DEAR COACH: Letters Home from WW II

Finally, after 7 years, I've published Dear Coach. It's now available at the Elizabethtown College online bookstore (www.etown.edu) and will soon be on Amazon. Very exciting but sometimes eclipsed by campaign activities. I think my parents would both be happy with the book. I'm looking forward to getting together with some of the letter writers and their families at the College Homecoming on October 17th. We'll read some of the letters that day - the stories are so moving. Here's one of the blurbs that was written for the cover:

"More than just a collection of letters, Dear Coach is the scrapbook of an extended family - a coach and his kids - dealing with a war that forced a generation to grow up overnight. The warmth between Coach Ira Herr and his kids shows the positive impact that caring educators can have on students' lives and how supportive mentoring can reach across oceans and continents to help sustain young people as they face the challenges of adulthood, The book's intimate correspondence, set in the context of a traditionally pacifist Christian college community also offers a glimpse at idealist souls wrestling with the tension between a commitment to non-violence and the need to combat Axis evils." Jim Kushlan, Editor and Publisher of America in WWII Magazine.

campaigning

I'm actively campaigning for congress again. Right now it's mostly fundraising but other exciting events come along, like the Netroots Nation event in Pittsburgh this week. I'll be driving out to be at the WCF (Women's Campaign Forum) booth helping others who are thinking of running for office and going to the candidates night event as well. Beth Becker introduced me to some of the bloggers recently and I'm looking forward to meeting more of the netroots folks.

Home again

Arrived back in New York early on April 26th - good to see the US flag flying on the Queen Mary 2. Back in Elizabethtown Spring was well underway as the dogwoods on the Elizabethtown College campus attest. I took this trip, after a difficult year, to open my mind and heart to new possibilities, new friends, new information, new directions, and new opportunities. I saw the world the old-fashioned way - by sea. The trip was worthwhile in every way.

last day at sea

correction: when I posted last we were 1000 miles from NY. Now we're just22 hours away. Calm seas again.

Transatlantic Crossing

Now 3885 nautical miles from Southampton and only 665 from NYC. Closing days of trip being spent comfortably aboard QM 2 in spite of at least one night of rough seas. Enjoying “old” friends from the Queen Victoria - the captain had a party for the 240 of us continuing on to NY from England (there were 750 on the QV portion of the world cruise). Not spending as much time in the gym/spa here but enjoying the opportunity to play golf on a simulator. Tomorrow I’ll be playing the Maui Kapalua Village and Bay courses! Also spending time going over the close-to-final copy of Dear Coach. Then, of course, it will be time to pack for one more time. Looking forward to seeing friends at home.

Queen Mary 2

On the Queen Mary 2, about half way across the Atlantic (1500 miles traveled, 1700 to go). Have a few QV friends sharing this crossing, and we’ve already managed to get together. Some things about the QM2 are great - like the teak decks, and some things suffer in comparison to the QV - like the Spa. Believe it or not, I prefer the QV spa to the Canyon Ranch Spa here. The gym and trainers aren’t as good as the QV and the beauty spa is outrageously expensive. More later.

Meanwhile, we were enjoying a sunny, reasonably calm trip until last night when the waves picked up to “rough.” Still relatively smooth trip. Before we got past Cornwall, England, they had to evacuate an ill passenger and did so via helicopter. Aside from that the trip has been uneventful. I did win a golf tournament (70 yard shot on the golf simulator), which bodes well for my summer fun. Warm enough to sit out on my deck for a while yesterday. I’m traveling POSH - an expression that comes from long ago trips from England to India, when the desired cabin assignments (for shade) were “port side out, starboard home.” I think that would apply for a transatlantic trip from England to America because the port side is the sunny side on the way west and starboard has the sun on the way back.

Seems like a very short trip - only Monday evening to Sunday morning - hardly time to get to know the ship, but I’m doing my best and walking miles! Will be ready to dig in to politics and marketing Dear Coach on Monday morning.

bye

last post from Queen Victoria - 1 minute 25 seconds remaining on my account. Packed, luggage out for transfer to Queen Mary 2. Will leave QV tomorrow morning. What a wonderful voyage!

heading home

The skies are grey and Queen Victoria is returning home to England. Hard to comprehend leaving this ship, which has been such a home to me. I never tired of seeing the sea or had too much day or too much night. Never had enough time to know all the interesting passengers and crew.

Found real friends. Changed my life through serious exercise, thanks to a great personal trainer and excellent spa staff. Been educated and entertained and, of course, fed.

People find things to complain about, but I have few. There is one thing that could be better, i.e., the spa menu, but that’s minor. I think with pleasure of all I have seen and people I’ve met in countries around the world, and I can honestly say the trip was well worth while. I now understand why a world cruise is special.

on the way home

Barcelona - whimsical, vibrant, and beautiful city. From the walk along Las Rambla, eyeing the food in the Mercat Boqueria, and of course being enchanted by the Gaudi buildings, it is a fantastic place. A thunderstorm punctuated an otherwise perfect Spring day. Fortunately I had already visited Gaudi’s Parc Guell! Bit wistful as I reboarded Queen Victoria, knowing that this was our last port of call.

Thinking about our ports and the things I did: the most -

pure fun - riding the elephant bareback
awesome buildings - Blue Mosque and Hagia Sophia
awesome natural site - Rabaul’s active volcano
educational - Panama Canal; Guatemala macadamia nut farm
strangest - Mumbai temples
prettiest harbor - Cabo San Lucas; Manly (Sydney_
inspiring - Ephesus
surprising - Petra
emotional - Saipan, El Alamein, Hawaii military bases
charming city - Christchurch, Civitavecchia, Hobart
best food - Phuket
most like home - North Island of New Zealand
attractive countryside - New Zealand, Tasmania
most international - Singapore
richest - Dubai
poorest - Mumbai
best coffee - Athens
cleanest - Singapore
dirtiest - Mumbai; Phuket
enchanting - the sea
hottest - Tonga
roughest sea - Mediterranean between Greece & Italy
Other memorable places: Suez Canal, Robert Louis Stevenson’s home on Samoa, Sydney harbor, Glover Garden in Nagasaki, Topaki Palace in Istanbul, tea ceremony in Busan, Shanghai towers and the Maglev train, Hong Kong shopping, Vasco da Gama’s church in Cochin
least favorite port - Puerta Vallerta
what we just missed - eruption in sea near Tonga, typhoon in Cairns, volcano eruption in Japan, demonstrations in Mumbai, Bangkok (twice) and Pattaya (Thailand) as well as in Athens and Istanbul, fire in Australia, hijackings in the Gulf of Aden, sand storm in Dubai, disputes between North and South Korea including rocket launch.

