rafinmd

Thank you for the Tuesday Report, Rich. Most of my Canadian relatives either do or at one time have had cows, and I love both their dairy contributions and what they give us as their final sacrifice. I use paper bags for some groceries and then they become my recycling bags. Never done Etch A Sketch but it sounds like a nice idea. The Sparks quote sounds quite selfish and the polar opposite of what Father David talked about Sunday. Nice to see the Koningsdam at the port that serves Whitehorse. I was last there on my 2018 Yukon/Denali tour after disembarking the Volendam. The meal sounds nice. My alternative is Fresh Fruit Medley, Parmesan Crusted Veal Loin, and NSA Vanilla Ice Cream my first dinner on MS Rotterdam VI on the way from New York to Amsterdam, July 12, 2011. Today’s care list: RIP Nora Brown of Howick QC, 7/11/22 HAL Sailer DB with severe covid Buddy final days in Hospice Heartgrove brother discharged but prognosis still uncertain From the rotation: Bennybear DH with melanoma Strength and healing for Kazu StLouisSal with weakening legs and covid Tana with persistent cough Celebrations and Shoutouts: Welcome home aliaschief Seasick Sailer in Hawaii Cruisin Single with sister to 7/28 Volendam caring for refugees 5 days for dfish (Rotterdam 7/17 to 7/31) and Gail&Marty (10/15) 4 days for Vict0riann (Nieuw Statendam (7/16 to 8/9) ski ww (Oosterdam to July 16). dobiemom (Rotterdam to 7/17), RWSBADGER (Noordam to 7/17), and luvteaching (Westerdam to 7/17) and Cat in My Lap (Zaandam to 8/13) at sea Vacationing Staff Captain Sabine - Our first female Staff Captain and HAL’s likely first female Captain(I know this is a repeat but she’s worth it) Roy

I had sad news today. A cousin just north of the New York/Quebec boarder passed away today. It was not terribly expected and I think she was almost 90, but it still a loss. Roy

My first "cruise" was on the Alaska ferry Matanuska, Ketchikan to Seward, my first overnight at sea. Greatly enjoyed it and had an hour or so to get off at every stop. First traditional cruise was 3 days on Carnival Fantasy in 1993, old Regent Sun in 1994, and a nearly new Crystal Symphony (Southampton to Barcelona) in 1996. From there, as they say the rest is history. Roy

I have a scarcity of sunrises from the first half of July and today's reflects that. It was taken this morning as the sun cleared the house next door. Roy

I have a scarcity of sunrises from the first half of July and today's reflects that. It was taken this morning as the sun cleared the house next door. Roy

I'll second that. @StLouisCruisers is there an Urgent Care Center near you? That would likely be a good place to try. I had a leg pain on my Denali land trip and thought it was a bruise but when I got to Fairbanks and had a look at it, it was nothing like a bruise. There was an urgent care center across the street from my hotel and I went right there. They were VERY concerned about a clot and held me for an immediate ultrasound. Turned out to be just a harmless fluid cell that required no treatment but there's no substitute for peace of mind. Roy

Thank you for the Monday report, Rich. To me, Bowdler does not deserve a day but I love the other 2. Love the Dahl quote but have not been to Tunisia. Not sure about the meal. My alternative is Apple and Pear Gazpacho, Braised Beef Short Ribs with Roasted Garlic Cloves, and Key Lime and White Chocolate Tart, my first modern meal on a BHB, the Mariner's brunch on the Rotterdam July 12, 2010. Today’s care list: Buddy final days in Hospice Heartgrove brother discharged but prognosis still uncertain From the rotation: StLouisSal with weakening legs and covid Tana with persistant cough HAL Sailer DH Nephew Curt undergoing rehab after serious mowing accident Cruising-along niece awaiting a kidney Celebrations and Shoutouts: aliaschief last day on West Coast Seasick Sailer in Hawaii Cruisin Single with sister to 7/28 Volendam caring for refugees 6 days for dfish (Rotterdam 7/17 to 7/31) and Gail&Marty (10/15) 5 days for Vict0riann (Nieuw Statendam (7/16 to 8/9) Welcome home Mr Boston, ski ww (Oosterdam to July 16). dobiemom (Rotterdam to 7/17), RWSBADGER (Noordam to 7/17), and luvteaching (Westerdam to 7/17) and Cat in My Lap (Zaandam to 8/13) at sea Vacationing Staff Captain Sabine - Our first female Staff Captain and HAL’s likely first female Captain(I know this is a repeat but she’s worth it) Roy

