Seaday 4
Another day on the high seas. After much research and soul searching i have decided that i spoke in haste in discussing the distance and speed of our vessel. I told our dinner table that we we traveling at about 10mph. Well, it is about 20 mph. I am sure i wasn't wrong just misunderstood... again.
We have decided that breakfast and lunch will be mostly salads. The menus are too good and the opportunity too great. We may gain many, many pounds if we are not watchful.
One of the many group activities on board was a presentation of things to do during our Spain ports. Pickpockets abound. Keep your money in your front pocket and purse over your neck and in front as well. Other than that the people ar friendly and helpful. Since most are regular people like you and me relax and have a great time. Then came the sales pitch for the various tours offered by cruise line. Tomorrow we learn all about the Pisa and Rome stops as well as the tours. Most of what we do on board is purchaseable(if that is a word). Prior to the presentation they presented a Bingo game with a $1000 pot. We didn't play, not that we didn't want to, we just didn't know. so now we read everything on the calendar. We will, also, visit the casino where you can put a dollar in a machine and have a chance to win $1000. Bet ya' that is easy to do!
Many "multi-cruise" people are amazed that Deb and i have taken an 18 day cruise as our first true cruise. We took one a long time ago but it was a short Miami-Bahama cruise so i don't count it. Well all i can say is that there is too much to do. You can eat 24 hours a day. Nap when ever and where ever. You can read in the same lounge chair you nap in and/or you can walk around the deck. Who could ask for more?
We have a varied cast of cruisemates from young to old. But for the most part, i am reminded of the line the young boy says to Traverse Cityite, Bruce Willis, in "6th Sense" (I paraphrase), "I see old people".
Looking forward to today we mark the halfway point of a Atlantic crossing.

Seaday 3

The above shows you how much time we have on our hands. Towel Art!!!!

Currently at 32.56N, 54.29W, Course 75degrees at 17.9kts, Sea Depth 18310ft. Cruise distance 1431 nm. Swimming home not an option!
Seaday 3 was a very busy day!
Firstly, we left the Bermuda triangle. Possibly, we left earlier but i just thought of it now. We did not experience any supernatural moments. No mysterious mists, time fluctuations, alien sightings or anal probings. I believe the "Triangle" musings to be myths... now.
Weather was calm, sunny and breezy, temps in 70's and winds around 20mph. Makes walking on the track a lot farther.Our day usually starts with in-room coffee then breakfast in the Sun and sea buffet then back to room then whatever. Yesterday we followed this routine and the whatever became the aft pool area for
some reading time. As i walked past the bar area where people sat with breakfast plates, a gentleman said, "don"? I had no idea who he was but he know me, further saying,"I am from Traverse City"! Turns out he is Tom Stoppel(name correction to follow when i get a proper spelling) who recognized me from the Old Town Playhouse. I won't go into his thoughts on my performances but he loves the playhouse and Traverse City. He retired as the Regional director of the Boy Scouts. His wife, Georgia, was just as excited when she
arrived. Tom and Georgia have sold their Tc home and are moving to Iowa to get closer to family. Go figure! They promise to return to TC for "Les Miz".
We walk the stairs as much as possible and walk, walk, walk. Too much food and to little self-control.
Last night I attended the sing-a-long version of "Grease". I never enjoyed the movie and with this exercise, my appreciation was not changed. we started with the version without words and the audience didn't sing. When the powers that be noticed they restarted the movie with the proper version. it didn't help!
A few words about our stateroom. We have an aft stateroom with a balcony that overlooks the fantail and propeller wash. Our view is westerly. The room may be 12 feet across and 20 feet deep. Enter forward going astern on the starboard side is a set of closets and a desk area. The port side is the head with shower. Passing these we come to the living quarters with seating area and double bed, thence to the balcony. Sara, i believe this to be twice as big as your apartment in Seoul, Korea. Good thing we are here for only 18 days and not 2 years. Pictures to follow.

Seaday 2

Today was a special day. The impulse for this trip was my father's last wish to have his ashes scattered over the ocean. Since he didn't say which ocean i had several to choose from. We found this trip to Venice, Italy on the web and couldn't pass up the offer. I had visited my daughter in Portland, Oregon and scattered some ashes in the Pacific so this only made sense to scattered them in the Atlantic as well..
Today, i was escorted to the aft deck, water level and allowed to release both Dad's and Dorothy's ashes at some where close to 28.35.39 N and 70.24W at 15:00 GMT. Not much of a ceremony, no band or color guard but the deed was done. Pictures to follow.
Speaking of longitude, latitude, We had a time change last night. Well, of cruise director, Noonan, told us a t 3:00am to set our clocks ahead an hour since we moved time zones. However, he forgot to check with the captain. Seems just like on an airplane, we don't change our clocks until we reach a port. Deb and i got our coffee delivered early this morning. Not a pretty sight for service staff. I will gussy up sooner for the next delivery.
Also, we were at 639nm from our start when the captain announced over the intercom that we had 3280nm until we reached our first port of call, Malaga. Cruising at 18.4k, we have some time left.