Civitavecchia and beyond

Day 94 - just passed between Corsica and Sardinia on way to last port of call - Barcelona. Thoroughly enjoyed the port town of Civitavecchia - photos are posted!

Around the world we’ve heard concerns about the economy and hopes for Obama’s success. I hear at home people are fighting against that with tea parties, et al. Isn’t it obvious that we have a global crisis and need to pull together?

I shall miss the world perspective gained from talking with people and from the media available around the world. Whether it’s storms, riots, piracy, or unemployment, there is much NOT covered in US media. Isolated by vast oceans we further isolate ourselves.

Greece

Back to Piraeus where I set sail with friends over 30 years ago. That time a 72-foot ketch, this time the gigantic Queen Victoria. [Photos are posted on http://gallery.me.com/herrlk.] Visiting the Acropolis is different now - much more elaborate tourist paths, etc, and more protective and restorative work being done on the Parthenon. Still an awesome site.

Now just two weeks from return to NYC - will have been 107 days on the sea, over 40,000 nautical miles, and so many experiences. Ancient and modern wonders, rich and poor, major cities and small villages, elephants and flying fish. New friends and old memories. Holy sites and sites of war.

Mykonos

Cool but charming day in Mykonos - seems different from when I was here before (in the 70s) - more buildings on the hills, fancier shops - but the same winding paths and beautiful doors&windows on bright white buildings. Shopkeeper told me she thinks Obama is wonderful and a "giving" person. Everywhere we go people are watching the US and hoping that Obama will succeed. Frustrating to catch FOX now and then and hear the Obama/Biden bashing from Rove and his right-wing friends. [Mykonos photos are up.]

Istanbul

Beautiful Istanbul on a spring day - didn’t have nearly enough time here but did visit the Topkapi Palace, Blue Mosque, and Hagia Sophia as well as the bazaar! An excellent guide - Nesli - provided a running commentary on history and culture that made the trip special. Cunard tours are generally better than average - and if they are late, the ship waits. [We were late getting into the port because we had to wait for a US Navy ship to leave. Don’t know if it was related to Obama’s visit, the hijacked/hostage captain, or was just coincidence.] Obama’s visit apparently went over well. You’ll see an interesting impersonator photo on the gallery. FYI: Istanbul photos are already posted on the gallery. How did I get the three sunset photos? Queen Victoria was pulling out of the harbor just at sunset so I could catch the sun move across the city sky!

Turkey - Kusadasi and Ephesus

Tour of Ephesus proved to be one of the best - from the alleged home of the Virgin Mary in the hills to the excavated ruins of the various Ephesian cities and the Basilica of St. John on the Ayauluk Hill . Stood in the ampitheater where Paul preached to the Ephesians and walked through the ruins of the Library of Celsus (third largest in the world in its time). And, Kusadasi is a beautiful port/resort city. Only had the morning to see all of this - deserves another visit. Weather fantastic, seas clear and blue. Farms with cotton, artichokes, figs, etc.

EGYPT

Suez Canal photos now posted on gallery. Full day transit - 101 miles in balmy weather.

Alexandria - Opted to visit the site of the famous WWII battle at El Alamein between Montgomery and Rommel. Not much to see but desert though we visited a museum and the major war memorial plus the Italian and German memorials. Fascinating drive west of Alexandria along the Mediterranean coast, where there are thousands of “new city” resorts. Quite a contrast to the city of Alexandria. Tough choice - El Alamein or a quick look at the Pyramids; I chose the battleground in deference to my new book about WW II, though the letter writers were involved not in this battle but in the battle for Tunisia further west in North Africa. Maybe I'll come back to see the Pyramids someday.

Jordan

Photos posted on gallery! Petra lived up to its reputation as a wonder of the world - Nabataeans created this ancient city in a fortress of sandstone rocks somewhere between 86BC and 40AD - scholars are still learning about their world. Drove by the Wadi Rum area - though faster than T.E. Lawrence did.

Update on cruise: this segment has 818 UK, 398 US, 174 Aussies, 86 Canadians, 71 Germans, 25 from Spain, and the rest of the 1714 from 27 other countries.

Received my luggage tags for the transfer to the Queen Mary 2 in England on April 20th - a reminder that we are on the way home. Still lots to see - Suez Canal tomorrow!

Thanks to Ali for explanation of the "red" in Red Sea!

the Red Sea

Blue skies, mid-70s, and breezy in the Red Sea approaching the Jordanian port of Petra. Why is it called the "red" sea? It's as blue as any other. So wide (119 miles in some places) you can't see either the Eqyptian or Saudi Arabian coast from where we are. Noticed patrols at sea and on the ship while we went by Somalia, but no misadventure.

March 31

Now in the Arabian Sea, just about to leave the coastal waters of Oman and head into the waters bordered by Yemen and Somalia. Passed what looked like a patrol boat some miles back. Otherwise only a lonely freighter on the horizon, headed the opposite direction. We have several sea days until we reach Aquaba, Jordan. There I'm on a tour to the ancient city of Petra, what I've heard is a long hot walk but a worthwhile venture.

Dubai

3/30. Dubai yesterday: a beautiful modern place that seems stopped in time right now - with many huge construction project cranes sitting still. Towers half built, islands in the making, roadway work suspended. Apparently 300,000 people were laid off and presumably sent home to their countries. Of course, there’s still evidence of vast fortunes. [Another surprise - for them and us - it rained.]

The world’s engines have slowed down affecting everyone - from tourism in Mumbai to towers in Dubai, from unusually still container ports in Nagasaki to closed companies in Saipan.

I’ve seen so much. At this point my mind is just recording what I see and hear. What it all means will have to become evident as time passes. There are five days at sea now, good for thinking time if we don’t have any pirate excitement, but after that the ports will come quickly one after another In one case there are four days in a row without a sea day in between - Ephesus, Istanbul, Mykonos, Athens.

All in all I will have visited 37 ports in 25 countries since January 10th. When I say this is mindbending, I am not overstating the case!

