The Fleet Report and Daily for Friday September 8th, 2023

[StLouisCruisers]

Just now, Gail & Marty sailing away said:

Thanks for sharing. 

 

You're welcome!  I'm so glad we were able to join your group and have our own small group to see the sights there.

[Gail & Marty sailing away]

Thanks for the info. 

[Himself]

4 hours ago, richwmn said:

 

Today is International Literacy Day, National Ampersand Day, and National Date Nut Bread Day
 

Who controls the past controls the future. Who controls the present controls the past.--George Orwell, 1984

Meal Suggestion for today - Sushi Rice with Miso-Caramel Glazed Salmon
Drink of the Day - Hot Toddy
Wine of the Day - Kudos Pinot Noir Willamette
Destination of the Day - Honningsvag, Mageroya Island, Norway

Today in History:
1504 Michelangelo's Statue of David is unveiled in Florence
1565 1st permanent European settlement in the US founded at St. Augustine, Florida
2022 Queen Elizabeth II dies at Balmoral Castle after ruling for 70 years, as the UK's longest-serving monarch. Her eldest son inherits the throne as King Charles III.

Ship Locations
 

Eurodam

Victoria, British Columbia 2000-2359
 

Koningsdam

At Sea Destination Vancouver, Canada eta 09-09
 

Nieuw Amsterdam

Ketchikan, Alaska 1100-1900
 

Nieuw Statendam

Dover, England 1000-1900
 

Noordam

Glacier Bay, Alaska 0700-1600
 

Oosterdam

Naples, Italy 0800-1800
 

Rotterdam

At Sea Destination Amsterdam, The Netherlands eta 09-09
 

Volendam

Tracy Arm/Endicott Arm, Alaska, Juneau, Alaska 0900-0930,1300-2200
 

Westerdam

Ketchikan, Alaska 0700-1300
 

Zaandam

St Anthony, Newfoundland 1000-1900
 

Zuiderdam

Bar Harbor, Maine 0800-1700
 

 

Rich:  Thank you for the Fleet Report.

[Quartzsite Cruiser]

Good morning from a hot and getting hotter central Texas.  It is 91F and feels like 93F.  There is a 7 mph wind and 39% humidity with a dew point of 63F.   Our predicted high for today will be 107F, and we'll still be in the triple digits tomorrow with a high of 101F.   So much for yesterday's forecast of double digits beginning tomorrow.  Now they are predicted to begin Sunday, but I suspect that can be a moving target.  It was pretty warm when I walked about 8:30.

 

I will support International Literacy Day and & day.  I would rather have banana nut bread instead of date nut bread.

 

An interesting quote by George Orwell and one that is pretty true.

 

We may have salmon tonight, but it will be glazed with Teriyaki sauce.  We'll pass on the drink, but would like to try the wine.

 

We have been to Honningsvag twice, in 2005 on Marco Polo and in 2011 on Prinsendam.  I look for my pictures next.

 

Today is a sad day in history with the first anniversary of the Queen's death.  Two other good days in history to celebrate.

 

@StLouisCruisers  Sandi, by the time I started reading the daily about an hour ago, your original post was there.  BTW, I'm not sure it was two emojis in a row that was the problem since I've done two in a row before without a problem.

@Crazy For Cats  Jake, I'm sorry your tour and then the port was canceled.  I'm glad you DM was transferred to rehab.

@smitty34877  Terry, I'm sorry Lou's condition is not good and there are complications.  Sending positive thoughts for an improvement and a full recovery.  Take care of yourself too.

@HAL4NOW  Tony, I'm sorry your port was canceled today.  We couldn't get in there in 2003 on Rotterdam VI because of weather.

@kazu  Jacqui, I'm sorry you had to issue a warning to the roll call.  The day lily is beautiful.

@ocean sounds  I tried reindeer sausage once, and it was good.

@1ANGELCAT  I hope the searchers are at least narrowing down the area where the escapee is.

@daisybertie  I googled Bamse, and his story is very interesting.  There is a book about him on Amazon, and here is a photo of him with three of the sailors.

