rafinmd

Today's sunrise is from my 2017 Oosterdam cruise from Vancouver to San Diego. September 29 was a sea day from Astoria to San Diego,'' Roy

Happy rainy (for me)Friday. Thank you Rich, Vanessa, Debbie, Ann, and Dixie. Confucius had a lot of wisdom, I am close to Broadway but did not indulge, and I will certainly celebrate World Maritime Day today. I'll salute the Bobbies and Willie Mays was fabulous Great quote today by Honest Abe. Been to Anchorage and Denali several times. I believe the Orioles clinched the pennant yesterday. . I'll pass on the Cod. My alternative is Chilled Raspberry Soup, Oven Roast Chicken, and Mango Blueberry Crisp as served on MS Oosterdam September 29, 2017: Roy

I just posted my first update to the blog, Crystal, and Cunard threads. Roy

Thursday, September 28, 2023, Amtrak to New York Crystal Serenity is at sea from New York to Boston. QM2 is at sea from Southampton to New York. I left home about 7:45 and made an initial stop at my fire house copying some forms and making a final check on things there. I left about 8:50 and arrived at the BWI Amtrak station about 9:35. My train was listed as on time for 10:37 and I headed out to the platform about 10:25 but by then the arrival had been delayed by 10 minutes and actually arrived 22 minutes late (trains originating in Washington tend to keep more to schedule but this one started in Virginia and was already quite late in Washington). I was in the business class car but the seat was not quite ideal as the first row has no tray tables and although I did get out my laptop a bit it was awkward. Lunch was a hot dog in the café car. The time on the train passed quickly and we pulled into New York’s Moynihan Train Hall about 1:56, roughly 10 minutes late. My energy levels are still way down and the 2 ½ block walk to the New Yorker Hotel was very slow. Although check-in is officially 4PM when I showed up at the front desk about 2:20 a room was ready. I’m on the 19th floor and the room is adequate but nothing special. Based on my walk to the hotel I have concluded that while it’s nice to be traveling it’s a bit iffy at my energy levels. As a result, I booked a car for tomorrow to the ship. I’ll be using Arecibo, a company widely recommended on the Cunard forum, and they are due to pick me up at 10:30. I had actually planned on going across the street to McDonalds for dinner but it was raining and I decided to try to stay in the hotel. There are a few restaurants and it looked like Trotteria Bianca was the most likely candidate. The choices looked decent and somewhat less expensive than the others. I ended up with the fillet steak, mashed potatoes, and gelato for desert. The portions were huge and I ended up finishing less than half the mashed potatoes. I will try to wrap up my post for today fairly early and been bed fairly early as well. Today’s parting shot: Despite all the challenges it is a good feeling to be back on the road. Since returning from MS Eurodam last November 22 I have been home every night but 3. Those 3 nights were spent in a hospital bed. Finally the drought is over. Roy

Thursday, September 28, 2023, Amtrak to New York Crystal Serenity is at sea from New York to Boston. QM2 is at sea from Southampton to New York. I left home about 7:45 and made an initial stop at my fire house copying some forms and making a final check on things there. I left about 8:50 and arrived at the BWI Amtrak station about 9:35. My train was listed as on time for 10:37 and I headed out to the platform about 10:25 but by then the arrival had been delayed by 10 minutes and actually arrived 22 minutes late (trains originating in Washington tend to keep more to schedule but this one started in Virginia and was already quite late in Washington). I was in the business class car but the seat was not quite ideal as the first row has no tray tables and although I did get out my laptop a bit it was awkward. Lunch was a hot dog in the café car. The time on the train passed quickly and we pulled into New York’s Moynihan Train Hall about 1:56, roughly 10 minutes late. My energy levels are still way down and the 2 ½ block walk to the New Yorker Hotel was very slow. Although check-in is officially 4PM when I showed up at the front desk about 2:20 a room was ready. I’m on the 19th floor and the room is adequate but nothing special. Based on my walk to the hotel I have concluded that while it’s nice to be traveling it’s a bit iffy at my energy levels. As a result, I booked a car for tomorrow to the ship. I’ll be using Arecibo, a company widely recommended on the Cunard forum, and they are due to pick me up at 10:30. I had actually planned on going across the street to McDonalds for dinner but it was raining and I decided to try to stay in the hotel. There are a few restaurants and it looked like Trotteria Bianca was the most likely candidate. The choices looked decent and somewhat less expensive than the others. I ended up with the fillet steak, mashed potatoes, and gelato for desert. The portions were huge and I ended up finishing less than half the mashed potatoes. I will try to wrap up my post for today fairly early and been bed fairly early as well. Today’s parting shot: Despite all the challenges it is a good feeling to be back on the road. Since returning from MS Eurodam last November 22 I have been home every night but 3. Those 3 nights were spent in a hospital bed. Finally the drought is over. Roy