Arabian Sea

Day 76 from NY. 2 pm NY time, 11 PM our time . . . Passed Pakistan as we sailed in the Arabian Sea; right now we are in the Strait of Hormuz between Oman and Iran. Have been able to see the coast of Iran for quite some time - traveling this way makes geography real. We bear left after Oman and arrive in Dubai at 8 am. [Bound to be a contrast to our last port of Bombay.] We’re now 27,302 nautical miles from NY and 1,015 from Bombay. Temperature mild (75) but we may have rain tomorrow. Maybe not - we’ve been so lucky with weather on this trip. Just saw flocks of small, glowing birds, probably white reflecting the ship’s lights but they seemed phosphorescent in the night, flying above the water - quite mysterious. Could see them well enough to know they were birds and not flying fish but otherwise have no clue.

Several crew members are leaving in Dubai, heading home for their break - my cabin steward John Elasin, wine steward Andres Gallegos, and assistant waiter Demetrio Sandoval - I will miss them!

Eager to see Dubai, then head into the Red Sea. see Petra in Jordan, and then transit the Suez Canal into the Mediterranean.

India

After Mumbai

When they say Mumbai is warm and humid, they aren’t kidding. With its 14 million people, the city swarms and traffic is wild. Visited two temples, including the Mahalaxmi temple (goddess of wealth) and one to Ganesha (god of prosperity) - both were busy and flower-filled; a veritable fashion show of saris; stopped by the Gate of India and went into the Taj Mahal Hotel. Drove by many other well-known sites, e.g., Chowpatty Beach, Victoria Terminal. Enough for me; good to see but hard to comprehend. Next port will be a big contrast - Dubai.

India - Cochin

Leaving Kochi (Cochin) in Southern India - the area known as Kerala - after a great day touring Willingdon Island where ship is docked, Mattancherry, and Fort Kochi. Did NOT shop, but did stop in a spice store for a few gifts to bring home. The spice and sari shop turned out to be The Chendamangalam Weavers’ Co-Operative Society. Saw the Chinese fishing nets in action and visited the 16th Century Portuguese Dutch Palace as well as the Portuguese church and Vasco Da Gama’s gravesite (till he was moved to Portugal in 1538). Our last stop was in a home - coincidentally, the elder woman of the house has a son living in Pennsylvania whom she hasn’t seen in 10 years - I will carry her hug back to him when I return home.

The economic crisis affects India, as our tour guide explained, including the IT companies and workers here. As I travel from country to country it is clear that the economic crisis affects people all over the world and they are watching us. I hear that many Republicans are treating business in Washington in a partisan way - how inappropriate in the context of a world crisis. We need to work together in the same way that the nation pulled together in the time of WW II.

Coming up in two days - Mumbai (Bombay), then a totally different environment - Dubai.

Phuket

Patong Bay, off Phuket, Thailand

Morning walk along beach in rain. . . great Thai coffee and new fruit for me - Keau mangkom. . .conversations with Thai shopkeepers Mari-Am and Rocky, who survived Tsunami. . . lunch in fabuous restaurant by the beach - Baan Rim Pa. Another place to revisit.... This part of the world, from disciplined Singapore to warm Patong Beach, is a land on the rise.

Singapore

March 20: Line from Passage to India particularly interesting: “It matters so little to the majority of living beings what the minority, that calls itself human, desires or decides. Most of the inhabitants of India do not mind how India is governed. Nor are the lower animals of England concerned about England, but in the tropics the indifference is more prominent, the inarticulate world is closer at hand and readier to resume control as soon as men are tired.” Of course that doesn’t deal with the environmental damage than man can do to the habitats - those beings are (we assume) unaware of man’s role.

Ah, Singapore! Multicultural but maintaining traditions of each culture. Quaint history in such places as Raffles Hotel but gloriously creative modern architecture across the way. City coexisting with its rainforest. Must return to see the Botanical Garden and its orchids, along with so many other sites, and talk with more people living there. [Yes, Dan, it is a rigidly enforced safe and clean place - had to remember not to drink even bottled water while walking along the street].

On this trip I have the sense of being a traveler to distant lands, not really a tourist.

One of our earlier ports - Tonga - has had a violent undersea eruption, but it appears the danger of a tsunami is past. Traveling around the world makes me so much more aware of global weather. And more aware that the US is but one country in a big world.

Viet Nam and Thailand

Internet expensive, therefore shorter, fewer blogs. Days flying by. Nha Trang very much a resort town. Ho Chi Minh City still reflects the style of Saigon; Continental Hotel still there (as in the Quiet American by Graham Greene). Thailand a delight - especially the Elephant Sanctuary near Pattaya. Took the opportunity to ride bareback on an elephant as she went into the stream - really fun! Now en route to Singapore. Thunderstorm at sea this morning. Started reading Forster’s Passage to India as we work our way there. Hard to comprehend how fast we are going through these countries - just a quick visit but at least they will no longer just be places on a map to me.

in the South China Sea

March 12:

... in the South China Sea en route to Vietnam - Nha Trang and Vung Tau (Ho Chi Minh City)...

In Hong Kong I wandered with Carolyn Shadle and John Meyer, making sure we took the tram to the Peak, stopped in at the Peninsula Hotel, and did a little shopping. Felt I was in an international city rather than a foreign country.

March 11th:

Aware of global climate - drought, fire, wind and typhoon in Australia, volcano eruption in Japan - and of global unrest - North Korea closed the border yesterday; Sri Lanka (won’t be there but will be passing by), Bangkok, and Athens in turmoil; pirates from Somalia, etc.... Oh well, they don’t charge extra for excitement.

Each segment of this journey has a slightly different cast because about half of the passengers are on the world cruise and half are taking just segments. When we left Sydney the average age dropped significantly - lots of short segment travelers to Singapore, including a few with young children.

Cunard does pay special attention to the full world cruise folks - parties, lounge for coffee, gifts which show up now and then. In Singapore, Cunard’s president Carol Marlow and the officers will host us at a black tie dinner at the Shangri-la Hotel. Could be interesting to hear how Cunard plans to deal with the economic crisis. Surely their bookings for next year will suffer. [Those of you looking for cruises will find some good deals!] And, many cruise lines are bringing new and larger ships on line in the next year or so. There could be overcapacity at just the wrong economic time for the companies. There’ll always be people who’ll travel anyway, because they still can afford it, because they get bargain trips, or simply because they’re addicted to these trips. I can see why they’re addicted - on the days at sea there’s plenty to enjoy and we are never in any port long enough to see all we’d like. As for living in a small cabin - one can adjust to living with smaller space and fewer possessions when one has the world to see.

just pulling into Hong Kong at the moment, though we are docking at a container port instead of at the closer docks - did the same at Shanghai...