 

@marshhawk  Annie, I hope the visit with the vascular doctor goes well, and that you can get your A1C numbers down.

@Lady Hudson  Katherine, sending positive thoughts that your cruise is not interrupted by Lee or any other hurricane.

@Seasick Sailor  Joy, thanks for the kind words today.

 

 

 

 

 

Lenda

 

Edited September 8, 2023 by Quartzsite Cruiser

[Quartzsite Cruiser]

We have been to Honningsvag twice.  In 2005 we were there on the Marco Polo, and did the ship's tour, which was actually a bus ride and the entrance fee.  In 2011, we were there on the Prinsendam and rented a car.  We did not stop at the Nordkapp that day, but drove past it to the next inlet.

 

The first pictures are from our Marco Polo cruise.  The first ones are arriving in port.

 

Nordkapp

 

The visitor center

 

This guy was running down the road, keeping up with the bus.

 

A couple of pictures from our walk around town.

 

After leaving port, we sailed around the Nordkapp.  The protrusion from the cliff is the actual northern point.

 

In 2011, we spent the day driving around the area enjoying the scenery.

 

A fishing village down the road past the Nordkapp

 

Guess who has the right-of-way?

 

We stopped at the Sami Village, basically a tourist trap (oops, shopping stop) of a recreated Sami Village.  The Samis are the Laplanders who live in the area.  The bus stopped here in 2005, but this time we were there by ourselves.

 

Another village, and how they dry their fish

 

After we sailed, Captain Gundersen took us to see the Nordkapp from the ship.

 

Lenda

[durangoscots]

3 hours ago, smitty34877 said:

Good morning. I never posted yesterday.It was a difficult day.DH's condition  is not  good and there are now numerous  complications. Thanks for all the support and prayers.My Lou is not a religious  man formally but I know he appreciates it as well.

So very sorry to hear this. Take care of yourself and know we are all sending our best wishes.

 

Susan

[kochleffel]

My first teaching job was in adult basic education, which is mostly literacy. In my last job, OTOH, I worked with a highly educated constituency but many of the people seemed to have very poor reading comprehension. In layout and typesetting, for titles and display work, if there's an ampersand I try to find a typeface in which the italic ampersand is an ornate one.

 

I have my mother's recipe for date and nut bread, but this is not a good day for baking. I plan to cook salmon for dinner, but not according to today's recipe, which I might like but for which I don't have the other ingredients. Hot toddies are not in season here. The Willamette Valley produces the best Pinor Noir in the world, in my opinion, but I don't know this one. I'll suggest Dr. Frank's Old Vines Pinot Noir 2020, which includes grapes from the second-oldest Pinot Noir planting in the U.S. I haven't been to Honningsvag.

 

The first Hartford class was yesterday. The instructions for this week say to do the reading and writing assignments outdoors, near a plant, tree, or natural feature. It is going to rain almost every day for the next week.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[kochleffel]

1 hour ago, ger_77 said:

@kochleffelwhen do we get to see pictures of your kitties?

 

Not soon, since they won't stay nearby long enough. Mona Lisa likes to come up behind me, but as soon as I notice her, she scoots away.

[grapau27]

47 minutes ago, Quartzsite Cruiser said:

We have been to Honningsvag twice.  In 2005 we were there on the Marco Polo, and did the ship's tour, which was actually a bus ride and the entrance fee.  In 2011, we were there on the Prinsendam and rented a car.  We did not stop at the Nordkapp that day, but drove past it to the next inlet.

 

The first pictures are from our Marco Polo cruise.  The first ones are arriving in port.

 

Nordkapp

 

The visitor center

 

This guy was running down the road, keeping up with the bus.

 

A couple of pictures from our walk around town.

 

After leaving port, we sailed around the Nordkapp.  The protrusion from the cliff is the actual northern point.

 

In 2011, we spent the day driving around the area enjoying the scenery.

 

A fishing village down the road past the Nordkapp

 

Guess who has the right-of-way?

