The Fleet Report and Daily for Monday April 8th, 2024

[RedneckBob]

What, no celebration of total ellipse day! Kcreepy Kreame does!

 

Edited April 8 by RedneckBob

[rafinmd]

9 minutes ago, Cruzin Terri said:

 Don’t have the special glasses and don’t know where to get them. So I guess we will watch it on TV instead.

You can also use a couple of pieces of cardboard and a small hole in one of them.  Face away from the sun and hold the cardboard with the hole up and the other cardboard behind it.  The small hole will act like a simple lens.

 

Roy

[luvteaching]

Good morning, 

Quick note this morning as I need to get ready and head into town for water aerobics. Happy Birthday @StLouisCruisers and twin, @Norseh2o and Happy Anniversary to @Overhead Fred and @erewhon. Enjoy your days!
 

Yesterday morning was a bit on the tough side and I called my son who decided he'd come over for a visit which did me a world of good. I haven't had that overwhelming sense of grief since the day my DH died so it was unexpected. I sort of expect it tomorrow as it would have been our 47th anniversary but didn't see it coming on Sunday. After a good visit with DS and lots of hugs I was much better and have been fine ever since. 

Have a good day! We won't see the eclipse as we're in the northwest corner of Washington state but that's ok. I did have the DARE program in school and many years had a DARE officer in my classroom. 

Karen

[Nickelpenny]

 

Three interesting days, the meal sounds delicious, no, no, no on the drink, pass on the wine, never been to Darwin, and cheers to Hank Aaron!!  He was playing against my Dodgers when it happened.

 

 

It will be a cooler day today with partly cloudy skies but we will only see about a 70% eclipse of the sun - which should be awesome!  I don't have any glasses so I will do the pinhole trick and also watch it on the tv.  

 

 

Happy Birthday to @StLouisCruisers and @Norseh2o and Happy Anniversary to @erewhon and @Overhead Fred.  Cheers for those who are celebrating other milestones.  Thoughts for those on the care list.

 

Have a great day everyone!!

[smitty34877]

12 minutes ago, luvteaching said:

Good morning, 

Quick note this morning as I need to get ready and head into town for water aerobics. Happy Birthday @StLouisCruisers and twin, @Norseh2o and Happy Anniversary to @Overhead Fred and @erewhon. Enjoy your days!
 

Yesterday morning was a bit on the tough side and I called my son who decided he'd come over for a visit which did me a world of good. I haven't had that overwhelming sense of grief since the day my DH died so it was unexpected. I sort of expect it tomorrow as it would have been our 47th anniversary but didn't see it coming on Sunday. After a good visit with DS and lots of hugs I was much better and have been fine ever since. 

Have a good day! We won't see the eclipse as we're in the northwest corner of Washington state but that's ok. I did have the DARE program in school and many years had a DARE officer in my classroom. 

Karen

Karen, I am so glad that your son was able to come over and visit with you yesterday. I am surrounded by people but still go through that awful overwhelming grief when I least expect it. I am often surprised by the silliest things that set it off. Anniversaries and birthdays are much harder. Sending hugs your way.

Terry

[cat shepard]

3 hours ago, ottahand7 said:

Good morning everyone.  Thanks for the Daily and Fleet reports Jacqui and for the maps Roy.  Good wishes for the cardiologist visit today and for your busy day.  A good group of days.  A very nice quote by C.S. Lewis.    Pass on the chicken, the goofy cocktail and I would drink today's vino if I could find it.  I don't even know where it is from so what section to search at Total Wine?   Thanks for the photos of Darwin Sandi, I look forward to more coming.   

 

Thanks for the cares and celebrations reports Vanessa staying on top of all these events while you are suffering from all the pain that keeps you awake.   Prayers for Tana and her family.   Prayers for all in war zones, Ukraine and the innocents in Gaza.  Prayers for whatever is going on in Haiti.   

 

We are leaving in a while to head to the Lake Michigan city South Haven where I am doing a talk on butterflies and their host plants.  That begins at 2 and just as that ends the close to full eclipse (95%) will be happening at 3:05 or so.  Then we head to New Buffalo for some free nights at the casino hotel that John was comped.   When we come back from that fling we will really have to buckle down and get the yard ready to be abandoned, save for mowing.  We plan on heading to our cabin on May 19.  It will be here before we know it.   Have a lovely Eclipse day everyone!  Nancy 

Nancy, this vineyard is in Washington. But you might also find it with wines from Chile or Bordeaux. 

