Day 1:
We are still cruising in the Chilean fjords. The weather is cold, cloudy, and rainy. The water is smooth. I don’t have much to report on the sea days; it’s just a routine day at sea.
However, I do have some big news: Michael and I played in the duplicate bridge game today to fill out a table and we had a 72% game!!!!! To all you non-bridge folks, that is fabulous. Somehow the lessons Michael gives to the intermediates is penetrating into my brain. Of course, our first place finish did not count as we had to be disqualified. Wouldn’t look nice if the director/teacher took home the bacon.
We had dinner with the PYC (Portland Yacht Club) folks and had a pleasant time. We decided to retire early and get ready for our night of sailing in the open South Pacific Ocean. Captain says to expect a bumpy ride. Tomorrow is another sea day.
Day 2:
Last night was awful. The seas started building yesterday afternoon and by late last night things were really rocking and rolling. We got into bed early before it became impossible to stand up without holding on to something. After taking a seasick pill and sleeping pill, I could not sleep. It was another night of no sleep for me. Michael can sleep through a bomb blast. By 3am, I was totally awake and gave up trying to sleep at 5am so I got up and got dressed for the day.
Both Michael and I had escort duty for a walk through Aiken del Sur Private Park in Puerto Chacabuco. This was a wilderness adventure in the virgin forests of Patagonia. “Wilderness” is used loosely to describe a nicely manicured trail with steps that had thick bamboo handrails. Bridge surfaces were laced with non-skid so you don’t slip. This is my ideal version of wilderness (rolling my eyes). We saw signs that said what kind of wildlife is in the area; however, in all the wilderness treks we have been on, we have never seen wildlife. Where do they go? Oh, the tourists are here so let’s hide and let the mosquitoes get at ‘em. Today, the pesky bugs were absent due to the cold, overcast weather. At least it didn’t rain on us today.
However, I do have some big news: Michael and I played in the duplicate bridge game today to fill out a table and we had a 72% game!!!!! To all you non-bridge folks, that is fabulous. Somehow the lessons Michael gives to the intermediates is penetrating into my brain. Of course, our first place finish did not count as we had to be disqualified. Wouldn’t look nice if the director/teacher took home the bacon.
We had dinner with the PYC (Portland Yacht Club) folks and had a pleasant time. We decided to retire early and get ready for our night of sailing in the open South Pacific Ocean. Captain says to expect a bumpy ride. Tomorrow is another sea day.
Day 2:
Last night was awful. The seas started building yesterday afternoon and by late last night things were really rocking and rolling. We got into bed early before it became impossible to stand up without holding on to something. After taking a seasick pill and sleeping pill, I could not sleep. It was another night of no sleep for me. Michael can sleep through a bomb blast. By 3am, I was totally awake and gave up trying to sleep at 5am so I got up and got dressed for the day.
Both Michael and I had escort duty for a walk through Aiken del Sur Private Park in Puerto Chacabuco. This was a wilderness adventure in the virgin forests of Patagonia. “Wilderness” is used loosely to describe a nicely manicured trail with steps that had thick bamboo handrails. Bridge surfaces were laced with non-skid so you don’t slip. This is my ideal version of wilderness (rolling my eyes). We saw signs that said what kind of wildlife is in the area; however, in all the wilderness treks we have been on, we have never seen wildlife. Where do they go? Oh, the tourists are here so let’s hide and let the mosquitoes get at ‘em. Today, the pesky bugs were absent due to the cold, overcast weather. At least it didn’t rain on us today.
We walked about ½ mile to Barba del Viejo waterfall (yawn) through indigenous trees, ferns, moss, wild fuchsias, etc. After the walk, our guide, who is just a baby, said the lodge was just a short five minute walk. She never mentioned it was uphill, steeply uphill over mushy rocks and sandy soil with big potholes. Our age group has bad knees, bad hips, and bad wind. I don’t know how some of the folks made up it. I know that my knees were screaming at me, NO NO NO MORE.
We were treated to empanadas (so-so) and a folk music and dance performance. They brought a bus up the hill for those that could not make it down the hill after it was brought to management’s attention.
After a tender ride back to the ship, we were back on board by noon. Bridge was scheduled for the afternoon and I wound up playing and did very well. Michael has convinced me that I need to play at home at least one or two times a week to keep up the skills I have learned so I don’t have to relearn everything with each cruise. I’ll think about it….
Update on Michael’s hand: it’s looking much better, but I will keep an eye on it. There is still a lump, but the red is gone. He was a good boy and took all his antibiotics.
We will be in mostly protected waters tonight. We expect some nasty movement for a couple of hours this evening as we will be exposed to the open ocean. I hope I can sleep.
Tomorrow is another anchorage in Puerto Montt. We do not have any excursions scheduled so we will wander around the shops near the pier and then return to the ship to do laundry. It is time to think about going home. Packing, the day of sightseeing and finally, the looooog flight home (not looking forward to THAT). My insides are shot from all the eating I have done, although I have not overindulged in the food, just the damn chocolate chip cookies. Eating late just doesn’t work for me. I am looking forward to home, to unlimited WIFI, to the telephone, and to sleeping in a bed that doesn’t move. This has not been one of my favorite cruises.
After a tender ride back to the ship, we were back on board by noon. Bridge was scheduled for the afternoon and I wound up playing and did very well. Michael has convinced me that I need to play at home at least one or two times a week to keep up the skills I have learned so I don’t have to relearn everything with each cruise. I’ll think about it….
Update on Michael’s hand: it’s looking much better, but I will keep an eye on it. There is still a lump, but the red is gone. He was a good boy and took all his antibiotics.
We will be in mostly protected waters tonight. We expect some nasty movement for a couple of hours this evening as we will be exposed to the open ocean. I hope I can sleep.
Tomorrow is another anchorage in Puerto Montt. We do not have any excursions scheduled so we will wander around the shops near the pier and then return to the ship to do laundry. It is time to think about going home. Packing, the day of sightseeing and finally, the looooog flight home (not looking forward to THAT). My insides are shot from all the eating I have done, although I have not overindulged in the food, just the damn chocolate chip cookies. Eating late just doesn’t work for me. I am looking forward to home, to unlimited WIFI, to the telephone, and to sleeping in a bed that doesn’t move. This has not been one of my favorite cruises.
No comments:
Post a Comment