South Korea

Over 20,100 nautical miles from New York and traveling 56 days so far.
Left South Korea last evening after a day trip from the city of Pusan (Busan) into the mountains where we visited the “Buddha-revered temple” of Tongdosa. Clear, cool air - quite a change from the tropics. This visit coincided with the March 5-7th “ceremony of receiving the percepts of Buddhism,” which is a major event for the temple. The “Tong-do temple was founded by Ja-Jang Monk in Sil-la-Dynasty (BC 646).” It is now a vast complex of structures built by a mountain stream

South Korea impressed me with its modern city coexisting with ancient cultures - had a great tour guide on the bus - you’ll see Choi’s picture on the web gallery. Also, Busan is the 5th largest container port in the world and seems to be busy building ships as well.

On to Shanghai.

brief visit to Japan

A day in Nagasaki and on to South Korea. Photos should be up within hours. Big welcome for Queen Victoria here. Spent much of the morning at the Glover Garden - Thomas Blake Glover, from Scotland, lived here from 1859 till his death in 1911. He contributed to the introduction of modern science and technology into Japan. Along with the Walker brothers, he founded what is now Kirin Brewery Co. The afternoon was given to a tour of the Nagasaki Museum of History and Culture and to a walk in the Peace Garden.

at sea between Saipan and Nagasaki

Learning about waves from lecturer: Denny Whitford, PhD, Prof University of Maryland, Captain US Navy (ret.) Anybody know him? Good info and great presentation style. Watching out now for rogue waves.....

though a landlubber all my life, I am truly enjoying the sea. . . of course it’s beautiful, blue, and not stormy here!

,..meeting new people every day - at lunch today a couple who just emigrated to Australian from London . . . learned about Australia’s stringent requirements - financial, job, background! Also shared hope that Obama will be able to lead us all out of economic disaster. And after lunch met another woman who has discovered Ariel, super personal trainer.

NOW, out by the pool on an absolutely fabulous day. Wish I could send sunshine and warmth to friends at home in Pennsylvania, especially Beth Becker, who is helping me out at home and thus driving from Elizabethtown to Lancaster through rain, sleet, and snow.

Saipan WWII

En route to Japan - as of 11:30 p.m. 3/2/09 (8:25 am New York time): we are located 21 degrees 37.41N and 139 degrees 46.79E.

Serious notes re Saipan: Bright skies and blue seas around here saw battles and death 65 years ago. Young boys, much like the writers whose letters to Dad I am documenting in Dear Coach, were put in jeopardy, sometimes died and sometimes were saved by luck along the way. Visiting Saipan affected me deeply. Being on the invasion beach, seeing the hills and then the cliffs. . . imagining as we pulled away from the island - instead of the Queen Victoria and a bunch of freighters, what it looked like in July 1944 with a flotilla of warships. .. Imagining the moments before men were sent onto the beaches. As Saipan and Tinian Island receded in the distance, I thought about the Enola Gay, which went from Tinian on this same route to Japan.

What an enormous tragedy (WWII).

During our sea day today I read John Ciardi’s diary of his time on Saipan; he wrote about the personal side of war - about the role of luck, the fear, the uncertainty, losing friends, the knowledge that one might die tomorrow. Ciardi noted the strangeness of going to sleep at night knowing you might die the next day. [He served on B-29s bombing Japan and Iwo Jima.]

And now in the world we have a world economic crisis. I have seen the closed stores and factories in Saipan. I heard the worries about jobs on Tonga, about the effect on business in New Zealand. On the ship I have heard concerns on the part of Canadians, Australians, Germans, English, and other world travelers when we get into our political discussion group or just in casual conversations. We have a world wide disaster that must be addressed with as much courage and unselfishness as WW II. Is it possible?

PS on Rabaul - people who went on the other tour saw a totally different place - just goes to show that you shouldn’t draw conclusions from a brief visit!

Right now going by Guam and not too far from Kwajalein - both places that were just names to me before. It’s 80.9 degrees F at 11:45 pm! 8-ft waves means we’re rocking and rolling again. For Bill: 12 degrees 35.79N and 145 degrees 58.43 E. Earlier this evening we passed over the Mariana Trench, which is believed to be the deepest area of ocean anywhere in the world - 5.9 nautical miles deep.

On board for Sydney to Singapore segment: 598 Australians, 465 UK, 391 US, 84 Canadian, 57 German. 30 countries represented by passengers. total passengers: 1762.

Tomorrow Saipan, capital of the US Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.

Heading north again

Crossed the equator into the northern hemisphere about six hours ago - and I was just getting used to the tropics. Next port will be warm - Saipan - but then we head up to Japan and South Korea where it's winter.

Papua New Guinea

Finished reading Nicholas Shakespeare’s In Tasmania [Australia: Vintage, 2007]. Toward the end he describes an environmentalist named Bob Brown, whose first reaction to Tasmania was, “I am home.” Then he quotes the novelist James McQueen writing about preserving the Franklin River, “For me it is the epitome of all the lost forests, all the submerged lakes, all the tamed rivers, all the extinguished species. It is threatened by the same mindless beast that has eaten our past, is eating our present, and threatens to eat our future: that civil beast of mean ambitions and broken promises and hedged bets and tawdry profits.” Shakespeare says that local history says about Tasmania, “For Europeans, it [Tasmania] represents the literal end of the world: if you travel any further you are on your way home again.”

Today we were in Rabaul, Papua New Guinea. The Japanese fought off the Australians, took over the island and carved an intricate network of tunnels in the volcanic mountains here; then the island suffered intense Allied bombing. Fifty years later the place was bombed by the ash from two violent volcano eruptions. One is still spewing ash [see photos on http://gallery.me.com/herrlk].

Now, my personal notes about Rabaul and Papua New Guinea: friendly and active, in spite of the devastation of war and volcanoes. Not a lazy island. Lots of construction going on in Rabaul and Kopoko. As we drove out dusty roads by lush vegetation, folks waving and calling hello with smiles, tears came to my eyes. Why? Because we are so welcome here? Because the horror of war is mostly forgotten? Because people do not envy or judge us but live by their own beat? Because we are following in the footsteps of explorers without the hazards and dangers? Whatever, it is a privilege to be here and an intense immersion in nature, time, culture, and history.