[arzz]

Another way to view the eclipse is like I unintentionally did during an eclipse in the '90's. I was teaching high school chem at the time - took my class outside with all the cautions and necessary equipment for viewing - then I tripped on the last step at the door and broke my ankle. My class dispersed into the mob of students and I sat on the ground, in pain, under a large tree. 
 

The leaves of the tree overlapped making small holes that allow some sunlight thru and I sat there surrounded by dozens if not hundreds of projections of the eclipse on the ground and cement sidewalk.  I did not have to look up or use any equipment. It was surreal. 

[kochleffel]

Yesterday I noticed that my county has erected temporary signs telling eclipse visitors how to get out when they're finished, and I saw reports of very heavy traffic northbound in New England.

 

Today the traffic seems to be within the capacities of the highways, but I-87, the Northway (to the Adirondacks), has a very large number of accidents and breakdowns.

[superoma]

Good morning all. We have lovely sunshine and clear skies so eclipse viewing should be perfect here. We won’t have a total eclipse here in Windsor but it should still be a good show.

 

prayers for those that need them and a celebratory shout out to our birthday and anniversary people!

[durangoscots]

Monday, Monday..... and my first day back to reality.  Cold cereal for breakfast. I do need to get to the store today. However, my first order of business this morning was to liberate the dogs from the kennel. They seem happy to be home and look (and smell) great. They are now crashed in their beds. I think they are pretty tired from having to supervise the kennel for all this time.

 

So..... the next thing on my agenda is to sort the mail and haul lots of it out to the recycling bin. Then the bank, taxes and on and on for the next week or so.  It is going to be hard to get back into my routine and I need to pick up on my downsizing projects. Knowing that I was doing that did keep me from buying too many souvenirs on the trip.... I actually did pretty well resisting temptation. No dust collectors.

 

Susan (and a happy and tired two doggies)

[Haljo1935]

Eclips viewing update:

Yesterday we had beautiful blue skies w/a few wispy clouds. This morning when I went to WM, completely overcast ☁️ 

Now as it gets closer to viewing time, the skies over my neighborhood are doing their part to try for us to have a good experience. 

This is a SW view from my back patio.

 

This is a NE view from the WM parking lot 2 hours ago.

 

[Cruising-along]

Good morning all!

Happy Birthday Sandi and twin! @StLouisCruisers

Happy Birthday @Norseh2o!

Happy Anniversary @Overhead Fred!

Happy Anniversary @erewhon!

I hope you all have a wonderful day of celebration.

 

Yesterday we refilled the fridge and pantry, and I've already started a list of the things I didn't realize we need.  At least we have food again.  Also went through all the mail (thank goodness my neighbor threw out all the ads etc. etc.).  Calls will be made today to restart the garbage pickup and a few other things.  

 

And best of all, we saw the kids and grandkids last night.  DD made dinner for us and afterwards we all went out for ice cream in Seattle.  Oh my it was SO good to get those hugs, and to see how happy the grandsons were to have us back again. 🙂  

 

We were in Darwin on the GANZ just recently on Feb. 10.  It was HOT HOT HOT and humid.  We decided to take the HOHO, one of the few offered on that itinerary. And it had A/C.  🙂   Here are a few photos from that day.

 

The Government House

 

Fanny Bay

 

 

 

Christchurch Anglican Cathedral

 

I don't know if this is common there, but this cracked me up...

  

[bennybear]

Good morning and thanks all,  particularly to Lenda and Sandi for the port photos, and Debbie,  Dixie and Anne for the wine, drinks and dinner!

 

What an auspicious day to celebrate!  Happy birthday to Sandi,  @StLouisCruisersand twin sister as well as @Norseh2o

 

happy anniversary wishes to @erewhon, hopefully it’s today and not yesterday!  And also to @Overhead Fred and Mitzi! 
 

@luvteachingsending extra hugs, grief can hit out of nowhere, glad your DS could visit! 
 

@arzz what a story,  but I think I like the box idea better!  Thanks @rafinmd also hope your visit is a good one today! 

Well the snow has all melted and we have sunshine!  Happy Monday!

 

Edited April 8 by bennybear

[grapau27]

4 hours ago, Quartzsite Cruiser said:

Darwin was a port on our 2002 Volendam Asia Pacific Explorer Cruise.  We were there on October 30, and the hot, humid season had not started then.  We did not look at the town, but as per our usual port day, we rented a car and explored the surrounding area.

 

Giant termite mounds were along the highway.  DH, who is 6'1" stood next to it, and it towered over his head.  