Well, it seems like things moved very quickly today on the Fleet Report and Daily. Train actually left about 20 minutes late and arrived about 10 minutes late. Hotel checkin is supposed to be 4PM and I thought they were rigid about that but I got there about 2:20 and my room was ready. Getting organized at the hotel and a bit bushed but otherwise unscathed. Glad to hear the surgery went well and I hope the results will be great. Passed @Lady Hudson's ship on the way but no view of it. Hope DH is doing well. Roy

Great. Hoping for some new Cunard sunrises soon. Roy

Unless QE has changed recently, the exception is that QE has a REAL Library. I board QM2 tomorrow and will offer some additional perspective on the diffference between Britannia and Grills experiences. Roy

Same for me. Roy

I know they had to but I won't see it. QM2 and Serenity are both in Halifax October 1. Roy

Greetings from Northeast Regional Train 174. Running about 20 minutes late but I should make NY by hotel checkin time anyway. Roy

Greetings from Northeast Regional Train 174. Running about 20 minutes late but I should make NY by hotel checkin time anyway. Roy

Sort of on the way. I got out of the house early but realized there were some backup copies of reservations I had not printed so I just got off the copier in the fire house . Checked train status and it is showing on time. I plan to leave the fire house soon to allow plenty of time for traffic delays. Roy

I don't have a sunrise for September 28 so this is close. It's a sunset from September 27, 2917, from MS Oosterdam leaving Astoria, Oregon. Roy

Thank you Rich, Vanessa, Debbie, Dixie, and Ann. Happy Thursday. I'll pass on the beer but celebrate Public Lands and Good Neighbors. I like the Green quote. I've been to Bergen just once, Prinsendam in 2011. Hey Jude is certainly worthy of celebration. The meatballs sound interesting. My alternative is Spaghetti Pomodoro, Lamb Cutlets, and Pistachio Gelato as I enjoyed in MS Oosterdam Canaletto September 28, 2017 as a guest of @Copper10-8. Virtually finished with my packing and plan to leave soon. Roy

I don't have a sunrise for September 28 so this is close. It's a sunset from September 27, 2917, from MS Oosterdam leaving Astoria, Oregon. Roy

Best wishes @Quartzsite Cruiser. Roy

Still on the NY Harbor Webcam. Roy

Serenity is on her way to meet me. Roy

Wouldn't it be nice if they locked the future cruise listings when the new one is posted. Roy

Thank you. Roy

A question for Canadian Dailyites. There was a Canadian Documentary called something like "You are here: A Come From Away Story" that has not been available for streaming in the US. I'm wondering if I can still access it from a Canadian port. Roy

Thank you Rich, Vanessa, Dixie, Ann, and Debbie for the Hump Day reports. 3 great days to celebrate, Forgiveness, Tourism, and especially Voter Registration. Happy anniversary @Cruising-along. Welcome home @Heartgrove. Safe travels @Nickelpenny, I love the Roosevelt quote. I was scheduled to visit Dakar on MS Amsterdam in 2014 but it was cancelled due to Ebola. The Model T started a real revolution in travel. I'll pass on the meal. My alternative is Apricot Soup, Rosemary Roast Chicken, and Peach Crisp as served on MS Oosterdam September 27, 2017. Roy

May your BFF's husband rest in peace. Roy

And now gone. This will be my Alaska swan song as I won't have the band width at sea to follow the webcams and will also miss the first sailaway from Fort Lauderdale, although I will sometimes check out the threads. Thanks Leanne, Lou & Dave, and fellow addicts. Roy