HAL4NOW

The fire is at the road in numerous spots, and the fire crews are using highway 2 for quick ingress and egress for work in the fire zone.

Bolt Creek Fire Update: Highway 2 remains closed west of Skykomish to Gold Bar. About 350 PSE customers continue to be without power since Saturday. The Incident Management Team was upgraded to Type 2 IMT yesterday morning. That team has quicker access to resources and is able to cut through red tape when something is needed. Evacuation Level for Index, WA, was downgraded from level 3 to level 2. With that adjustment and many in the fire area having electricity restored, hope that this fire is headed toward real containment is becoming a reality.

Power was just restored for Skykomish and some of the surrounding area. Bolt Creek Fire is moving slower, humidity is high, and the firefighters are making progress on the fire line; 5% containment being reported. Quite a few people have returned to their homes in Grotto. They are not out of danger yet, but spirits are high, and plans are in place.

We had it for breakfast today; easy meal fixed in the microwave while running a generator. Power is still out indefinitely because of the Bolt Creek Fire. Schwan's has 'Pork Pot Stickers in Sweet Soy Sauce' that we enjoy. One serving (four potstickers with sauce) does have 48g of carbs.

My DW decided to stay in Skykomish and help with the meal preparation for evacuees while I did the fuel run to Leavenworth. I took another neighbor and gas cans from four households. 59'er Diner did not disappoint.

As I write this my eyes are watering, and I don't think it is all from the smoke. I think they started watering when I was reading @kazu Jacqui's post about Jose's celebration of life. May the Lord bless you and keep you at peace, Jacqui. An update on the Bolt Creek Fire: at this time, I am happy to report there has been no loss of life and the only structures lost so far have been a chicken coop and a small outbuilding. The evacuation notice levels have stayed steady for the past 24 hours. Those under mandatory evacuation have not been allowed to return to their homes. We have gone from the Red Flag Warning conditions (high wind and low humidity) to having low/slow winds and high humidity. We even got some rain last night and this morning. There are multiple agencies working on this fire. Coordination has been remarkably good between DNR, NFS, FEMA, all the local fire departments and sheriffs from both King and Snohomish Counties, contracted firefighters (both public and private), air support from multiple jurisdictions, etc. Containment reports range from 0% to 2%, but that is fluid. The fire is still moving, but not as fast as it moved during the Red Flag conditions. Power is out in the region and won't even be assessed for when PSE can begin work until they can get safety clearance to enter the fire area. Highway 2 remains closed both directions west of Skykomish. I did hear one train go through town last night (we usually get about 25 trains per day) and I am sure that BNSF and Amtrak are losing money on the track closure. Most of us have generators (because we are used to power outages in winter) but the local gas station does not have an approved generator, so we travel 35 miles east to replenish our generator fuel supply. I think my DW and I will combine today's gas run with a stop at the 59'er Diner in Leavenworth and celebrate Chocolate Milkshake Day.

It has been a long 25 hours so far for our local first responders. The Bolt Creek Fire was first reported about 5:00 AM yesterday (Pacific Time). Our local fire department has only three paid employees, and one of them was already on a fire in Oregon. Volunteers came out in force from up and down the Sky Valley and have been continuously combining efforts with other agencies to fight this fast-moving growing monster. Initially, resources were deployed to get hikers out of the back country. As the fire moved it became evident that evacuation of a few small pockets of houses would be necessary. Resources were deployed to do door-to-door notices and for some structural protection. Some areas jumped straight to a level 3 evacuation notice without any time for the first two levels. A few of us did watch-shifts last night in Skykomish to allow for others to sleep. It is getting light now and Skykomish proper has been spared. I got my meds out of my go-bag this morning and we are expecting a more typical Sunday (although power in the area is out for at least a couple more days). Church service at 10, potluck at 11, community care all day. The fire has moved down valley because of the east winds. Grotto, much of Baring, Index and some other areas have had to evacuate. Level 1 and 2 evacuation notices have gone out as far west as Gold Bar, 20 miles from where the fire began. The fire moved slower overnight as the winds died down a little and the temperatures cooled. Humidity doubled overnight but is way below normal for this area.

Actually, our air quality isn't too bad. We have not had any ash fall because it is all blowing to the west. I have been out with the fire department and food bank, and just as a neighbor all day. Baked cookies with the generator running so the fire department wouldn't run out of sweets. Our power is off until at least Monday evening. I haven't been online all day because of all the activity. Skykomish is housing a number of people that were evacuated from Grotto and Baring. Index is under level two alert, Skykomish is still just level one evacuation notice. We have meals set up at the Masonic lodge for fire fighters and community members. As long as the wind doesn't drastically change, I think we have avoided any need to evacuate. Plan on having church services in the morning with potluck after church for anyone that wants to join. Highway 2 is still closed indefinitely from Skykomish down to almost Gold Bar. Spot fires have jumped the highway a few places. We did have some air resources out of Moses Lake for a short time, but too much turbulence for them to continue flying. This fire is very hot, moving fast, and creating some crazy wind patterns.