Sea Day 1 is almost over. Notice i said "Sea Day". We cruisers have our own language. We have been on the ship for one day but moored. When we are under way on the high seas we call it "Sea Day". You are welcome for the new knowledge.
Let me tell you cruising is not for the faint of heart. We were up at the crack of 6:30 when our coffee was delivered. Just try to get back to sleep after sitting on the balcony and several cups of coffee. It is a trial!
Since we were up breakfast was in order, your typical breakfast buffet. The scrambled eggs may have been powdered but everything else was very nice. Truly, some of our shipmates did not need to eat breakfast, unlike svelte Deb and I. So we merrily stuffed it down. I promised myself i would walk the track several times tomorrow.
We decided to skip, the shuffle board tourney as well as the "Toss", the bingo and other ship sports. Our day consisted of walking the ship, taking some pictures and a nap or two. I am sure we will get the hang of this sailing thing soon.
Our weather is fine so far. It gets cloudy then full sun then cloudy. As i write this it is after sunset and the stars are all out. I mean ALL of them. Wow.
We float, at this position in the Atlantic, 14640 ft above the sea floor and are 355nm into our trip. I do not know how far we will travel. We are steaming along at 18knots. Stay tuned.
We have a limited internet account and won't do much emailing until we hit free wi-fi in some town.
We think Wizard stowed away. either that or his doppleganger is aboard. Pictures to follow.

Arrived in Florida, No problems...almost.

So it begins. the trip to Florida was uneventful. We left on time from TVC then from DTW. weather was just fine for travel. (yawn) travel is such a burden.
Well, maybe it wasn't all sweetness and cream. While on final approach to Miami international the Hostess announced that all electronic devices must be turned off. Deb had to ask if digital cameras were included. "Yes", she said, "and do you want to know why? The battery may explode if you have it on during take-off and landing because of the pressure change!"
So during landing i took pictures. No explosion.
After we landed the hostess asked everyone to stay seated after we got to the gate. "No arms, elbows or bags in the walkway, please". Finally, a lone passenger was escorted off the plane. Not sure what that was all about but i did feel a flush of heat when i thought maybe they were coming for me cause i had an electronic device on and took pictures!
Then to top that, we had to stand in 75F degree heat and waited over an hour for the hotel transport. It was grueling. Fortunately, Deb and i weathered this horrific heat well!
Our room has the Miami 500 right outside the window. Cars and motorcycles, i swear, were topping 90 miles an hour. Zoom, Zoom, whinnnn, Zoom.
This morning we had the continental breakfast offered by the hotel. A tasty cup of coffee and the smallest muffin, not english, i have ever seen. Of course there is a full menu to choose from if you want more. Since this is about cheap and not luxury we opted for the small muffin and will hope for better once we board the ship.
Waiting for the transport to take us to the Port of Miami and the long ride back home.

Testing the system

Deb and i will take an ocean cruise in February. I expect to keep a blog of the adventure complete with photos. This is a test of the system to see how i can get the new blog out to those interested in the travel.

Our trip consists of 18 days at sea then a train trip through Europe and  flight home. Provisions have been made for a full panoply of music, movies and reading material to sustain us on the trip, henceforth called the "Adventure". Also, we have determined that cruising on a ship is not a unfriendly as it may appear. With facebook and google, you have meet and greet long before you meet and greet in person. This could be fun!

My Tilley experience

The short Story...

While on a rafting trip down the Colorado River, my Tilley blew off my head and disappeared into a whirlpool. We searched in vane for its return. I resigned myself to wearing my dumb 'ol knit cap to ward off the sun for the remaining 2 hour float.

Just before take-out, my Tilley bobbed to the surface next to the raft and, with no small effort, we retrieved it.

My Tilley is back home!

The Long Story...

I had my itinerary set for a week to visit with my son, Matthew, daughter-in-law, Annie and my grand daughter, Penelope in Gunnision Colorado. I packed, as usual, at the last minute throwing what i think i needed into a carry-on. The only thing i know i take is my Tilley. Though i throw it in as casually as everything else. 

The main purpose of the visit was to see my, now, one year old grand daughter. Secondarily, a river trip down the WestWater part of the Colorado with my son.

At this time of year the flow is up. We read flow rates of 17000 cubic feet per minute and going up. By the time we got to the river the flow was 26000cfm. When it is 17000cfm the rapids are fun and challenging with exposed boulders to get around. At the higher rate the rapids smooths out. Not as challenging but just as much fun. The main difference is the duration of the rafting experience. Low flow slow river, high flow fast river.

The weather was hot and cloudless. My Tilley protected my pink top as it has done on countless other expeditions.

The entire trip was uneventful on the top of the river. We made it threw the rapids wet but stayed on board. Then tragedy struck.

