November 3, 2013

First order of business – Happy Birthday, Carey!

Well, the ship is docking even as I type.  It was neat watching the approach.  The Captain sailed up with the dock on the starboard side and then swung the ship in a circle so that we will be docked with the gangway on the port side.  For all you landlubbers, that’s right, then left.

Docking procedures will be completed in about 30 minutes, then the people who are doing tours will go off first.  We are just going to stay in the area of the Dock Yard today, so it will be 3:30 or 4 until we go off.  Tomorrow we will go exploring, and hopefully get some good pictures to share with y’all.

Strange occurrences in the Bermuda Triangle.  When we sailed in last week, the first night out, the Captain told us to set our clocks ahead one hour so we would be on Bermuda time, then we set them back on the way home.  This time, because of “Fall Back” we did not change our clocks, and the ship is automatically on Bermuda time.  I use my cell phone (on airplane mode) as my alarm clock, and got up this morning at 6:30.  I looked at my watch, which I had not changed, and it was 7:30.  The internal workings of the Droid automatically adjusted for Day Light Savings time, and I was an hour behind schedule.  So, I ate a peanut butter cookie for breakfast, dressed and went to my talk.  I heard a couple other people making a similar comment.  There is a setting on the phone to make it not do that, and I forgot to do it.  But all is well.


Confusion in the scheduling department again, so no protestant service, but there is a Catholic priest onboard – Father John.  I caught the end of his service (it was concluding 30 minutes before my talk was to begin): “The Lord be with you.” “And also with you.”  “Go in peace.”  We chatted for a few minutes.  He serves a church in Bowie, Maryland.  I guess Catholic priests go on vacation on cruises ships and do worship services.  Cool.

Bonnie went to scrap booking class.  They give out free packets at each class and make  interesting

suggestions.  Joyce is the teacher and she is very nice.  She is one of Bonnie’s favorites among the crew.  When we get home my fellow cruiser will produce a masterpiece of this voyage.

I was standing out on Deck 5 watching Bermuda sail by: St. David’s Lighthouse, Fort St. Catherine’s, and other places, when a man walked up to me, expressed appreciation for the talks, and asked, “Have you done talks on other ships?”  We chatted for a while and found out we were on another cruise together when I did my 3-part pirates series.  Another one for the small world department.

Well, Sleeping Beauty has snoozed enough, so it is time to roust her and head out to explore Bermuda.

More later.

TTFN