At sea between Australia and Papua New Guinea

In the Coral Sea between Australia and Papua New Guinea, bound for Rabaul. 16,282 miles from NY. It’s 6 pm here and 3 am in NY at the moment. It’s Tuesday for us, I don’t know what it is for you. Hopefully we’ll be able to catch the President’s State of the Union address, whenever it is.

On Thursday we'll be at Rabaul, a site of WW II interest and also a site with many active volcanos. I missed the talk on the geography today but can catch it later on TV.

We're learning a little about a lot and seeing just a tiny bit of the areas we visit. (Must guard against drawing conclusions.) Have enjoyed talking with local people, which so far has been easy, English being the dominant language up to this point. Must admit, however, that there is English, American, Australian, and New Zealand "english"! It's clear to me that we Americans have a lot to learn from others and it's time we stopped telling others how to live or expecting them to go along with our way. I'm humbled by much I hear and see.

...
What's a day at sea like? Today, as an example: 7:30 walk several times around the ship on deck 3, breakfast, journal or read (currently Nicholas Shakespeare’s In Tasmania), attend lectures (e.g., “Dangerous Marine Animals with Oceanographer & Meteorologist Prof. Denny Whitford), attend Rotary meeting (speaker the Maitre d’ of the dining room) and lunch, watch crew teams in crazy competition on deck, work out, relax, dinner (formal), a dance show. And that’s about 1/30th of the options available. Dress codes for dinner range from “elegant casual” to “semi formal” to “formal.” You can always skip the dining room and eat elsewhere on the ship or have a meal delivered to your stateroom if you want to.

Big thrill of the morning - watching flying fish. Then, this afternoon, mesmerized by graceful creatures gliding around the bow of the ship. I’m not enough of a birder to know whether they were gannets, boobies, or albatrosses. The bird book didn’t help either. Some were pure white with black trim, others grey or mottled in color but all were elegant in their ballet.

The fact that the sun is in the northern sky down here sometimes confuses my sense of direction, which is normally pretty good. Never quite sure where to look for sunrise and sunset - however, I have found it often enough to take way too many pictures! Yesterday there were some great cloud formations but I’ll only put one or two on the gallery!

Latitude: 13 degrees 19.40 S; Longitude: 149 degrees 55.09 E

Cairns, Great Barrier Reef

43rd day! This world cruise is one of constant motion - pause in ports and then on to the next - seems like we just left Hawaii. Now anchored near Cairns, Australia, then northward tonight to WW II places like Rabaul, Saipan, and Nagasaki. Temperature will go from hot summer to winter. Today a rainforest for me - I can’t snorkel because of the Meuniere’s problem in my ears but I’ve learned a lot about the wonders of the Great Barrier Reef.

Still working out in the gym, by the way. “Gym” doesn’t do justice to the place, which is on deck 9 facing out over the bow of the ship. If you won’t work out here, you won’t work out anywhere! Helps to have a personal trainer, too, and Ariel (from South Africa) is the best! Have been gone so long I had to have a haircut too (Ivan from Serbia) - a really international crew taking good care of us.

Be posting new photos from Sydney and here tomorrow...

Held another political forum yesterday. With the influx of Australians joining us for the leg from Sydney to Singapore we had a lively discussion.

Sydney

Two days in Sydney - from the Opera to the Beach. See new photos at http://gallery.me.com/herrlk/100039. Enjoyed The Magic Flute at the iconic opera house in Sydney harbor, toured the city on a double decker bus, took time to see more animals and take the ferry to nearby Manly beach. Cruised out of the fantastic Sydney harbor to the accompaniment of Australian music (mostly drinking songs), a flotilla of small boats, police boats chasing smaller craft away, a helicopter, and lots of folks waving from the shore. Poor Captain Cook - he missed this spot!

Tasmania

New photos - from Tasmania - now up on a new gallery album:
http://gallery.me.com/herrlk/100039

Today - at sea - will arrive in Sydney early tomorrow morning. Plan to explore on foot during the day and attend the Sydney Opera performance in the evening - The Magic Flute. We are staying in port overnight this time.

Tasmania

Something magic about Tasmania. Volcano defined hills. Sharply defined islands. Sheer cliffs of solid rock. One of the world’s deepest harbors. Ships of all kinds from historic sailing ships to the Queen Victoria side by side at Hobart. Prep place for those going to Antartica. Inland, rolling hills and farms, vineyards and horses. Clear, clean air. Tasmanian devils and wombats. Put it on the list of places to revisit. [About the same population as our Congressional District (PA-16).]

Tasman Sea

notice that I gave the wrong photo address. . .. it should be http://gallery.me.com/herrlk/100017

What a trip! Have my little office set up in the Commodore Room with the same view the captain has - nothing but sea - the Tasman Sea. Swells of about 8 ft but otherwise a beautiful day. As far south as we get and about as far away from home. Still only 1/3 of way through my journey, however. Ahead tomorrow are koalas and Tasmanian devils. We get just a glimpse of each country - enough to make you want to come back. I now understand why world travelers keep traveling.

Having a political discussion group on board has created new friendships, as people who like to talk about the issues of the day identify each other. We also have figured out that we can get a digest of the New York Times WITH editorials, and CNN and BBC are back on the air. It isn’t the same CNN you watch - it is the global edition. I like being away but I don’t want to come back not knowing what happened in the political arena during my holiday.

From a distance it seems so ridiculous that our congress is voting on party lines when the stakes are so high. We also wonder why so many of Obama’s appointments have gone sour - maybe it would be better if he did bring in outsiders. And as for the financial mess, I am acutely aware out here of the international domino effect and of the feeling that the US is to blame for tipping the balance.

Time for frivolity, however, and last night I won a prize for my masquerade costume - Cleopatra! Even my table mates did not recognize me. [Thank you Marta.]

All who wander are not lost.

NEW ZEALAND

NEW ZEALAND IS NOW AT THE TOP OF THE LIST OF PLACES I WOULD LIKE TO COME BACK TO! North Island (Auckland) - wonderful visit to thermal area of Rotorua, Maori dance performance, and agrodome program about sheep and sheepdogs! South Island (Christchurch) a marvelous place. Photos from both and some ship photos being posted on http://gallery.me.com/herrlk/100017.

early cruise photos

I'm posting the early cruise photos in a separate gallery - NYC in the snow through Guatemala volcanos and macadamia nuts. Please view them at
http://gallery.me.com/100031. Loading the photos is expensive so that's all you'll hear from me tonight except to say that we had a "political forum" again tonight and got over 30 people who are interested in the first 100 days of the Obama administration. We haven't had CNN since January so we're trying to keep each other informed when we can and keep the spirits high. Had the US, Ireland, Canada, UK, and Australia represented this time.

at sea on the coast of New Zealand

Left the Bay of Plenty and are sailing South along the coast of the northern island of New Zealand. About 12,300 nautical miles from home. It's only 65 degrees outside in a moderate gale which is like a full gale when you're walking on the deck of the moving ship. On the sea days I usually walk with the group that goes around the ship several times for a mile's walk. It's overcast and the waves are over 8 ft. We can see the mountainous coast of New Zealand to the west. Australians on board are concerned about the fires back home as we all are. They are not quite as prepared for this type event as are our Californians I suspect.

