Friday, September 26, 2008

Posting tonight from Kelowna BC - I find out after I get here that the government just took the tolls off of the Coquihalla highway about an hour after I paid the $10.00 toll - well at least I can say that I was one of the last persons to pay the toll. I actually have never minded the toll - it is a faster and shorter route to the coast and if you didn't want to pay the toll you could always take the slower Fraser Canyon or Hope-Princeton routes.

I do wonder what will happen to the workers and what effect removing the tolls might have on the struggling Fraser Canyon communities - the Coquihalla has become the defacto Trans-Canada highway - Merritt has definately seen a boom - there is now a Wal-Mart, Canadian Tire and Boston Pizza in the country music town.

Staying at the Sandman hotel - Jim has booked 5 rooms for the bunch of us - check in was a breeze but it took me a while to get the internet up and running - they aren't using wireless but a cable feed - the cable was missing and I didn't think to bring my mine but the front desk finally found one and that took care of that.

FOYP's is turning out to be a real hassle - lost another participant today - need to find 6 people quickly - looks like I might need to attend myself.

Got my first payment from Elections Canada for the work done last week.

I will attend a training session next week to prepare me for being a DRO on election day - elections day starts at 6:00AM to at least 8:00PM - I will vote at an advance poll next week

I expect once the gang arrives around 10PM tonight things will get lively.

Tomorrow I hope to get out on the bike and do the Myra canyon section of the the TCT - KVR - did this part before the forest fires in 2003 that wiped out a number of tressles - they have been rebuilt and reopened earlier this summer.

The beer is starting to taste pretty good so if the typing gets a little bad you will know why.

Tuesday, September 23, 2008

Didn't do a lot today - biked down to Stanley Park - hit some of the trails and then into McDonald's for lunch.

Also finally brought up the last of the camping equipment from the truck and put it in the storage locker.

Finally got around to booking some excursions for the upcoming cruise.

Stopped by the clinic to see about a note so that I can process my physio claim but I need to see a doctor and get a new note and there was a 45 minute wait so I will go earlier in the day when it isn't so busy.

Jim has finally gotten the hotel details for this weekend set so I know that I can head up on Friday - hope that there is no snow on the road.

Suppose to rain the next couple of days so might just stay inside and relax and do nothing.

Don't expect any work from Elections Canada this week - probably will get some calls for training for the advance polls etc next week.

Still wrestling with getting the last five people for the work party - will get serious on phone calls tomorrow.

Monday, September 22, 2008

Monday - the day has dawned brighter and with some sun - spending the morning working on this blog, straightening out my finances and editing the photos from the weekend cruise - also will be phoning some folks regarding the work party in two weeks time.

Need to stop in at the Doctor's office to pick up a note so that I can get reimbursed for the physio treatments.

Also need to start working on the fine details of the Dawn cruise - the only major item left to do in advance of the cruise is the booking of some excursions.

Also don't know if I will get a phone call from Elections Canada - don't think there is much to do until later in the week when the training for the Advance poll will take place.

Almost time to pick up the mail, have lunch, head for the health club and perhaps a walk if the weather holds.

More later
Report of a little excursion I took over the weekend.

It started a little after 6AM Saturday as I headed out of the condo and walked down Hornby St to Canada Place where I showed my cruise documents and then boarded a bus for Seattle with about a 45 minute stop at the border. Our bus was able to just show passports or ID and didn't have to go inside with luggage etc.

Arrive at Pier 66 Bell St Terminal and were greeted by a representative of NCL who directed us inside the terminal and into the US Immigration line where I was quickly processed and then up the stairs to the NCL check in - once again directed straight to a terminal agent who processed my cruise - produced my key card - then about a 30 minute wait for boarding - on the ship before noon - as our staterooms wouldn't be ready until 2PM I have the option of storing them in a secure room or keeping them with me - as it was only a small day pack I kept it with me.

Headed to the Garden Buffet for lunch - had one plateful of good food and then a burger and fries.

After lunch toured the ship before heading to the Bier Garten to meet up with some CC'ers for a sailaway drink - unfortunately it is raining so the outdoor BBQ is canceled.

Terry and his wife show up for a drink - I brought a bucket of beer - 6 for the price of 5 Bud's.

Then got to drop off my pack in my room - a balcony on the 9th deck - had another beer.

At 3:30PM the mandatory muster drill took place - for me the meet spot was the Aqua restaurant - some had to meet outside.

After the drill which takes about 20 minutes - returned the life jacket to my room - grabbed another beer and walked the ship - the beer was going down too well - around 5:30PM I decided to have supper in the Aqua restaurant - no wait - ordered a Caesar salad - a lamb dish and a chocolate laced dessert.

Had another beer with dinner - they are going down well.

The ship is very alive as it is a much younger crowd than I usually get on my longer cruises - a few employee groups - lots of single women having a gals night out - lots of beer being drank - probably more alcohol drank on this one nighter than some seven day cruises - well you can drink all you want because you don't have to drive home.

I passed on the show - Band on the Run - as I have seen it twice - finish off another beer and then head up to Spinnaker Lounge to catch the NCL White Hot Party - and boy was the dance floor fill and hopping - Crazy CD Paul B was whipping up the crowd to a dancing frenzy.

Spotted Terry and his wife at the Party.

In walking through the ship all the entertainment venues were busy and fill - from the 4 piece amigos band in the Grand atrium to the sound of the entertainer in Carousel nightclub to the soloist folk singer in the Gatsby lounge to another singer in the Red Lion - the place was a hopping.

Around 11PM the Casino opened and quickly filled - all the tables were busy - lots of young types taking in the poker games.

There also was some light snack food available which I indulged in.

In the course of the evening the other three ships in Seattle - the Oosterdam, Golden Princess and Millie all passed us as we slowly cruised the waters of the Strait of Juan De Fuca - looking at the onboard map it look like our course was west towards Port Angeles - then across into Canadian waters outside Victoria and a slow cruise up to Vancouver.

I turned in sometime after midnight and awoke the next morning in time to catch the ship sail under the Lions Gate Bridge - the weather is still dark and cloudy so the photos ops weren't too good - not to mention that I was feeling the effects of a 6 pack of beer. My bladder was reminding me of that.

The Star then slowly made its way to the east side of Canada Place - the Voldendam was on the west side - by 8 AM the ship was cleared for disembarking - I made my way down to the Java Cafe on deck 7 to wait for clearance and was off the ship and walking home by 8:30AM.

It was a good cruise, good ship, good crew.

The one night dinner and dance cruises are vastly different than your regular longer cruises - a much younger crowd but surprisingly not many young kids and teenagers - so I guess the parents on board left the kids at home or with sitters so that they could enjoy an evening to let there hair hang down.

Despite the inclement weather the pool and hot tubs were also busy.

Most people on the cruise were either from the Vancouver or Seattle areas although I did talk to some people from Portland.

Some of the Seattle folks where busing it back and some were going to spend some time in Vancouver and take Amtrak back later in the evening.

I will do another one of these next year - just got to decide between the Star or the Pearl and try and get some of the gang interested.

The rest of Sunday was spent taking it easy, watching some NFL football, grocery shopping and supper at the White Spot as I didn't feel like cooking up anything.

That's all for the cruise and how I spent my weekend.