Travels with Pat

     I spent a delightful afternoon on an “Anne of Green Gables and Island tour of P.E.I.”  Our knowledgeable guide told us that Charlottetown  is the birthplace of Canada and that P.E.I. is famous for its deep red soil and stellar crop of potatoes; however, our major destination was Green Gables which is an official National Historic site.  After visiting the house,  Lovers’ Lane and the Haunted Woods, I decided to buy a copy of the book which I am currently reading.
     That evening our ship started doing some serious rocking and rolling as it charged through the Atlantic with gale force winds from Hurricane Ophelia. It was pretty tricky trying to walk around the ship as it lurched from side to side – good thing that there are railings in the hallways.  I had to use the little armchair in our stateroom to use the bathroom.  The good news was that I didn’t get seasick!

     There’s always something special planned for each day.  Today Kathy participated in “The Race for the Cure”(of cancer) which meant that she had to walk around the outside deck 18 times = 5 K.  She not only was the first one finished in the non-competitive “race” but was also the oldest survivor – 28 years cancer free.
     As I previously mentioned, food is a big component of most cruises, and on this relaxing day while we passed the Breton coast and Perce Rock with thousands of birds from puffins to cormorants, we went to a special Mariner’s luncheon with 300 other former cruisers on Holland America and donned our red feather boas for the Captain’s dinner that night.

     I officially started cruising with my husband in 1993; however, when he died, my partner has been my MT nurse daughter, Kathy.
     Probably the major challenge when I’m on board a ship is the abundance of food.  Everything tastes delicious.  I could judiciously choose my food from a buffet for breakfast and lunch, and at dinner in the dining room, I requested half portions.  Since our stateroom was near the prow of the ship and the dining areas were aft, I figured that I walked the equivalent of 1/2 a mile every day just going to meals.  I’m great at rationalization.
     After we boarded our ship in Montreal, we cruised on the river toward the St. Lawrence Gulf with a stop in Quebec City, the cradle of French civilization in North America as well as a busy seaport.  I had previously visited Quebec,so I stayed on board while Kathy took a walking tour of Old Quebec – riding the funicular up and walking down many steps.
     Before bedtime, the Captain reported that Hurricane Ophelia was 600 miles south of us.