This morning started out quite cloudy so I'm reposting a sunrise from last July 10 taken from the Port Nassau webcam with the sun coming up over the Crystal Serenity and Adventure of the Seas: Roy

This morning started out quite cloudy so I'm reposting a sunrise from last July 10 taken from the Port Nassau webcam with the sun coming up over the Crystal Serenity and Adventure of the Seas: Roy

Thank God for the properties of that phone. I frequently forget to carry my cell phone but I have an old one that I keep in the car. It's on a charger but when it gets fully charged it stops charging and eventually the battery goes dead. Glad that did not happen with Father David. Roy

@kazu I'm having second thoughts about the dog. I wonder if there is enough time between now and your cruise to be comfortable leaving the dog with a sitter. @ger_77 you mentioned the Rogers outage yesterday and it actually made our news today. So sad. When my cell phone was with AT&T it was Rogers that provided my roaming service. I also think of Rogers frequently from the connection of Janice of Come From Away. I hope the problems are fully resolved soon. Roy

Thank you for the Sunday report, Rich. I think I'll pass on all 3 of these days although kittens are nice, just too much of a responsibility for me. Love the Eliot quote. Been to Norway but not Kristiansand. I think I'll pass on the meal. My alternative is Tim Hortons Chicken Noodle Soup and Panera Macaroni and Cheese, my choices on July 10, 2018, as I arrived in New York prior to boarding trains to Vancouver and the Volendam. Sadly, Timmies did not survive the move to Moynihan Train Hall and I think that Panera closed a couple years ago. Still running behind on the lists but here's what I have: Today’s care list: Buddy final days in Hospice Heartgrove brother discharged but prognosis still uncertain From the rotation: HAL Sailer DH Nephew Curt undergoing rehab after serious mowing accident Cruising-along niece awaiting a kidney Bennybear DH with melanoma Strength and healing for Kazu Celebrations and Shoutouts: aliaschief in Oregon Seasick Sailer in Hawaii Volendam caring for refugees 6 days for Vict0riann (Nieuw Statendam (7/16 to 8/9) Bon Voyage dobiemom (Rotterdam to 7/17), RWSBADGER (Noordam to 7/17), and luvteaching (Westerdam to 7/17) Welcome home Mr Boston ski ww (Oosterdam to July 16) and Cat in My Lap (Zaandam to 8/13) at sea Vacationing Staff Captain Sabine - Our first female Staff Captain and HAL’s likely first female Captain(I know this is a repeat but she’s worth it) Roy

Or perhaps from Cunard. Was it also Daily Program for a while on HAL? Roy

It's a nasty day in Maryland with no sun so I'm posting a photo from July 3 sunset with the sun going down over Bar Harbor. I think with my completion of one Cunard Voyage and more to come I will put my participation in this thread to rest. I do welcome continuing additions from other Cunard photographers. Roy

It's a nasty day in Maryland with no sun so I'm posting a photo from July 3 sunset with the sun going down over Bar Harbor. Roy

It's a nasty day in Maryland with no sun so I'm posting a photo from July 3 sunset with the sun going down over Bar Harbor. Roy

