Saturday, 18 May 2019
At sea in the Gulf of Alaska, Alaska, USA
Woken with a jolt at 0230hrs. There’s a sound of rushing water. The ship has sprung a leak in my cabin. Sounds like a pressure washer right next to my ear. Takes a few seconds to come to and work out what is happening. During a recce a few days ago, established that I’m directly underneath a plantroom on deck 2. They’re obviously doing some maintenance. Bit of clanging, pressure washing, hammering and metallic sounds. Timely phone call to Guest Services to tell them to shut up takes effect half an hour later. After they’ve done the work.
Full day at sea crossing the Gulf of Alaska. Bit of a swell but nothing major. Just a gentle roll but enough sway to make you walk along the corridors in a slight zig zag. Surprising how quickly the day goes considering I’m not doing much. The library has a number of jigsaws laid out. You can dib in and out as the cruise progresses. People do a bit, go, and then someone else will come along and add a few pieces. Not done a jigsaw since I was a teenager. Forgotten how therapeutic jigsaws were. ‘English Country Cottage’ is sitting in a pile of 1,000 pieces like demolished debris. I’ll start doing the sides. They’re the easy bit. Right? It’s a very pleasant morning. Brain has completely switched off.
Force 4 winds and white horses this morning. Having taken some cinnarizine seasickness tablets just in case the sea became worse, as forecast, a side effect, coupled with the commotion on the ocean in the early hours, is that it makes you feel drowsy.
Well, dear reader, I enjoyed a 3hr afternoon nap.
Must be a sign of old age.
