Sharon\’s musings on life and wine

Cruising to Alaska Aug 2008

January 2008….We begin planning this fabulous trip to celebrate our 10th Wedding Anniversary 8-8-08.  Friends Margy and John invite us to join them on an Alaskan cruise.  What fun!!  Sharon gets excited.  Jerry is “lukewarm”…wondering how and WHERE can you play golf in Alaska?  But….Sharon has a plan:  we will fly to Seattle a couple days before the cruise, visit cousins Dan and Mary, and Jerry and John can play golf with Dan.  So, let the games begin~~

However (comma) “as our friend Bruce always says”…..a few weeks before they were to leave, Jerry has a crown followed by a root canal, followed by some “adjustments” to get his BITE just right. (Clue #1) 

So we leave Wednesday July 30 with 4 checked bags and 2 carry-ons (never enough clothes and stuff for a trip).  Arrive Seattle.  Great dinner and reunion with Dan and Mary.  Jerry didn’t sleep well..his tooth was hurting (Clue #2).    Thursday morning the guys are off for a round of golf at Everett County Club.  The gals tour downtown Seattle, Pike Market.  That evening a wonderful dinner at Anthony’s on the water. 

Friday, another day of golf for the guys…this time an extra 9 to give Jerry and John a chance to get even (didn’t happen~~).  Guys arrive back at the house and we have a Dinner Party including Dick and Kay.  Dick had played golf with the guys and taken their money.  Jerry’s tooth has been hurting all day, (Clue #3) but always remember GOLF IS NOT A MATTER OF LIFE AND DEATH…IT IS MUCH MORE IMPORTANT THAN THAT.   That night Jerry was up at 3 am with toothache (Clue #4).

When we arose Saturday morning with just hours to spare before embarkation….Jerry’s tooth was REALLY hurting.  So the hunt begins for a dentist who will see an unknown patient on Saturday morning…  Finally found Dr Huynh in a somewhat doubtful part of Seattle.  He took xrays and determined that Jerry’s “bite wasn’t quite right” and he was putting too much pressure on his back tooth when he chewed.  So he applied some composite material to build up the surrounding teeth, prescribed Motrin and we went speeding off to the Pier to board the ship.

The Golden Princess awaited us.  A beautiful ship with a capacity for 2600 passengers and 1150 crew.  The day before Princess Cruise lines called and offered us a deal we could not refuse:  move from our reserved mini suite with balcony to a double stateroom with balcony and they give us $2000.  So we did it.  Our stateroom was adequate.  Jerry went directly to bed, and there he stayed for the next day and half.  Only to rise on Sunday morning to see the Ship’s doctor.  The doctor examined, poked, mused and proclaimed that although he was not a dentist, he did detect an infection.  Jerry was running a low grade fever and his jaw was swollen and painful.  So he prescribed an antibiotic and Jerry spent the day in bed.  By this time, I was feeling very sad and lonely and disappointed.  Not exactly how you plan to celebrate this wonderful cruise adventure. 

John and Margy were wonderful, and urged me to just pretend we were The Three Musketeers, but I was not able to be too much fun. 

Monday we docked in Juneau and spent a few hours walking around, shopping, and having some fun at the Red Dog Saloon where a raunchy old guy played piano and heckled the customers. 

Tuesday we were in Skagway and took a 3 1/2 hour scenic train ride way up on the moutain.  It was very scenic and enjoyable.  Then Jerry went to bed for a nap and I shopped.  This was the day I began to get worried that his toothache was more serious than that.  So I called daughter Heather and she contacted our dentist in Amarillo, and we consulted with him.  He, too, was concerned the infection was going into Jerry’s neck.  He said the antibiotic should begin to work within 48 hours.

By Wednesday morning we could see some improvement.  He was able to swallow and open his mouth without pain, which had not been the case previously.  Here we are with all this beautiful FOOD everywhere, and he did not have an appetite, nor could he enjoy chewing.  Wednesday was our best day and the best part of the cruise for both of us.  We cruised into Tracy Arm, a narrow passage between the high cliffs and up to a glacier.  It was an unusual sunny day (they said they had only had a few all summer) so the views were spectacular.  Our sister ship, the Star Princess was in the same area, so we were able to get some fabulous photos.  Saw ice bergs that was blue and green.  It was more of what I had expected from the cruise.  We also spent some time out on deck that afternoon basking in the sun…of course we were under blankets.  But there were surprisingly many people swimming in the ship’s several pools.  Jerry decided he did not feel well enough to go on the salmon fishing expedition we had scheduled for Thursday in Ketchikan, so he loaned John his silk long underwear and we cancelled. 

Thursday morning John and Margy left early to go salmon fishing and they had a great time.  We got off the ship and shopped around Ketchikan, looking at local sights.  Alaska is a beautiful place to visit, but hard for us to comprehend why anyone would want to live there.  For one thing….there did not seem to be very many DENTISTS!

Then the fog set in and for the next day and half we were at sea with no view of anything except gray sea water and gray clouds.  Friday we were at sea (not my favorite place to be) and so we spent the day packing up.  That night was our 2nd formal night and we took some photos.  Also went to a show.  By this time, we just wanted to go home. 

But the best was yet to come~~~It was our 10th Wedding Anniversary and we had planned to celebrate in Victoria BC.  We docked at 7 pm.  The four of us rented a bicycle basket for 4 and we were off touring around Victoria.  Went to a tobacconist for some cigar gifts and then to the Bengal Bar at the Empress Hotel for drinks.  That is one of mine and Jerry’s favorite places as we were there a few years ago for our anniversary.  Victoria “feels” European and we enjoy it very much.  Had to be back on the ship before midnight (just like Cinderella).

Up early Saturday morning, disembarked, bus to Sea Tac Airport…HUGE crowds as 2 other big cruise ships had docked.  Took hours to get luggage checked and through Security.  Great surprise as we ran into one of my
“Old Lady Banker” friends and her husband who were also returning from an Alaskan cruise.  One last great seafood meal with Margy and John and then we each got on our respective Southwest Airlines planes and flew home.

We are thankful for great friends like Margy and John, and the opportunity to travel to new places.  But guess we will not be making any large trips for awhile.  And we will be sure to have all our teeth in good shape before we leave the country.