 

Our first stop was a nature/animal preserve, that could have been in one of the national parks near Darwin.  These are some of the local residents.

 

On the way back to Darwin, we detoured to take a river cruise to see the jumping crocodiles. 

 

Our final stop that day was the Mindil Beach Sunset Market.  It was the last night of the market until the next April.  There were all types of crafts, clothing, food, and even didgeridoos for sale.  As we walked around, we sampled kangaroo (which isn't bad, but does not taste like chicken) and crocodile, which tastes somewhat like alligator.  DH bought a didgeridoo, which the vendor promised he'd ship to our house in Texas, since we couldn't haul it back on the plane.  DH's comment when we left, was that we may have wasted our money.  When we walked in the house after the cruise, the didgeridoo was on the couch.  Let's just say, he can make a noise with it.

 

A few scenes of the sunset market.

 

Mindil Beach

 

A local band to entertain the shoppers.

 

Another local group to enjoy as we reboarded the Volendam.

 

At dinner that night, kangaroo was on the menu.  No one wanted to order it, but after we told them we'd tasted it at the market, the table decided to order one kangaroo dinner and share it between the six of us.

 

The cruise was during the time the LA port locked the longshoremen out, so the Volendam could not get the containers of food that were sitting on the LA dock shipped to the various ports.  The HD, F&B manager, and executive chef went shopping in most of our ports around Asia and Australia.  We had good, and interesting things show up on the menu.  We heard that our food did not go to waste, but went to the Veendam.

 

Upon our arrival in LA the Tuesday before Thanksgiving, the longshoremen were working, but were protesting the lockout by unloading the ship one piece of luggage at a time by hand.  We could not get off the ship until well after 1 pm., so the executive chef and the Lido cooks quickly fixed a modified lunch for everyone.  Needless to say, just about all the passengers missed their flights.  We did get out that day, as the ticket agent at LAX did not want extra passengers the next day.  The adventures of travelling are not for the faint of heart, but do make travelling interesting.

 

Lenda

Great collection of photos Lenda.

[grapau27]

2 hours ago, rafinmd said:

You can also use a couple of pieces of cardboard and a small hole in one of them.  Face away from the sun and hold the cardboard with the hole up and the other cardboard behind it.  The small hole will act like a simple lens.

 

Roy

My late dad was a maintenance Electrician in a local shipyard and he got us the special dark glass lens that was in the Electric arc welders helmets to look at the suns eclipse.

[1ANGELCAT]

Just a quick note, HAL fb page , livestream from the KDAM, started now.

[goghd]

7 hours ago, kazu said:

 

Today is D.A.R.E. Day, Draw A Bird Day, and International Roma Day
 

I believe in Christianity as I believe that the sun has risen: not only because I see it, but because by it I see everything else.--C.S. Lewis

Meal Suggestion for today - Spinach & Artichoke Chicken
Drink of the Day - Cotton Candy
Wine of the Day - Liberty Lake Wine Cellars 2020 Heart of the Hill Vineyard Carmenere
Destination of the Day - Darwin, Australia 

Today in History:
1974 Hammerin' Hank Aaron hits 715th HR, off of L.A. Dodger Al Downing, breaking Babe Ruth's record in Atlanta

Ship Locations
 

Eurodam

Grand Turk Island, Cockburn Town, Turks and Caicos 07:00 - 15:00 
 

Koningsdam

At Sea Destination Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco, Mexico Riviera eta 04-09
 

Nieuw Amsterdam

Grand Turk Island, Cockburn Town, Turks and Caicos 07:00 - 17:00 
 

Nieuw Statendam

At Sea Destination Kings Wharf, Bermuda eta 04-10
 

Oosterdam

At Sea Destination Ponta Delgada, Sao Miguel Island Azores Portugal eta 04-12
 

Rotterdam

At Sea Destination Belize City eta 04-09
 

Volendam

At Sea Destination Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco, Mexico Riviera eta 04-09
 

Zaandam

At Sea Destination San Diego, California eta 04-13

Eastern Hemisphere
 

Noordam

Noumea, Grande Terre Island New Caledonia 10:00 - 18:00 
 

Westerdam

At Sea Destination Sapporo-Otaru, Japan Shiribeshi eta 04-10
 

Zuiderdam

Zanzibar, Tanzia - 17:00

Correction:  Volendam is in port - Cabo MX today Monday 8 Apr.  I'm on the ship.