 

We stopped at the Sami Village, basically a tourist trap (oops, shopping stop) of a recreated Sami Village.  The Samis are the Laplanders who live in the area.  The bus stopped here in 2005, but this time we were there by ourselves.

 

Another village, and how they dry their fish

 

After we sailed, Captain Gundersen took us to see the Nordkapp from the ship.

 

Lenda

Great photos Lenda.

[durangoscots]

Good morning to all. I slept fairly well last night, but was awake by 6. Got up and after dog walking hustled to the Post Office to mail a package of stuff for scottie rescue. If you don't go early the lines get very long as they have cut way back on staff. There were only 2 people ahead of me but the lot was filling up as I left.  Was home by 8:30 and got breakfast and read through the Daily. Now off to package up more stuff for the thrift store. Am trying to empty out some cabinets and bookcases which will then be hauled to the dump.... they look terrible and are starting to fall apart. Very slow going.

 

Haven't been to today's destination which looks really lovely and interesting. Tonight it will cheeseburger (without the bun) and salad. Lunch? who knows. My frig is looking a bit bare.

 

Sending positive thoughts for baby Murphy and Lou and all others needing them. Hope we can all stay healthy and upright and many cruises lie ahead.

 

Susan

[aliaschief]

Good morning. Another beautiful day here. We went to the Oregon Coast Aquarium yesterday which is a very nice facility. On the way back we stopped and bought more oysters which we dined on oyster Rockefeller’s. Delicious.

@smitty34877 You and Lou are in my thoughts, concerns and prayers.

Today we will be checking out another lighthouse and the Devils Bowl. 
Time to get ready for today’s adventures. Have a great weekend. Bruce

 

[RedneckBob]

3 hours ago, RedneckBob said:

I guess no one was wondering why I did not comment on Literacy Day, especially the writing part! 😳

As far as my writing skills, how bout this.

 

You might be a Redneck if you think William Shakespeare wrote all his plays with a pencil and not a pen. How else did he come up with the famous line, “2B or not 2B”. 

[lindaler]

6 hours ago, richwmn said:

Today is International Literacy Day

I had a really sweet cleaning lady come by and help with my floors today. While working she was asking all kinds of questions about my travel. She admitted that she never learned to read. That caught me by surprise. I am sure a big part of my life would be missing if I didn't read. I love books. One of my first jobs was in a library and I got in trouble for taking too long to check in books but I couldn't resist reading the dustjackets on all the books. On my last cruise I went through about 40 books over the 90 days. I love going around the ship and reading all the information under the pieces of art and displays. It is so interesting.

[arzz]

@kochleffel - you have probably thought about this already but we had great luck with a feral kitty by buying a tall cat tree that sat next to the couch where we spent our evenings. The feral fellow started to sit on the top level where he could feel safe and be in command of the whole room but still be near us. Eventually he started perching on a lower shelf where he would hang his tail almost in my face. At that point I would gently hold his tail for periods of time which he would allow. Eventually he became the cuddliest kitty we ever had.  
 

it is always difficult to deal with the feral ones. Good luck. 

[grapau27]

[marshhawk]

I don't think my doctor was bad because she didn't tell me how many carbs I can eat per meal.  I'm sure that someone told me 7 years ago when I was first diagnosed  It's just that the older I get, the more I want in writing, and I should go into my doctors office with a list of questions.  Like, remind me, but how many carbs, etc..

 

I worked with a dietician for several years, and when she said I was doing well, do I still want to come back?  I replied, yes, it makes me accountable to someone other than my selfish self.  But then, she retired!  The endocrinologist recommended that I see their new dietician in the office, but when I tried to schedule an appointment, the scheduler said, she was just a basic dietician, she didn't work with diabetes people.....so really?  Well I was very happy to hear at my last appointment with the endocrinologist that Cheryl was coming back, retirement didn't suit her, I was ecstatic!  But she is not available yet for appointments.  Call after my cruise.

 

My BIL Scott is apparently doing better.  Has no memory however of why he was in the hospital to begin with, and while he is able to speak, he says his shoulder and thumb hurt, and he doesn't know why.  He probably fell at the time he had the stroke.

