Saturday Sept 6, 2008
Hard to believe, but it’s actually happening. After months of planning, preparing, packing and anticipating, we’re actually HERE – in beautiful Vancouver (British Columbia, Canada). Although we’re not here for long. Early this morning (according to some of our guys who were up with the sparrows), the ms Statendam sailed along the waterfront in a blaze of lights and tied up at the cruise terminal. Later this afternoon, 68 mad Kiwi midlifers went on board (along with 1100 other passengers from who-knows-where-and-who-cares). And an hour later our big blue-and-white ship slid gracefully away from the dock and headed north.
Our destination? ALASKA – YEEHAA!
Our Air New Zealand flight (all 13 hrs 15 minutes of it) was smooth and uneventful. Some of our group didn’t sleep … some did … some snored and dribbled the whole way there. We arrived in Vancouver before we left Auckland – a bit of weirdness caused by the international date line. But the only real excitement came shortly before landing, when an unnamed person started a pillow-fight – and before you could say “Touchdown!”, countless small white fluffy things were flying in every direction (several of the older women being the worst offenders).
We were met at the airport by two nice ladies speaking French-tainted English who got us into coaches and took us across this stunning city to the Fairmont Waterfront Hotel. Then, last night, we crossed the road en masse (dodging the wrong-wise-of-the-road traffic) and sat down to a yummy Midlife Madness “Welcome Dinner” at the Aqua Riva Restaurant. Highlight? The tastiest, pinkest, sock-eye salmon baked to total perfection!
It’s now bedtime on the Statendam, and most of our fellow-Kiwis are probably curled up in their lovely spacious beds in their lovely spacious cabins, dreaming of what we’ll see tomorrow (whales, maybe?) as we cruise through the famous Inside Passage. The ship is truly fantastic – more luxurious than most of us have ever experienced – and our first few hours have been “WOW!” ones, for sure. It’ll take us a day or two to find our way around, but we’ve already watched the sun go down over a dead-flat sea, enjoyed a five-course silver-service meal in the Rotterdam restaurant, and been treated to a fun show in the Van Gogh Lounge.
We’ve got seven days of this in Alaska, and I tell you – it’s gonna be tough! Will we survive – or will we cave in under the pressure? Time will tell, and you’ll be the first to know … so long as you stay tuned!
Yours bloggedly – JOHN
P.S. If you want to leave a message for someone in our group, just click on ‘COMMENTS’ (or ‘NO COMMENTS’) under the title for the day’s blog, and type away! And if you want a better look at our route map and some of the photos here, just click on them and they’ll enlarge – magic!
Hi Coons and Jenkins
Oh it’s looking like fun already. I know you’ll all have a great time – we’ll keep the homes fires burning here on your behalf.
Have a great time – we’re thinking of you all the way.
Love Joc and Noel
Hi to you both! The ship is lovely – a little more upmarket than Marco Polo.
good group – slowly getting to know them all. Lovely to have so many that havve been with us before. Whale watching tomorrow! Love to you both.
Hi Mum and Dad,
The ship sounds fantastic and very luxurious. Dad, have you been wandering around the ship at night looking for food?
Mum, I hope you weren’t involved in the pillow fight on the plane!
We are all well.
Maddy scored 2, yes 2 goals at soccer on Saturday. Amazing that she actually connected her boot to the ball, seeing as it is the second to last game of the season.
Lots of love, Sal xxxxx
Are you able to reply to us when we leave messages for you on this site?
It would be good to know that you are receving them.
Hi Mum and Dad
Sounds like you’re having lots of fun.
You missed a really sunny weekend but it was back to a rainy Monday today.
Hope you see some whales, take lots of photos!
Love Steve
Hi Nan and Poppa
I hope it is sunny because it has been raining today and very very
windy.
we were looking at pictures on the blog they are very beautiful.
I hope you are having a nice time.
LOVE FRROM IZZY
XOXOXOXXOXOXOXOXO
P.S i love you both
Hi to the Covs
Great blog! Sounds like everyone is off to a good start with plenty more fun to come….pillow fights,Maureen – shame on you! – we knew that you would not be far from any of these tour escapades,but I guess that ” what happens on tour stays on tour”Have a great time – go for it – we will follow your blog entries,expertly edited by Robyn and John.
Love the Cutfields xx
Have just heard you are on yet ANOTHER cruise!!!!
All the best
Love Ray & Judy
Hi to Colin & Pam Belcher,
Sorry -forgot to say who message was fo!
have just heard you are on yet ANOTHER cruise!!
All the best,
Ray & Judy
Hi to Kevin & Maureen,
Sounds as if you are having a ball- as Steve has already told you the weather hasn’t improved here!
Your itinerary sounds fabulous-you both deserve it
Love J&Bx
Hi Anne and Henry. Thought we’d try out this blogging thing hoping that you have a go too. Kate doesn’t think it was you Oma that started the pillow fight on the plane. I’m sure she’s correct. I hope this means your group is going to have a ‘whale’ of a time together!!
Love J.
Hi Karen and Rodger, the blog is great, following your trip, soundslike you are having a fabulous time. hope it wasnot you dribbling on the plane we miss you
Love Pat and Johnxx
Hi Rodger and Karen, enjoying reading about your trip, (although with the bosses walking past every five minutes, it makes a long read – who do they think they are ha ha). Take care and stay out of trouble Rodger, Adele
John, great to read your blog again, it is a highlight for those of us left at home. Best wishes to all fathers for Father’s Day on Sunday, including my own – Don Clark, hope you all had an enjoyable day, without the kids! Tell Dad that we are now serious looking at EOS, we are having her surveyed and Steve McHugh is looking at her tomorrow to tell us what we need to do from there. The price has come down on her as well as a previous purchaser fell through, so the owner kept the deposit. So you never know you will have a new “ship” to cruise on when you get home. Look after yourself, many thanks John for message courier service. Love to Dad and regards to you and and Robin. Diana
Hi to Annette, Sheryl and all from the MM Med cruise last year. Have a wonderful time and don’t even think about the weather back home or what Winston’s up to etc.etc. Sheryl, hope you are feeling better. I’m jealous as hell but looking forward to seeing the photos Annette when you get back home and the four amigos get together again. Have fun. Diane
Yahooo … am still green … everyone looks at me sideways, simply can’t understand why I look so strange – teehee.
Sha … Ed has been crying in his sleep (sad aye).
John … You kids have spent two days ‘mucking in’ around your section at home … looks amazing … all for Fathers Day. (NOT!!! In your dreams ha ha)
Robby … I bet it was you who started the pillow fight – uncontrolable women. 🙂