door, a
afew steps to the right, and then out a deep-silled sea door and around the corner on the deck, and there was my lifeboat station under lifeboat #9. At noon Ben had a white face, but he looked much better at dinner after he had a rest. He
was too tired for the obligatory lifeboat drill but I got away with answering for both of us when our name and cabin number was called. These drills are serious, but he needed the rest more, and he really already knew what he was supposed
to learn. At dinner he looked much better.
The first evening is always casual dress. We met our four table-mates. At 8 pm
we undocked and by 8:46 we were steering a west south westerly course on the North Pacific Ocean, heading out for Hawaii. Of course we were on the topmost deck, at the bow of the ship, to watch the mainland get lost in the distance.
It quickly became very windy up there but we were among the last to leave.
That night the sea was rough and the ship's stabilizers were constantly and noisily at work, but even with their help there was still quite a pitch. I love to
lay in bed in the dark as a ship rocks a long way to one side, and then a long way to the other. That night the pitching made us both queasy but I had fortunately, and for the first time, packed some powdered ginger capsules I happened to
hhave around and saw at the last minute before I closed my case. They promptly dispelled all queasiness. Ben was surprised at himself, since he's never felt the least bit seasick before. And he has experienced a lot of travel by ship. I used the capsules often on the rough trip over, and I'll be sure to pack them in the future.
I told a suffering crew member about them and gave him a few to try. Lots of people suffered from the rough sea. It was caused by a big winter storm to the north. Our cabin steward said trying to maintain his balance while he worked put
a lot of strain on his legs. He was a sober, serious middle-aged Indonesian named Mat.
Next morning Ben awoke promptly, as though he had to get up and drive again. Sohe went out and walked twice around the deck in a high wind. Then he wastoo tired to do anything more. He tried to sit in a steamer chair in that windbut it was too much, so he had to come in.
The second night there were still high waves and swells. We managed formal dress for dinner, and staggered to it safely. My outfit was a long skirt, silky sleeveless top and a shear, embroidered and beaded Indian jacket that I bought in relatively poor condition, and refurbished. It was much admired by my tablemates
. It always tickles me when something I've fixed gets compliments.
I wrote in my journal, "our dinner table people are lively. There is 90 year old Joe, a Hollander, his younger American wife, whose soft voice seems to melt into the beckground chatter and music. Her name's "Lu". A crisply bearded university business professor, retired from San Luis Obispo University and his wife, also a business prof are the second couple. She is a blond with very dark eyebrows and striking blue eyes. Powerful eyes, not dreamy blue eyes. They're now from a northern area of the USA now.
They seem to be hot, staunch Republicans." They immediately checked us out on our Canadian attitudes towards Americans and I put them at ease, partly for my own comfort and partly for theirs. Joe seems to be a joyous Christian. He says "
only God can fix the world and the Middle East. (Israel)." He says he knows the
prophecy about the return of the Jews to the Holy Land has been fulfilled.
The male prof's family came to America in 1636. His ancestor was Governor Bradford. Quite an honourable American lineage. He asked me about the possibility of
our province of Quebec separating from Canada. I was very neutral on that. I did give the table quite a hunk of information about Islamic history as I've been
reading it lately. The prof's wife, Lara, gets seasick easily and so she wasn'
t at the table the second night. Ben looked handsome and distinguished in his tuxedo. We staggered back to our stateroom soon after dinner, instead of to the
theatre for the welcome and show, because the thought of sitting through entertainment with the heavy sea swells rolling us around didn't appeal to us at all.
This morning Ben went out at 7 am for coffee and to read Mitchener's historical
novel about "Hawaii" which he's enjoying again. I had breakfast about 9:30 in the Lido with a chance tablemate, Cheryl, from San Diego, who just split from her
long time partner (and boss,) and is looking Hawaii over as a place to live. We walked to the Van Gogh Theatre together to hear the first Feng Shui seminar.
I had a good light lunch with Ben in the Lido, and then it was back to the cabin
again for both, for a rest as we're *still* recovering from the trip down. Ben
went to the seminar about digital cameras, later on. Tonight is informal. I notice the staff love it when people dress appropriately. It really makes a difference to them.
I bought a very wide-brimmed green straw hat for Hawaii. The woman giving the Feng Shui seminar is interesting and I have good notes because it's my habit to take notes in talks, but I won't include them here as you probably know more about Feng Shui than she does. Her seminars, all seminars on the ship, were interesting and well attended.
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