 

@kochleffelI had been planning on asking about your new fur babies too, the trust will come. Feral cats are like hurricanes, once they have played out their wind, they are the most lovable.  It took 2 years for Fawn to allow touching, and then it was non stop belly rubbing from then on.  But, only me. 

Yesterday Bubbles allowed petting, and it made me so happy.  No hisses at all. He has taken over yard patrol since Fawn's disappearance in May.  When you can, please provide pictures.

[Crazy For Cats]

Good Afternoon,  we will arrive in St John at 9 am tomorrow.   Our excursion was moved from 12:30 to 9:30 which I like. It will give us time to explore.  We are getting free drinks today 4 until 5 for missing today's port.  I thought it one drink but our glasses seem to be bottomless.

[aliaschief]

Yaquina National Park lighthouse and nature preserve. Thousands of birds mainly Pelicans. Beautiful.

 

[Quartzsite Cruiser]

Good afternoon from a hot central Texas.  The last time I checked the thermometers about an hour ago they both read 107F.  I don't want to look at them again until much later today.  Seriously, this is September 8, and we should only be in the 90s now.  Give us a break!  At least the a/c is working, and I need to change the filter, but that's not going to happen until it's a bit cooler.  The filter is in the  attic, which even though it is insulated, it's very hot with no a/c vents up there.  

 

3 hours ago, aliaschief said:

Good morning. Another beautiful day here. We went to the Oregon Coast Aquarium yesterday which is a very nice facility. On the way back we stopped and bought more oysters which we dined on oyster Rockefeller’s. Delicious.

@smitty34877 You and Lou are in my thoughts, concerns and prayers.

Today we will be checking out another lighthouse and the Devils Bowl. 
Time to get ready for today’s adventures. Have a great weekend. Bruce

 

 

Another beautiful sunset, Bruce.  Thanks.  Would love some oysters Rockefeller.

 

46 minutes ago, marshhawk said:

I don't think my doctor was bad because she didn't tell me how many carbs I can eat per meal.  I'm sure that someone told me 7 years ago when I was first diagnosed  It's just that the older I get, the more I want in writing, and I should go into my doctors office with a list of questions.  Like, remind me, but how many carbs, etc..

 

I worked with a dietician for several years, and when she said I was doing well, do I still want to come back?  I replied, yes, it makes me accountable to someone other than my selfish self.  But then, she retired!  The endocrinologist recommended that I see their new dietician in the office, but when I tried to schedule an appointment, the scheduler said, she was just a basic dietician, she didn't work with diabetes people.....so really?  Well I was very happy to hear at my last appointment with the endocrinologist that Cheryl was coming back, retirement didn't suit her, I was ecstatic!  But she is not available yet for appointments.  Call after my cruise.

 

My BIL Scott is apparently doing better.  Has no memory however of why he was in the hospital to begin with, and while he is able to speak, he says his shoulder and thumb hurt, and he doesn't know why.  He probably fell at the time he had the stroke.

 

@kochleffelI had been planning on asking about your new fur babies too, the trust will come. Feral cats are like hurricanes, once they have played out their wind, they are the most lovable.  It took 2 years for Fawn to allow touching, and then it was non stop belly rubbing from then on.  But, only me. 

Yesterday Bubbles allowed petting, and it made me so happy.  No hisses at all. He has taken over yard patrol since Fawn's disappearance in May.  When you can, please provide pictures.

 

Annie, I hope you can get an appointment with the dietician soon.  I'm glad Scott is doing better.  That is good news that Bubbles will let you pet him now.

 

44 minutes ago, Crazy For Cats said:

Good Afternoon,  we will arrive in St John at 9 am tomorrow.   Our excursion was moved from 12:30 to 9:30 which I like. It will give us time to explore.  We are getting free drinks today 4 until 5 for missing today's port.  I thought it one drink but our glasses seem to be bottomless.

 

Jake, the free drinks sound like a nice compensation.  How many sometimes depends on the bar server and/or the bartender.  Enjoy your tour tomorrow.

