Built For Tough Conditions

I've never been on a cruise. I have worked on a cruise ship and paid a visit to the Fincatieri Shipyards in Marghera several years back to knock heads with the builders of the Carnival Leviathans. I wouldn't mind a trip down the Mighty Mississipp on a riverboat but an ocean cruise isn't on my bucket list. In a week or so, MissMooseloop oughta be back to fill us in on the ups and downs of her coastal voyage. Maybe she'll have pictures to boot.

A seafaring lullaby,

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Gi7Z3-T_qQ

G'night Village.

I don't like cruises, don't like the feel of being stuck in one place. But, I wouldn't mind spending retirement on a cruise ship instead of in a retirement home..... it IS cheaper!

http://www.snopes.com/travel/trap/retire.asp

I had a few toddies in Long Beach in the late late 1980's at the bar aboard the Queen Mary. You could feel the vibe aboard her. It was a fun part of my life roaming around that area. At the time, Howard Hughes' wooden plane, aka The Flying Boat or The Spruce Goose was right next door.  

I've always fantasized about a long ship journey....I've been on a couple of cruises, but the only part of cruising that I really liked were the days at sea.  Breezy and sunny....lots of time for a good read.  I think about the women and families traveling to/from the far-flung parts of the British Empire and wonder what that must have been like: pleasure? just a means of getting there?  If I was aboard ship, however, I would most definitely want a way off during a storm....or a very sharp captain who could easily navigate around it!!*******Automobile travel really allows you to see as you travel.  It doesn't isolate you from your surroundings, but rather immerses you in them (if you get off the interstates).  Even as the passenger in the car it's more interactive in getting you from A to B than simply walking into your cabin at A and out again at B.  Or onto the jetway at A and off the jetway at B.    I envy Moose's journey.....so much to see and experience on the way to the cruise.

borrowing from the book title "Another Roadside Attraction", I have always stopped every place that beckoned. I've met people in far away places that had way fewer than 6 degrees of seperation; in places almost a thousand miles away, a curio shop, and he went to the same High School as I! And if that was not enough, we knew some of the same people! I have been to Wall Drugs, and The Corn Palace. I have been to countless street fairs,and even those "period fares" that employ local costumes,customs,and,beards!And, like SF~ says, an ocean cruise would be favorable to a hospice,for sure. No waiting for a Dr., no unintersted  orderly, instead, a well trained attendant. And, while still able,but certain of the dimming of the light, a short cruise to Davey Jones' Locker. 

I love car trips, whether its my means to a specific destination or just because. Like SF, I have always thought i would feel claustrophobic on cruise ship. Very funny crack about a cruise ship being cheaper than a nursing home! I am not much for big resorts either so its another factor in my lack of interest.

I would be interested in the kitchen of a cruise ship. That would be fascinating to me. I cannot even imagine what a well oiled machine that would have to be.

As I have said, we are in our 14th day out, driving, but today we get aboard the Holland American line's Golden Princess for the trip up to Alaska....Hope it is smooth sailing, good food, and restful sleeping. We are not in ports very long in any one place, and as this is my 4th cruise (others were in the Caribbean), I can look forward to the long walks from the pier to the town. I am closing down the PC, as we are charged by the minute if using the PC on board, so I think not.

The QE II sounds like a luxury cruise for a week across the Atlantic. We saw her in port when we were in Halifax a few yrs. ago, and she is magnificent! Thanks, Mr. P for an uplifting topic! We can all dream of such an indulgent sail one day!

Paolos, SF, RY, Carol, et al - Please save me a seat in the Club Car of theSepia Train for next week when I return...over and out.....ML

I'm actually embarking on my second transatlantic trip via the QM2 in a week--I never want to fly between Europe and the US again--I love it!

minoubean--Lucky you!  I have a friend who traveled with her parents as a young child on her way to live in France for a couple of years!  She loved it and never forgot it!

Hey Moose! Just got your message, I've been out and about trying to win a big blue ribbon at the state fair...but I'm back to the land of oz and I sure did mean it when I said to pay me a visit! I'll get you my number and location here in a few minutes...hope it works out. We just pinned the buffalo a couple days ago and there may be a chance y'all might pass through about the time we go to sort and wean the calves. It's always an adventure. At any rate, we're right along the highway and I'd love to see ya in person :)

Someday, I'd like to load up the cowboy and a couple ponies and head across the country like you have, MOose....We love the open road!

Penned. We corralled them. Rounded 'em up. I'm not thinking right to have misspelled such a word.

GRAYGOOSE:
How did you make out with your sunflower?
Do you have a photo to post for us to see?
I hope you're not over doing it and are you're making a good recovery.

Carol, that was such a nice way to put it. Very nice read on a good day for a road trip.

When there were only three of us kids, the second three-peat, It was always a scramble to not sit next to my sister Joan who seemed to get car sick on the hottest days of summer. She was like Old Faithful going down steep hills.

I came home with my tail tucked between my legs! You would not BELIEVE how big the sunflowers were this year. Mine was 16" across but the one that won was almost 2 feet in diameter! They have got to have special seeds for that kind of sunflower...evidently, my fertilizer just wasn't potent enough! But we did have a great time at the fair...ate way too much and spent hours following our kids around the midway...I'm completely worn out! I will get some pictures up as soon as I can catch up on some things around here...Hope y'all are well!

Aloha bean- happy cruisin'-
***
As an avid walker, a stroll on the deck is hard to beat. And a lungful of fresh sea air permeates the lusty traveler's inner sailor. Nice thoughts RY. Got my Tommy Robbins stirred-"Should you fail to pilot your own ship, don't be surprised at what inappropriate port you find yourself docked."

Last year we traveled aroud the world. Next year we will go somewhere else.--Saul Bellow 

around around around around around around around around around around
around around around around around around around around around around
around around around around around around around around around around
around around around around around around around around around around
around around around around around around around around around around
If only copy and paste had been around when I was told to write "I will not dip Susie's pigtails in the inkwell" on the chalk board five hundred times. 

Around....a round....a round balloon....For my son's birthday, I made him write a note with a birthday wish, then we stuffed it inside a helium filled balloon and turned it loose...hoping that someone, someday will find it and send a note back telling us how far and what direction his wish traveled...a balloon ride might not be such a bad way to travel?
"There's no place like home"

A round for all! On me! And donuts and cider for the "you know who's"...and the coin-op mirror will easily erase 10pounds and 10 years-no charge! It may have only been a 16" sunflower, but that is OUR Biggest! Yay!

PA4, Are you out enjoying this fall preview of a day? Beautiful day in our corner of the world. The Bears came out of hibernation. Gonna be rough Thursday night though. At least more of a contest. HU3

In my case it is really not an option as to how I travel. It is rather like a delicate ballet in some circumstances. To watch as these behemoths are moved around with delicacy and care (in most circumstances!), needs to be seen.
You see, I drive a long distance truck. Yes, I agree there are circumstances that leave a lot to be desired regarding these machines, some tragic unfortunately. However when one looks at the circumstances of drivers who have driven several millions of miles without incident which is a lot more common than any of us might think the incidents of tragedy, near misses and all are no less but put in perspective.
Seventy plus feet of machinery traveling at 60, 65 even 70 with anywhere between say 35,000 to 48,000 in more common trucks is an awesome, dangerous, incredible thing. Watch as night after night these things are parked by their drivers into slots between other trucks that would make a car driver think twice. Not excusing anything or justifying anything. This is a new venture for me and one I had absolutely no perception of until I started it. There is a lot more I could ads but this is enough for now...