[Quartzsite Cruiser]

Good afternoon after a busy morning.  Our skies are clearing for a while and then clouding up some.  The eclipse started here a few minutes ago, and the cloud layer is thin enough that DH's three (yes, three) telescopes are getting good images.  Totality will in a bit over an hour and will last about 4 minutes, give or take a few seconds.  After the heavy cloud cover early this morning, we are lucky to see the eclipse.  Could it be that DH has on his eclipse t-shirt that I found last week at W-M?

 

2 hours ago, luvteaching said:

Good morning, 

Quick note this morning as I need to get ready and head into town for water aerobics. Happy Birthday @StLouisCruisers and twin, @Norseh2o and Happy Anniversary to @Overhead Fred and @erewhon. Enjoy your days!
 

Yesterday morning was a bit on the tough side and I called my son who decided he'd come over for a visit which did me a world of good. I haven't had that overwhelming sense of grief since the day my DH died so it was unexpected. I sort of expect it tomorrow as it would have been our 47th anniversary but didn't see it coming on Sunday. After a good visit with DS and lots of hugs I was much better and have been fine ever since. 

Have a good day! We won't see the eclipse as we're in the northwest corner of Washington state but that's ok. I did have the DARE program in school and many years had a DARE officer in my classroom. 

Karen

 

Karen, I'm glad your DS could spend time with you and brighten your mood.

 

1 hour ago, arzz said:

Another way to view the eclipse is like I unintentionally did during an eclipse in the '90's. I was teaching high school chem at the time - took my class outside with all the cautions and necessary equipment for viewing - then I tripped on the last step at the door and broke my ankle. My class dispersed into the mob of students and I sat on the ground, in pain, under a large tree. 
 

The leaves of the tree overlapped making small holes that allow some sunlight thru and I sat there surrounded by dozens if not hundreds of projections of the eclipse on the ground and cement sidewalk.  I did not have to look up or use any equipment. It was surreal. 

 

That is not the best way to see an eclipse.

 

1 hour ago, durangoscots said:

Monday, Monday..... and my first day back to reality.  Cold cereal for breakfast. I do need to get to the store today. However, my first order of business this morning was to liberate the dogs from the kennel. They seem happy to be home and look (and smell) great. They are now crashed in their beds. I think they are pretty tired from having to supervise the kennel for all this time.

 

So..... the next thing on my agenda is to sort the mail and haul lots of it out to the recycling bin. Then the bank, taxes and on and on for the next week or so.  It is going to be hard to get back into my routine and I need to pick up on my downsizing projects. Knowing that I was doing that did keep me from buying too many souvenirs on the trip.... I actually did pretty well resisting temptation. No dust collectors.

 

Susan (and a happy and tired two doggies)

 

Susan, I'm glad the dogs were happy to see you and are settled in at home.

 

18 minutes ago, grapau27 said:

Great collection of photos Lenda.

 

Thank you, Graham.

 

Lenda

[kazu]

12 minutes ago, goghd said:

Correction:  Volendam is in port - Cabo MX today Monday 8 Apr.  I'm on the ship.

 

thanks - not much I can do about it now.  Where ae you tomorrow?  I will check the report tomorrow and with luck will remember to change it if it is incorrect.

 

this is all pre-programmed so unless I am aware of a change I cn’t make it.

[goghd]

3 minutes ago, kazu said:

 

thanks - not much I can do about it now.  Where ae you tomorrow?  I will check the report tomorrow and with luck will remember to change it if it is incorrect.

 

this is all pre-programmed so unless I am aware of a change I cn’t make it.

Tomorrow Volendam is in port- Puerto Vallarta 8 AM - 3 PM  

[Himself]

Thanks for the Fleet information and the maps. I am the fried of a priest who is from and serves in Tanzania.

[richwmn]

Volendam is in Cabo San Lucas MX today, I'll have to check the schedules for Volendam & Zaandam going forward.

We will have 95% eclipse in about 15 minutes

 

[richwmn]

10 minutes ago, kazu said:

 

thanks - not much I can do about it now.  Where ae you tomorrow?  I will check the report tomorrow and with luck will remember to change it if it is incorrect.

 

this is all pre-programmed so unless I am aware of a change I cn’t make it.

Volendam is in Puerto Vallarta tomorrow so the schedule should be correct

[kochleffel]

The outdoor temperature has fallen 2 degrees in the last ten minutes.

 

The latest weather forecast says that rain will start any minute now.

 

Edited April 8 by kochleffel

[kazu]

22 minutes ago, richwmn said:

Volendam is in Puerto Vallarta tomorrow so the schedule should be correct

 

Thanks Rich.  Don’t worry about the Fleet report and just enjoy yourself. 🙂 

 

See you soon.