 

37 minutes ago, aliaschief said:

Yaquina National Park lighthouse and nature preserve. Thousands of birds mainly Pelicans. Beautiful.

 

 

Bruce, thanks for the pictures of the Oregon coast.  That scenery never gets old.

 

Since It is International Literacy Day, I thought I'd share these memes.

 

 

 

Lenda

 

Edited September 8, 2023 by Quartzsite Cruiser

[kochleffel]

3 hours ago, arzz said:

@kochleffel - you have probably thought about this already but we had great luck with a feral kitty by buying a tall cat tree that sat next to the couch where we spent our evenings. The feral fellow started to sit on the top level where he could feel safe and be in command of the whole room but still be near us. Eventually he started perching on a lower shelf where he would hang his tail almost in my face. At that point I would gently hold his tail for periods of time which he would allow. Eventually he became the cuddliest kitty we ever had.  
 

it is always difficult to deal with the feral ones. Good luck. 

I think that they had a cat tree before. The place I could put one isn't right next to anywhere I would or could sit, but it's only a few feet away. Thank you for the suggestion.

 

49 minutes ago, marshhawk said:

@kochleffelI had been planning on asking about your new fur babies too, the trust will come. Feral cats are like hurricanes, once they have played out their wind, they are the most lovable.  It took 2 years for Fawn to allow touching, and then it was non stop belly rubbing from then on.  But, only me. 

 

Yesterday Bubbles allowed petting, and it made me so happy.  No hisses at all. He has taken over yard patrol since Fawn's disappearance in May.  When you can, please provide pictures.

 

They're not really feral cats, but I think they might have been in the shelter for a considerable time (Mona Lisa definitely, DaVinci maybe) and they're much more strongly bonded to each other than they have ever been to humans.  It's progress that they're letting themselves be seen more frequently.

[rafinmd]

Today's sunrise is another from my Cruise West Alaska Cruise.  On September 8 the Spirit of Columbia visited Petersburg, Alaska:

 

 

Roy

[bennybear]

Good day and thanks all! 
@smitty34877 sending special prayers for you and Lou! 
@kazu sorry you’ve encountered some difficulties, sometimes organizing tours can be wonderful or ….
Loving the photos and cartoons! 
For the  night owl group,  magnesium at bed time has helped me.

 

[rafinmd]

This has not been one of my better days.  I slept fitfully last night with a very stuffy nose.  The sympoms pretty much resolved as I started moving around but I decided to take a covid test and it turned out positive.  I visited my local urgent care center and they confired it and I will get the results of a PCR test in a couple of days.  No fever either at home or there but it's still positive and I'm restricted.  They prescribed an antiviral and will pick it up tomorrow.

 

Roy

[StLouisCruisers]

4 minutes ago, rafinmd said:

This has not been one of my better days.  I slept fitfully last night with a very stuffy nose.  The sympoms pretty much resolved as I started moving around but I decided to take a covid test and it turned out positive.  I visited my local urgent care center and they confired it and I will get the results of a PCR test in a couple of days.  No fever either at home or there but it's still positive and I'm restricted.  They prescribed an antiviral and will pick it up tomorrow.

 

Roy

 

Roy, I'm sorry to hear this news and hope the symptoms don't cause you much distress or any lasting effects.  I also hope you don't have any plans that this will disrupt.  Please just rest a lot and take good care of yourself.  Let us know how you're feeling each day as you go through this episode of Covid.

[travelnap]

6 minutes ago, rafinmd said:

This has not been one of my better days.  I slept fitfully last night with a very stuffy nose.  The sympoms pretty much resolved as I started moving around but I decided to take a covid test and it turned out positive.  I visited my local urgent care center and they confired it and I will get the results of a PCR test in a couple of days.  No fever either at home or there but it's still positive and I'm restricted.  They prescribed an antiviral and will pick it up tomorrow.

 

Roy

Sorry to hear that, Roy.  I hope that you have a mild case of it and are soon feeling better.