Pictures are posted from yesterday's trip to the Rotorua thermal area and the Agrodome. Ann, if you are reading this, check out the sheep!

Tonight's a formal night; I will take my camera along to get shots of the ship as Ali requested.

photos

PS: if you had trouble getting to the photos try www.gallery.me.com/herrlk/10017; PSS: Fran and Beth - be sure to look at my comment after yours.

from Tonga en route to Auckland

To me it’s Feb 11th. We’re now at 32 degrees 40.61 S and 177 degrees 19.11 E. [To you it may be a different day.] We’re over 12,000 miles from New York.

One of my goals for this trip was to figure out what I wanted to do after I get home - I’ve made little progress on that. I have accomplished something surprising, however. From the first week, I’ve working out with a personal trainer on a regular basis. Those of you who know me know how unusual that is for me. Whatever my future I will be in better shape to face it. Darlene, I’ll be ready for bike rides next summer! Yonnie, I’m looking forward to golf. By the way, we drove past a golf course in Tonga - very flat. [New pictures will be posted today on my gallery. www.gallery.me.com/herrlk/10017]

Tomorrow we’ll be in Auckland, New Zealand. Already it’s cooler and less humid. Samoa and Tonga tested my tolerance for a hot climate! Those two nations are quite different, as it their geography. Samoa is mountainous, Tonga flat plantation land. Somoans buried their loved ones in the front yard; Tongans use highly decorated cemetaries. In both cases, however, the people I met were quite friendly, and the tour guides provided good information. Schools are important, especially on Tonga, and there are many church-run schools, primarily Methodist, Catholic, and Mormon. Other churches dot the landscape as well. There are few jobs however and not much economic development. Each of the islands here has a story to tell. One of our lecturers today covered the history of who has controlled what in terms of the islands of the South Pacific and how that has changed, especially with respect to WW II.

Occurs to me that for all their good intentions, foreigners meddled with the cultures over the past 200 years without planning for the consequences.

29th day

Now 10,576 nautical miles from New York. . . in the southern hemisphere [15 degrees 49.76S and 172 degrees 52.23 W] We today pass the International Date Line, which for our present latitude actually lies at 172 30W and not 180 W as is mainly the case. This adjustment is made to avoid dividing certain island groups which lie astride the 180 Meridian, incuding Fiji, Tonga, and New Zealand. Tomorrow - Sunday - will not occur here and we go directly to Monday when we arrive at Tonga. It was 83 degrees F this morning at 6, so you can guess what it will be at noon!

Western Samoa a great place to visit - friendly and scenic. Apparently they get only one or two cruise ships a year at Apia, so our visit was indeed welcome. Highlight of my tour was visiting the home of Robert Louis Stevenson and hearing about his relationship with the Samoan people. I'm posting new pictures this morning - later today you can probably see them at http://gallery.me.com/herrlk/10017.

Crossing the Equator

February 5 - Now below the equator. Crossed it at 3 pm yesterday. Event marked by a ridiculous tradition. Enough said. We arrive in Apia (Samoa) at noon tomorrow - it was 81 degrees at 7 am today. Six hour time difference from PA, by the way - that will change in a major way when we cross the international date line on Sunday (we don’t have Sunday).

Did you know the Queen Victoria is 964.5 ft long and 106 ft wide? She has a capacity of 1980 guests. Right now there are 1827 (it changes as people get on and off at various ports). Currently there are 776 UK, 406 US, 195 Australia, 192 Germany, and 98 from Canada. All in all there are 35 nationalities among the guests.

photos

New photos posted on http://gallery.me.com/herrlk/100017. ENJOY! We cross the equator today with appropriate festivities!

still at sea

Finished Defoe's Robinson Crusoe - thought that would be an appropriate read - a good story for adults - insights into life choices and consequences. Now have Conrad's Victory to read. Tomorrow we cross the equator, with appropriate ceremony. In the 80s today and partly cloudy (sorry folks back North). We do have 8 ft waves, however, so we rock and roll a bit. We're going by the Line Islands (Kingman, Palmyra, Christmas, etc) and the Marshalls (though they're a bit further west. We almost 9000 nautical miles from NY.

2/1/09: At sea now 8380 nautical miles from New York [17 degrees 38.72 N, 159 degrees 15.97 W]. Here it’s warm - 74 at 7 am and never boring. Our speed is about 20 knots - wonder how that compares with the WWII ships?

Yesterday’s tour of military sites on Oahu included the Arizona Memorial, Wheeler Field, Schofield Army Barracks, Ft. Shafner, the Punchbowl Memorial, and the Home of the Brave Museum - particularly interesting to me because of the Dear Coach book. Anyone who watched From Here to Eternity saw these places. Our guide showed us some scenes from that movie and others like Pearl Harbor that matched where we were. Few of the Dear Coach writers served on Hawaii but several probably passed through here. I know that Roy Herr and Phil Lowell were here; Althouse, Sauder, Horning, and others probably passed through.

We have some lectures on board about the Pacific wars - and I go to some of them. Other times I opt out for exercise or sitting in the sun. Or meeting people. had breakfast, for example, with a couple from England who are taking the segment from LA to Sydney and then flying home. We do have Rotary meetings every Monday too. I usually sit in the Commodore Room to write these blogs - it’s two floors above the bridge, so you can imagine the view; actually right now I’m seeing exactly what you’d see if you logged in to www.cunard.com and clicked on Queen Victoria, and then the live bridge cam. NOTHING BUT SEA. The sea is always in motion - somehow I expected more glassy calm “pacific” seas. They say the waves are 4.9 ft but from up here they don’t look that big. There are white caps scattered about and lots of clouds today. Around Hawaii the sea is miles deep I’m told. I know there’s lots of life down there but we don’t see it. No whales or dolphins, no birds around here - but I think you’d have to be watching all the time to see them if they were here - the sea around us is so immense. From this room I have about a 200 degree view. The earth must be round - either that or there’d be an immense waterfall all around us.

