We’re back in the world, with Wifi and everything. Haven’t downloaded or reviewed any pictures from the trip yet, so nothing to share at present. Suffice to say I’m very happy to have this cruise over with. Here’s a bit I wrote the first day or so of the trip.
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September 6th, at sea with no Internet connection for the first time in memory. I forget how much I depend on access to information and entertainment. Maybe more assume than depend upon. So here I am “blogging” with no way to post anything.
Twenty-four hours since the ship left Seattle and we’re still in open ocean west of Vancouver Island, trying to clear the island and enter the Inside Passage. Vancouver Island is massive – I still want to explore it sometime.
I spent a lot of last night and this morning reading (re-reading, actually) Barry Eisler’s masterful book The Killer Collective. In this book Eisler brings together all his memorable characters from multiple series into one great story. John Rain, Dox, Delilah, Larison, Kanesaki, Livia Lone, Hort, Ben Treven – they’re all there. I love the guy’s writing, and I especially love the John Rain character. My still-unfinished book’s main character is modelled somewhat on Rain.
In addition to reading, over the last 24 hours I’ve hit the gym for the first time in…a very long while, plus walked about 5 miles. Not a bad start. I still hope to be the exception to the rule, the one who leaves a cruise a few pounds lighter. We’ll see.
I am enjoying the peace and quiet in the cabin, with the gentle roll of the ship. There’s a lot to do here, but I’m really not interested in any of it. The luxury of no appointments, no real schedule and no expectations is just that – a luxury. We’ll see how that feels after 2-3 more days.