David_S29

The fires won't be diminished -- not extinguished -- until the snow falls later this month and in November. Forest fires can, and do, survive for months or years below ground in root systems, coal seams, or beat bogs, and then can flare up again when and if good conditions arise...and that's not even counting new sources of ignition. This past week is the first time since early May that there hasn't been a thick yellowish gray pall over us. Two weeks ago the air quality was so bad that visibility was nil and it was difficulty to take a deep breath indoors without gagging. 56 degrees north in northwestern Alberta.

I was seriously considering this for 2025; it would be much cheaper to visit the west African ports on this cruise than it would be to fly to them and to stay in hotels -- not to mention much safer (aside from the risk of pirates).

Any idea why? The itinerary on the "half" voyge, up the coast of West Africa, looked amazing.

454. Do I win the booby prize?