Day 8, Friday, July 8, 2022, Disembark and home I was up very early and on Deck 13 by 4:45 as the lights of the Verrazano Bridge were ahead of us on a still dark morning. I moved back near the stairs down to deck 12 as we got close to the bridge, watched the mast seemingly barely clear the bridge (It’s actually about 4 meters), then as I passed underneath and finally the funnel. We continued up the estuary and came alongside the berth a little before 7 with the Statue of Liberty off our starboard bow. With my transfer booked I had a calloff time of 8:20AM. At the moment disembarkation seems to be on autopilot with everybody given a time and there are no announcements of either delays, so we leave at our time and hope the terminal is not backed up. While my daypack is down to about 20 pounds at my age it still feels like a burden and I chose to go to the promenade deck and walk outside (no mask needed) to the stairs where the gangway was located. After hanging out a bit outside the stairway B doors I started down about 8:05. It was probably 8:10 when the crew checked my tag number and I was cleared to disembark. The trip down to the luggage claim was fairly long but moved right along. It was easy to locate my big bag but I saw no sign of either luggage carts or porters in Red Hook so the walk to the immigration was quick. The agent needed to see my passport but then I was waved on for the last trudge out to the street where the Luggage Forward rep was a very welcome sight. From then on to the coach which I boarded a little before 8:30. It was about 9 when we left the terminal but I was comfortably seated. I think in the past Penn Station has always been the first stop on the station transfer but not this time. We hit Grand Central station first, then the Port Authority Bus Terminal, and finally the new Amtrak Station. I think the order may have been reversed since the new station is on the other side of 8th Avenue and the bus must take several extra turns to get into position. We arrived just before 10 but I had plenty of time. The old Penn Station, under Madison Square Garden, now only serves NJ Transit while Amtrak and Long Island Railroad are now in the Moynihan Train Hall, the building that used to be the main post office. I was booked on Acela First Class, the best of the services in the Northeast Corridor, and as such I am entitled to their First Class lounge. Formerly Club Acela, the new space has reverted to the traditional name of Metropolitan Lounge. It is a lovely space with snacks and especially luggage storage facilities. Once my bag was stowed I went for a little walk around Moynihan’s Food Hall and then across at Penn Station which was still quite familiar but looking kind of ragged with a completely different set of vendors. While waiting for my train I did get several snacks and coffee at the Metropolitan Lounge and generally relaxed. The first boarding call for my train came about 1:50. Boarding was quick and easy and the First Class car was the one closest to the escalators. I was quickly in my seat and thinking I was home free. Not quite. The car steward came around and asked how far I was going. BWI Airport Rail Station. “We don’t stop there” There had been a schedule change since I booked my ticket and I was never notified. When he came by the Conductor confirmed that although my ticket was to BWI Airport the train would not be stopping there. I would need to get off instead in downtown Baltimore. About 45 minutes into the trip lunch was served, Lamb Tagine with chocolate pudding for desert. The train ran essentially on time until I was dropped off in Baltimore. I started with the ticket counter and she sent me to another desk which seemed to be a control area. He looked at my ticket and told me to get on the next local train and if there was any question show them my ticket with BWI airport as the destination. It was about a 25 minute wait at Baltimore Penn Station. https://morethangetaways.files.wordpress.com/2022/07/baltimore.jpg I don’t think the short 12-minute ride between downtown and the airport allows time for the conductor to do a full ticket check and I was dropped off at the airport about 5:15 and was home about 6. With the later than planned arrival I had driven straight home without my originally planned stop for groceries. Saturday morning brought light rain with a very busy schedule, voting, a grocery run, a walk in our mall and breakfast but most of the essentials are now done. According to the tracking my Luggage Forward bag is in Maryland and should be delivered Monday. My parting shot is especially for my Maryland readers. Early voting for the primary election started Friday and the official election day is July 19. Vote early, vote July 19 or vote by mail but vote! Roy

Thank you for the Saturday Report, Rich. Not big on fashion, love sugar cookies (but prefer oatmeal raisin) and an drawn to the call of the horizon. Not sure about the quote. Visited Mumbai once way back in 2010 on Queen Victoria. The meal sounds nice. My alternative is Lamb Tagine as served on Acela Express train 2121 July 8, 2022: The lists still need some work but I think I have most of the highlights, and lots of errands to run today. Today’s care list: Buddy final days in Hospice Covid in Durango shelter staff Heartgrove brother discharged with extremely poor prognosis From the rotation: HAL Sailer DH Nephew Curt undergoing rehab after serious mowing accident Cruising-along niece awaiting a kidney Bennybear DH with melanoma Strength and healing for Kazu Celebrations and Shoutouts: aliaschief in Oregon Seasick Sailer in Hawaii Volendam caring for refugees Bon Voyage Cat in My Lap (Zaandam 7/9 to 8/13) 7 days for Vict0riann (Nieuw Statendam (7/16 to 8/9) 1 day for dobiemom (Rotterdam 7/10 to 7/17) 1 day for luvteaching (Westerdam to 7/17) Welcome home Crazy for Cats, GTFCRUISER and jimgev Mister Boston (Celebrity Summit to July 10), and ski ww (Oosterdam to July 16) at sea Vacationing Staff Captain Sabine - Our first female Staff Captain and HAL’s likely first female Captain(I know this is a repeat but she’s worth it) Roy