As we moved to the end of the canyon with several miles to go until the take-out, the wind came up with a vengeance.The canyon acts as a shield from the wind until you get close to the end, then it becomes a funnel, channeling the wind down its length. My Tilley and i have met wind before and won each encounter. We don't like to use the strap because it is not conducive to my chiseled, weathered profile but pulling it down on my head, tight, works very well. 

High water on the river means speed on a float and water that churns. eddies, whirlpools with standing waves that appear and disappear on, what you would think, should be a smooth surface. The boat, rather than floating straight downriver, twists and turns in 360 degree twirls while moving from one shore to the other. The boat oarsman is either rowing to compensate for this movement or sitting with oars at the ready ...waiting for another change.

After the last set of rapids I took over to helm the last several miles of calm water to the take-out. The wind still blew but we defeated its advances almost every time. This time i didn't move quick enough.

I sat down to the oars and as i did the wind blew one quick puff at the back on my head. My Tilley was broadside to this puff and took off. Landing several yards astern of our craft. I knew it was all right. My Tilley landed crown up and floating like a proud sailor taking a day off. I pulled left to block my Tilley with the boat and began to slow our rate to allow the Tilley to catch up with us. My son at the ready to pluck the intrepid sailor from the river. As we waited, the river opened up a small whirlpool and swallowed my Tilley. Gone!

It is not easy to fight the river's current especially at high flow rates. We could do nothing but hope Tilley would surface where we could see it and affect a rescue as we continued downriver. The minutes dragged by with no sign of my Tilley. The whirlpool did it's dastardly deed and disappeared along with my Tilley. The sun didn't care about my tragedy and kept it's relentless beating so i had to switch to a knit cap. I kept an eye out for my Tilley while moving downstream to the take-out three miles away. Knowing that it is gone.

The river at this end of the canyon to the takeout is flat and wide. It has three or so islands of willow that strain some river flotsam. Did i tell you at high river there is a lot of flotsam? I mean a lot! Along with the islands, stone outcrops, tree roots and other shore anomalies create other places for flotsam to get stuck.  The heavy stuff, tree branches and trunks get through by shear force. Light items get caught, plastic bottles, twigs, Styrofoam and maybe a Tilley. Only by catching the proper river current can flotsam make it through this area. Boats do it by the keen eye of the oarsman making corrections throughout the trip. 

I was that oarsman for this leg. I pushed and shoved. slowed and sped just to keep the boat in a centerline down the river.Our river speed was anything but constant. Sometimes i had to pull hard from the shoreline lateral to the flow and sometimes pull with the flow to miss a river obstruction. Always wistfully, gazing upriver in hopes of seeing my Tilley but knowing all the pit falls and problems with staying together for three miles.

After the last bend in the river we have a mile to the take-out. The procedure for landing at the take-out is to hug the take-out ramp shoreline where the flow will be slower then the middle of the river. When you reach the ramp you pull hard out of the shore flow and glide to the ramp. I am in the middle of the river about a half mile from the take-out when i begin this maneuver. I look to my right oat to put it in and there is a round, white shape just under the surface. I set my son to investigate while i push the boat toward the shape. It is My Tilley!!!

As soon as we know it is my Tilley we see it too far to reach so i try to push the boat closer, this causes the river to change ever so slightly and My Tilley and river flotsam spurt ahead. The best option we have is for my son to take the helm and me to stretch for the hat. My son pulls and pulls. I have this idiotic smile on my face, the smile of an adventure. I see the hat it is closer! I hang on to the chicken line, a rope around the boat and stretch.... way out. I have my Tiiley! I am happy!

I have no thoughts in my head but I have my Tilley. Thank goodness Matt has done this before. He knows to keep in the moment. He realizes the boat ramp is abeam of him and we are three quarters across the river.

He starts a pull like never before. He has to fight the highest current and not go downstream while crossing the breadth of the river. Our car is here and the next take-out is miles downriver. I sit helplessly at the bow with a rope to tie off the boat when we finally get to the shore. Then maybe, drag the boat back to the ramp. Matt pulls. The shore gets closer. The ramp doesn't move right or left. Matt pulls.

It seemed like hours but it was minutes as we moved across the center of the river and landed square on the ramp! One of the boaters behind us landed and wondered what kind of move he did. It was awesome! The likes of Matt's pull is not seen at these take-outs.

And i had my Tilley.

Postscript::

During the float i had discussed the importance of my Tilley. How it had a warranty to be replaced if it ever failed.. and yes "it is in my will to Matt"! When it first slipped into the whirlpool we started writing a letter to the Tilley people wondering if the failure of the Tilley to float was cause enough for a new hat. I would have another Tilley replaced by warranty or purchase... whatever. 

Now i write about the adventure and the fact that My Tilley does float so we will wait for another day to test the warranty. Matt, the greatest oarsman of Westwater (he is my son you know!) has not the refined taste to enjoy the subtlety of My Tilley... maybe my daughter will enjoy it. Sara...?