Four days at sea and then we will reach Apia. While we’re out here in the Pacific satellite TV service is poor so I really don’t know much about what’s going on at home. We do get a news sheet in the morning - I’ve noticed that it’s prepared in English, German, and probably other languages - with appropriately different news. Sunday one of my friends brought a New York Times on board so I did get to catch up a bit. I use internet mostly to post this blog and not to surf. Decided to spend my money on my personal trainer and get in shape. Yes, some of you may be surprised that I’m still doing that. I never thought I’d take a cruise to get in shape - most people do the opposite. I knew the trip would be a life-changer but this is not the change I would have predicted! I am motivated when I’m out by the pool - there are lots of cruise bodies out there, and I don’t mean skinny.

at sea

Friday, January 30: Easy to feel disconnected out here halfway to Hawaii. Satellite service for TV is out, no sign of life on or above the ocean other than us. Imagine how the early seafarers coped with months like this without technology or creature comforts or really even knowing where they were! No wonder there were mutinies and madness. [Larry, how did you make it across the Pacific in your sailboat?]

Why is there a roll when the sea is relatively calm (small waves of 4ft) ?

Some friends asked the director on board for a room and posted a meeting of people with interest in US politics. Had a roomful (about 35) show up eager to talk and meet again; people from US and Canada, Australia, and UK showed up - all hoping that Obama will succeed, whether or not they voted for him.

Digital photography “secrets” session was similarly filled. Missed a few lectures that were probably worthwhile, skipped the table tennis tournament, shuffleboard, movie, bridge, etc. Way too many opportunities to tell you all of them - one should never be bored. Yesterday I even tried my feet at a dance class - salsa.

Patches of blue sky allowed sunlight through creating patterns of glittering light on the ocean surface this morning. By afternoon we had sunny skies and the decks were full.

What a kaleidoscope of things to do, people, sights, and thoughts.

..25 degrees 65.1 N latitude, 145 degrees 21.23 W longitude..tomorrow another day at sea.

at sea on the way to Hawaii

January 27th - at sea. For those of you interested in details, we are now about 6150 nautical miles from NYC and over 250 from LA. We’re traveling at 21.5 knots and are at 31 degrees 59.97 N latitude and 122 degrees 30.51 W longitude. Our next port is Honolulu, which we will reach on 2/1. There’s a strong breeze across the deck and moderate waves of 8 ft.

There’s a book in the library here that I recommend to the curious. It’s called Do Dolphins ever sleep? by Pierre-Yves & Sally Bely. For example you can learn the difference between oceans and seas, why the sea is salty, why icebergs are white. In the category of what you don’t need to know are such details as - at what degree does a wave break (<120 degrees) and how big was the biggest wave ever recorded (110 feet). I learned that the tuna is practically the only warm-blood fish, and it is fast, crossing the Atlantic in 40 days and sprinting at 30 knots. You can also read about the difference between mahi-mahi and the dolphin.

On a more personal level it takes me about a half day to adjust to motion at sea every time we really move out but I’ve not ever been really uncomfortable. I usually walk around the ship with the walking group at 7:30 every morning we are at sea -we cover about a mile by going around the ship three times. Then, I am really awake - especially in the wind, like today. Last evening we saw the glittering lights of LA as our last sight of land for a while. There’s an awfully lot of water out here.

Hard to image the rough weather you are having back home. Time for me is going fast, even though we’re turning the clock back often. We’ve covered over 6000 miles and been underway now for 17 days. BTW, a nautical mile is 1852 meters, which slightly less than the American mile and the English mile but longer than the French mile. [You really needed to know that, didn’t you?]
_____________

January 29 - at sea. 6693 nautical miles from NY, 788 from LA. Weather 60 degrees, speed 21.3 knots. [for Bill Good: very early on the 29th: 29 degrees 18.76 N latitude, 131 degrees 35.76 longitude]. Pool temp 80.6 degrees. calm seas, waves small at 4.9 ft. Sunny. Will arrive in Hawaii Feb 1.

Reading a bit each day. Finished Do Dolphins Ever Sleep? A few more tidbits: No matter the size, shape, or speed of an object in the water, the wake angle is always 39 degrees. Fishing is one of the most dangerous occupations in the world, second only to professional logging. Stopping distance in an emergency is longer than you’d think: liner - .5 mi, cargo ship 1.5 miles, supertanker 5 miles! It takes 450 years for a plastic bag tossed overboard to decompose. Next book is WWII related - The War Against Rommell’s Supply Lines - it covers the North African campaigns that Wib Raffensperger participated in [he’s a major writer in the Dear Coach book I’m working on]. In the last leg of the trip I will be in Egypt and plan a trip to El Alamein there.

Lots of shows, movies, games, but those are things I don’t do much on board. There’s always a few picture puzzles underway on an table by the library. I am following up on my plan to USE the gym and spa. And, meeting people - our friends from New Mexico left our dinner table in LA; new folks are from the lake district in England.

comments

BTW thanks to those of you sending comments - I appreciate hearing from you and getting your reactions to the blog!

the Pacific

January 27th - at sea [it doesn't sound right to say "at ocean" although that is technically correct - this is the Pacific Ocean not the Pacific Sea]. Anyway, for those of you interested in details, we are now about 6150 nautical miles from NYC and over 250 from LA. We’re traveling at 21.5 knots and are at 31 degrees 59.97 N latitude and 122 degrees 30.51 W longitude. Our next port is Honolulu, which we will reach on 2/1. There’s a strong breeze across the deck and moderate waves of 8 ft.

There’s a book in the library here that I recommend to the curious. It’s called Do Dolphins ever sleep? by Pierre-Yves & Sally Bely. For example you can learn the difference between oceans and seas, why the sea is salty, why icebergs are white. In the category of what you don’t need to know are such details as - at what degree does a wave break (<120 degrees) and how big was the biggest wave ever recorded (110 feet). I learned that the tuna is practically the only warm-blood fish, and it is fast, crossing the Atlantic in 40 days and sprinting at 30 knots. You can also read about the difference between mahi-mahi and the dolphin.