17 Mile House Pub - Restaurant in Sooke, BC BC diner pokes fun at Toronto with outrageously expensive "Leafs poutine" | Offside (dailyhive.com)

It is obvious that you cannot please everybody all the time, but the failure is not in the attempt. Scripture says, "If at all possible, live peaceably with all." Attempting to please everyone isn't the definition of failure; it is part of caring for others. I think too many people use the excuse of, "you can't please everyone", as a reason to stop trying to be civil.

This quote is often used at weddings. It is from 1 Corinthians 13:4-7. The Apostle Paul is generally accepted as the author of 1 Corinthians.

In addition to no extra perks, no Mariner Suite Points, you would have an additional cost for gratuities/staff appreciation/tips. That extra cost is only $2.50pp/per day, but something else to consider. I haven't noticed a big difference between a Vista Suite and a Verandah. If you like your location, no need to upgrade again.

Do you know if the two brothers are related to Chief Calvin Sanderson of the Chakastaypasin Band of the James Smith Cree Nation? Or is it just a coincidence they have the same last name? Pleased to hear you are safe and doing well. Hopefully the missing brother will be found soon.

I have never been disappointed in the MDR, but the specialty restaurants also do a good job.

I prefer multiple meats on my pizza; the drippings are richer 🙂

I played the saxophone for years and still struggled with snorkeling. I guess I chose the wrong woodwind.

It does seem that the communication between the ships and the home office is often lacking. Hopefully everything works out soon.

My DW's grandmother helped to form the union for seamstresses in Los Angeles many years ago, back when workers were regularly abused in that industry. We take so many things for granted now in the work world that others had to struggle to bring about. Happy Labor Day.

I love cilantro, but it is one of my triggers for migraine headaches. Two other triggers I have been able to identify are chocolate and the nitrites in smoked meats.

Your debarkation may be bad timing: yesterday being Sunday and today being a holiday. HAL offices are probably pretty limited until Tuesday. Also, the time difference may make you feel like they are ignoring you longer; Italy is nine hours ahead of Seattle. I even see East Coast people on these boards complain about not being able to get ahold of HAL when it is before five in the morning at the home office. Hope your wife is able to be released soon and you both have a pleasant flight home.

The only time I have had any concerns with boarding the tender was when the water was quite rough. My concerns became irrelevant that day because the captain determined that tendering would not take place, and we missed that port. Tendering can also be a little touchy if you have mobility issues, but the crew stands by to assist and they are great.

The same change was made for the 16-Day Circle Hawaii cruise out of Vancouver Canada on the Koningsdam. Since I have never been to Hawaii, I won't know the difference. Looks like you will be on the Noordam and also embarking October 8th. We will be in Kahului on the 14th, the day before you.

Actually, you can complain about air space if the pilot is violating laws concerning altitudes above your home. Here is an Arizona Department of Transportation link to a page on how to complain: Low Flying Aircraft Complaints (azdot.gov) Since aircraft have to follow federal laws, the above document would still apply in Georgia. To complain about noise to the FAA, there is a Regional Noise Ombudsman. The one for Georgia is from the Southern Region and his name is Shane Jackson. The number to call is: 202-267-8507. The email is: 9-aso-noise@faa.gov. and here is a relevant section of the code that the FAA will use for prosecution: ·91.119 Minimum safe altitudes; general Except when necessary for takeoff or landing, no person may operate an aircraft below the following altitudes; (a) ·Anywhere. ·An altitude allowing, if a power unit fails, an emergency landing without undue hazard to persons or property on the surface. (b) ·Over congested areas. ·Over any congested area of a city, town, or settlement, or over any open air assembly of persons, an altitude of 1,000 feet above the highest obstacle within a horizontal radius of 2.000 feet of the aircraft. (c) ·Over other than congested areas. An altitude of 500 feet above the surface except over open water or sparsely populated areas. In that case, the aircraft may not be operated closer than 500 feet to any person, vessel, vehicle, or structure.

Not Rotterdam, but same class ship: 4184 – Koningsdam | HAL Cruiser Information (halfacts.com)

We visited Manta, Ecuador, on the Zaandam in April of 2019. We took the HAL excursion called "Machallila". The excursion consisted of some time at a very nice beach for swimming and just hanging out, a museum tour, a walk through the woods, and a poolside lunch.