Icewind's Ramblings

We sailed through the night with the soothing sounds of the wake waves gently crashing off the bow of the ship below our stateroom. With the sliding door open during the night the occasional distant sounds of thunder could be heard if you happened to be rolling over or retuning to bed after a restroom jaunt. Being the light sleeper I awoke several times to just go outside and stand by the railing looking up at the stars. The waning crescent moon was making its way towards the distant horizon and I watched it slowly drop ‘into’ the ocean from my vantage point. It still amazes me that wherever you travel that the moon I see tonight is the same moon you may see in another part of the world. We see the same thing but from a different vantage point in the sky. Living in Alaska the position of stars is very different than what I remember from all my years living in Atlanta . The constellations might still be there just in the sky in a place that seems somewhat strange to ...

I’m on vacation but my body had no problem waking up ready to head into the new day. I quietly dressed and left the room for my quiet walk around the ship. I could usually do about four to six laps walking in just over thirty minutes depending if I stopped to look at anything. Four laps was a mile and on every cruise I have ever sailed the early morning ‘lap crew’ would be out jogging or walking like robots heading into the unknown. They worked hard with their routines dividing time between the gym and the track. I am amazed how many people will spend time in the well equipped facilities onboard ship. It has everything you would find at your home health spa but without the ‘crowds’. It was not too long before people started milling around the ship with most heading for the breakfast buffet. I enjoy taking my time drinking coffee and usually find a nice spot to observe people and their early morning oddities. Some are still half asleep fumbling around tr...

October 07, 2007 We had our fist snowfall on the valley floor overnight so we woke up to about an inch of light powder. I’m writing about the vacation trip less than two weeks ago when it was ninety degrees and now it is snowing. Quick break from the trip log as I am still uploading pictures so I’ll continue it tomorrow. Tonight I thought I would do one of a couple of “10” lists for the trip. Top 10 ridicules questions asked on a cruise ship When the dolphin ice sculptures melt, where do the dolphins go? Do these stairs go up or down? What happens when you sit on the toilet while flushing it? What religion are the people who wear the patch on the back of their ear? Does the crew live onboard or are they brought on to work everyday? Where do they keep all of the towels animals on the ship? How can the cruise director be on the television and around the ship at the same time? How can they make a 1,150 foot ship go ...