OK, I'm home, as of about 6PM. Not as easy or as soon as expected byt home. Roy

Greetings from Moynihan Train Hall, sort of the new Penn Station. Disembarkation was pretty good except for the amount of walking while loaded down. Transfer was a bit slow but very easy and I arrived about 9:45 for my 2PM train. Sitting on the balcony of the Metropolitan Lounge enjoying a blueberry muffin, my answer to Blueberry Day. Roy

My sunrise today is not quite a sunrise but there was color in the sky as Queen Mary 2 passed under the Verrazano Bridge: Roy

My sunrise today is not quite a sunrise but there was color in the sky as Queen Mary 2 passed under the Verrazano Bridge: Roy

My sunrise today is not quite a sunrise but there was color in the sky as Queen Mary 2 passed under the Verrazano Bridge: Roy

Thank you for the homecoming day daily, Rich. I'll pass on both the motorcycle and the body painting but love blueberries. The quote sounds kind of strange. Been to St Peter Port at least on the Prinsendam. No idea what the meal is. My alternative is Duck Consume, Roast Beef, and Ice Cream as served on Queen Mary 2 July 7, 2022: No lists today, the computer where I keep them is packed up. Roy

Day 7, Thursday, July 7, 2022, At Sea, Queen Mary 2 By morning the winds across the deck had diminished from over 40 knots to under 20 but it was still a chilly breeze. The highlight of the day would be packing but there were also 2 Crystal Visions morning programs, Seth Gopin at 10 on the life of Thomas Paine, and a Q&A at 11 with Neil Leifer. I followed both on TV as packing progressed. In his noon update Captain Hall indicated we would reach the midway point of our return journey about 1PM and the afternoon weather will be very pleasant. We will pass under the bridge about 4:45 and be alongside by 7, with very warm temperatures on Friday. I had a totally al fresco lunch with skim milk and hot dog from Chef’s Corner, taken to the one place that could be reached without manually opening a door; Deck 12 near the closed Boardwalk Café, accessed by the B elevators and automatic sliding doors by the Pavilion Pool. No tables out but there were several loungers. There were 2 program items of interest in the afternoon. Caroline Oltmanns held her final piano performance at 2 in the Queens Room. I skipped that but dropped in on Venus Tsai’s violin performance at 3 in the Royal Court Theater. I was not really a fan of her style. https://morethangetaways.files.wordpress.com/2022/07/tsai.jpg I’m thinking a long time Cunard Tradition has likely ended. There was no auction of the Navigation Chart to raise money for the Prince’s Trust. I wonder if it is becoming difficult to get charts as electronic navigation takes over. Perhaps there will be an auction as QM2 approaches Southampton, the end of the 21 day version of the voyage but I fear this tradition may have run it’s course. I did not attend afternoon tea but did stop by for goodies at Kings Court after the Venus Tsai concert. While I love the scones my real weakness is the Oatmeal Raisin cookies. Our final dinner was once again just 2 of us. My choices for the evening were the Duck Consume, Roast Beef, and Ice Cream. I did go out on deck about 9 for a final dusk shot, with sun not yet down but producing some nice colors as I watched from the Starboard Promenade Deck. The big bag went out about 9:20 although it seemed early since it is still light out I hope to be in bed early as well, https://morethangetaways.files.wordpress.com/2022/07/bagout.jpg My parting shot will be a practical one. Friday will be a long day leaving the ship before 8:30, and arriving in Maryland about 4:40. After buying groceries it will be after 6 when I get home. I do plan to report on the disembarkation day but it may not happen until Saturday or even Sunday. Roy