Enchantment of the Seas

Well, I was never interested in going to the Caribbean - I'm just not a "spend the day in the sun" kind of girl. Don't get me wrong - I love the beach and the ocean. But why would I want to spend money to sit on a beach covered from head to toe so I don't sunburn?

I did go to Bermuda with my friend Beth when we were in nursing school at BC - and we did have a great time - but I seem to remember that the good times were not all on the beach - I was covered up there as well - I loved the mopeds.  And another friend, GeeGee, used to go with friends to the Caribbean - I was never jealous or even interested in going. Altho I did appreciate the T-shirts she brought back!

But my sister Christine went on a weekend cruise two years ago with my youngest sister and Jody's friends - and she enjoyed it - so much that she went again last year. And Jody has been on several weekend cruises! So I was thinking I would like to try it. So when Jody suggested a Keohane cousin cruise, I was in!

Now my three sisters, three cousins and my friend Beth are all going. Cynthia is even flying in from Colorado! Some of us are flying out from Logan this Friday morning - January 23. We are meeting Cynthia and her sister Kathleen in Florida. The ship - Enchantment of the Seas - sails from Port Canaveral on Friday afternoon at 4 pm.

So I am sitting here on Wednesday night about to pack my suitcase. I am staying with Beth tomorrow night. My son Mike is driving me up to Melrose when he finishes work tomorrow at 3 pm. I am trying to think of everything I will need which is difficult having never been on a cruise before! I have all my summer clothes pulled out so now I need to put half of them away. Isn't that what they tell you to do? Pack your bag and then take out half of what you put in! And then take out even more!

I have read a little bit about the Bahamas - their discovery by the Spanish and settlement by the English - the buccaneers and pirates - William Shirley who was governor of Massachusetts in the mid 1700s and then was governor of The Bahamas in 1760 - the settlement by the Loyalists during and after the American War of Independence - the murder of Harry Oakes - William Cardinal O'Connell of Boston buying The Hermitage which had been built by Lord Dunmore in the late 1700s as a summer residence. A couple of links to Boston.

Aunt Monica Murphy worked for the McAlpines of England - she would travel to the Bahamas with them every year. Johnny Murphy talks about the postcards from Nassau that they would receive in Gortdromagh. His cousin said that Aunt Mamie sent her family postcards as well. So this is another reason that I am looking forward to the cruise - to see Nassau where Aunt Mamie used to visit.

Ahhh, now it is Thursday morning - my bags are packed - overpacked I am quite sure! I have printed my Jet Blue information, checked in online, have printed my cruise information and Sea pass - printed Beth's information as well - her printer is giving her trouble. I have my knapsack ready with license, passport, Mastercard and some cash, camera, chargers, suntan lotion, sandals and books. I have a small bag with old PJs, etc. that I can use tonight and can leave them with my old winter jacket at Beth's so I don't have to carry those on the cruise.

I think I am good to go - just need to take a quick shower - put on old clothes I'll leave at Beth's - pick Mike up at work (I dropped him off in Yarmouth at 7 am this morning) - and we'll jump on route 6 for the Sagamore Bridge and be off to Beth's. Her Brian is driving us to Logan Airport in the morning. The flight is at 7:30ish - I hate to think what time we have to be there!! But then it will be party time for the Keohane cousins!!

Ohhh, but before I forget! Let me run out to the girls and give them a good supply of pellets and water - don't want anything to happen to my poor chicks while I am gone!

Thank you Jody for the beach bag!!!

Happy Trails Have Come To An End

The final day of our trip dawned. We were headed to Seattle Airport via Oregon. I was still feeling unsettled by Idaho City, but I put that on a back burner.

I ran for a quick breakfast in the hotel - buttermilk biscuits and gravy seemed to be the hot item. The biscuit was delicious, but I passed on the gravy. 

Dan passed on the hotel breakfast and headed for Jack in the Box for a waffle breakfast sandwich before we hit the Oregon Trail.

We had a lot of driving to do today - we were heading for the airport - no time for delays.

We didn't have to worry about traffic!

Love the hay bales!

We saw quite a few of these big boys. But apparently the logging industry has decreased in the Northwest due to regulated conservation measures.

Iced covered mountain in the distance. 

We pulled off to feed the car in Baker City.

There was a great clerk in the shop at this Chevron station - I talked to him for quite a while not realizing that Dan had already gone back to the car!

After talking to that clerk, I want to go back here and explore it!

All during this trip we saw a huge number of trains - there were  over 50 cars on some of them before I lost count.

Would this be a steel mesh fence that prevents rocks from rolling onto the highway?

Can you see the fences on the top of the ledge? As we drove along a lot of the highways in all the states we hit, wherever there were trees or construction, I could see loose rocks and boulders, downed trees - just waiting to tumble onto the highway.  I was fascinated by this - it seemed so dangerous.

We stopped in Pendleton, Oregon for lunch - very interesting town.   The picture above is blurry but typical of the shops we saw. 

We were hungry so were looking for a place for lunch. A couple of places were closed, but we were directed to the Rainbow Cafe - another interesting place. It's difficult to see below, but that is a buffalo head over the booth where Dan is sitting.

Definitely the best vegetable soup that I ever had!! And obviously homemade!!

Some of the sights in Pendleton, Oregon.

Back on the road again. There was a blowing dust warning for 40 miles after we left Pendleton.

We saw a lot of "long loads."

We crossed the Columbia River for the last time about 1:40 PM.

Power lines along the Columbia River.

We made it to Washington's wine country. I know I had enjoyed a very nice Washington Riesling in Seattle.

Our route 82 seemed to follow along the Yakima River which is  a tributary of the Columbia River. This Washington valley provides vineyards, apples, cherries, and surprisingly a majority of this country's hops, an ingredient in beer! 

We passed by Prosser which is known as the birthplace of Washington's wine industry. 

Vineyards.

Lots of ranches in the Northwest.

More vineyards.

Massive greenhouses for Washington grapes!

A look into the greenhouse.

Cascade Mountains - we could see Mt Rainier for what seems like hundreds of miles.

More hay bales!!

One of many RV dealerships throughout the Northwest.

Loved all the windmills!

This is one of hundreds of irrigation machines throughout the Northwest.

Windmills on the left. This kind of tree is everywhere! They must provide shelter for houses on these exposed plains.

Mt. Rainier is in the Cascade Mountain range where all the wild fires are burning. After traveling through parts of the Northwest and many forests, I can certainly understand how a fire an take off!

Increase in traffic as we get closer to Seattle.

I think I said it before that we saw lots of bikers and RVs everywhere we went.

Moving mountains.

Speed Limit is 70 mph.

So we ended our trip where we started it - at the SeaTac airport. We had dinner before boarding our red eye flight. I had started with halibut at Pike's Market Place in Seattle. I ended with halibut at SeaTac Airport. Both were delicious just like the trip.

I was surprised by how much I loved this area of the country. The scenery was fabulous - mountains, plains, mighty rivers, dried up creeks, farms, ranches, small towns, small big cities. I spoke to such friendly, polite people - mostly shop clerks, waitresses, and hotel employees. I loved the history and wished I had done more research before arriving. I'd go back in a flash!

Most of all, I am thankful that Dan invited me along and thankful for the time we had together.