On a more personal level it takes me about a half day to adjust to motion at sea every time we really move out but I’ve not ever been really uncomfortable. I usually walk around the ship with the walking group at 7:30 every morning we are at sea -we cover about a mile by going around the ship three times. Then, I am really awake - especially in the wind, like today. wrote the blog text, went to a healthy living lecture (really!), and walked on the treadmill looking out over the ocean - the same view you get from www.cunard.com clicking on the bridge web cam. Now I'm entering the blog and doing my laundry. Multitasking....

Last evening we saw the glittering lights of LA as our last sight of land for a while. There’s an awfully lot of water out here.

Hard to image the rough weather you are having back home - my sympathies to those of you dealing with ice. Time for me is going fast, even though we’re turning the clock back often. We’ve covered over 6000 miles and been underway now for 17 days. BTW, a nautical mile is 1852 meters, which slightly less than the American mile and the English mile but longer than the French mile. [You really needed to know that, didn’t you?]

a trip vs a cruise

from journal Jan 23, a more philosophical post:

I first met Queen Victoria [the ship] on January 10th and was teary-eyed for some reason. Maybe it was her sheer size or the extravagance of boarding her to go around the world. Of the thousands of people on board, I knew not one. It took awhile for us to bond - the ship and I - almost two weeks, in fact. But suddenly I was attached [and understood those folks on board who sail again and again]. Maybe it was the crazy feeling on the exercise bike way up on the 9th deck above the bridge when you could feel like you were part of the force moving forward over the sea. Maybe it was the realization that it was her or nothing - no land, no other ships, not even planes above. Whatever it was, it happened. Now my ship and I are but a few ports from heading out together into the open Pacific. Port stops for touring seem almost an interruption in what we have set out to do.

Admittedly I am just a small part of this vast moving world - this village on the sea. And, traveling alone, I am only beginning to connect with others, though now I feel well connected to my Queen. In places we are alone together, she and I, apart from the noises of the restaurants, the theatre, or the ballroom. In the library and most places I must usually share her. I don’t mind sharing, really, and gradually I am building connections with others, a web that grows with every communal meal, tour, and event. What a fascinating group of people.

I leave the ship somewhat reluctantly to visit the lands she brings me to and gladly climb aboard again. She is now my home, my stable but never still base, taking me to new places and new thoughts.

The sea is another partner in this voyage, holding us both. There is no beginning and no end to the sea. We name portions of it but it is not ours to confine or command. Because it resists us, we can move forward. The sea and the ship respect each other.

PS: Does a bird ever tire of flying?

Mexico photos

Go to http://gallery.me.com/herrlk/10017 to see photos taken at Puerto Vallarta and Cabo San Lucas.

at sea

Today on the way to Puerto Vallarta. Guatemala? looking for more visits to Puerto Quetzal from cruise ships. . . very friendly, gracious people. Trip to macadamia nut farm pleasant ride and cool shaded locale; farm with 300 trees run by a couple ultra concerned about the environment. In the morning could clearly see many volcanos including two active ones; however by the time we left port in late afternoon the smog made it impossible to see them. Burning sugar cane fields and other industry leaves the sky brown, even dumped ashes all over the top deck from the cane burning probably miles away. Will be tough for this port to attract tourists unless they get a grip on pollution; that seems to be quite difficult since they need to burn the sugar cane fields to rid the cane of snakes so that workers can do their jobs. Still, it's a country worth visiting.

Guatamala

For those following in detail [that's you Bill] - here's what you asked for. We are at 13degrees 55.42 N latitude and 90degrees 47.56W longitude. Docked at Puerto Quetzal.

Inauguration viewed at sea

Hundreds of us from many nations watched the Obama inauguration today in the Queen Victoria's theatre and pub. Proud to be an American! The 50 buttons I brought along went fast, and not just to Americans. Now we all have work to do.

Transiting the Panama Canal an all day amazing trip. Can see where the third lane is being cut in. QV just makes it through, the Queen Mary can't fit. Really an engineering wonder.

Pacific calm and endless, and we haven't even gone far off the coast of Central America. Passing Costa Rica and Honduras today. Tomorrow we'll dock in Guatamala and I'll see a macadamia nut farm.

By the way, to get to my me.com account I need to use wireless and it's not working now; to get to my embarqmail.com account I need to be in the internet center AND be lucky, so if you haven't heard from me on email, that's why. I will post photos on here when the wireless is back up or I learn how to do it in the centre.

Weather warm and wonderful, seas calm. My sympathies to those up north.

comments

I enjoy reading your comments so keep them coming!

at sea

Much to do in this floating hotel, inc people watching - many countries & languages - huge contingent of German tourists plus UK, Canada, Australia, etc. Dinner table companions English/Persian, Canadian, and from New Mexico for dinner; lunch varies - French, German, Australian, etc. Elderly repeat travelers fun to talk with. Well-known (to those who are cruise afficionados) William Miller entertaining lecturer about history of cruise ships. Been through the black&white formal night (met captain, drank champagne, maneuvered in crowded ballroom)but most enjoy the many spots to sit and read.

No reason to get unfit with the spa and fitness folks around. Anyone for walking up and down the staircases (10 decks) 4 times? Or pacing around the ship in the early morning (1 mile)?

Discovered a group of Rotarians so I will get make-ups afterall.

warmer weather

Now finally in warm weather while those of you up north in deep freeze...my sympathies. Ft. Lauderdale today a fleet of cruise ships, including the Queen Mary and at least four other ships plus us. Finally off to foreign lands - a few days of sailing to Curacao then the Panama Canal. Please feel free to comment on these postings...it's one site I do go to every day. Email is very slow in computer centre, faster but more expensive wireless. Victoria feels more like home each day.

cruise differential

At sea. ocean calm, weather cloudy. Territory? where U-Boats harrassed merchant ships during WWII. Ship with high end amenities but like any cruise except for its destinations. Of those on board, 750 are making the whole world cruise, like me. Meet QM2 in harbor at Fort Lauderdale tomorrow.

underway

Learning my way around the Queen Victoria, finding spa and food hotspots, getting used to the motion. People mostly in pairs but interesting folks. No children. No land, either. We're somewhere off the coast of SC I suspect - still not warm enough! Left NYC in snowstorm. First lecture by Rick Senat, former EVP of Warner Bros - maybe get some tips about getting Dear Coach into a movie - THAT would pay for the trip.

world trip

Leaving in 5 days from pier 88 on the west side of Manhattan. You can follow the journey here and on www.cunard.com (go to Queen Victoria and click on bridge web cam). First stops are Ft Lauderdale (remember there are many citizens of the world on this trip), Curacao, and the Panama Canal.