Since CC swallowed my report from Kodiak, I will repost:
Day 06 Kodiak
The port of Kodiak continued the cruises history of cold temps and rain,
After breakfast, my cookie test of the four types found all with little chew, hard to break, and in need of a beverage medium for dipping to be edible. I have come to the conclusion, that the good cookies on the first day were baked by someone who departed the ship in Vancouver.
My noon wildlife excursion experienced the lack of school buses to take 12 of us to the pier. I was inspired that I was able to maneuver past two rows of seats to wedge myself in the back of the substituted 12-passenger van. Passengers were divided into two groups of six at the harbor pier for the two small excursion boats. With rough seas, the excursion was restricted to the large harbor area but very successful in photographing stellar sea lions and birds. It was a chance to perfect my cameras bird tracking feature and also experience the foul scent of nearby sea lions . Although hot beverages were available, our group preferred only the provided snacks. The pilot was a life-long resident of Kodiak and a wealth of information.
The warmth of the Nieuw Amsterdam was very welcome after being in a cold rain for several hours. My hot shower while in port avoided the need for a bumpy one while sailing in the pending rough waters.
My Tamarind Dinner began by walking uphill as the ship began to list under the force of high winds. The warm shrimp chips were a nice start. My first soup course necessitated a knife being placed under the edge of my bowl to keep the broth level in the bowl. The curry chicken bowl required another knife to keep the contents from spilling into my lap. As my dinner continued, the level of ship listing progressed. My downhill departure from the Tamarind Restaurant was speedy and required grabbing the podium to redirect my body towards the elevators.
When I returned to my stateroom, all of the drawers were open and efforts fight gravity to keep them closed were futile. Remembering the words of the Captain that the seas would be difficult until a ship turn around 4:00 AM, I decided to retire early. I made a mental note to not trip over the open drawer at the end of my bed if I got up in the middle of the night.
Next stop Valdez.