On to Northern California
On Sunday my niece, Cathy, drove me to the port – they could have designed the approach to be more confusing but I’m sure exactly how. There had to have been tens of thousands of containers on the docks we passed. It has always amazed me that those responsible manage to get them to their appropriate destinations especially before the advent of computers.
After going through port security a shuttle bus took me to the foot of the gangway, which seems to go on forever. Using my best New York City 'YO" I got the attention of the crew member at the top of the gangway and very shortly thereafter two other members of the crew were on their way down to get my luggage. I eventually made it to the top of the gang way - 20 meters of corrugated metal steps with a hump at the top of each step, which is probably great for drainage, but walking up them the first time was strange, and exhausting.
I was immediately escorted to my cabin by the first mate and was pleasantly surprised to find that I had been assigned to a double room with TV, DVD player, VCR and CD player on Deck F. A slide show of my accommodations is at the bottom of this page.
The first mate, then brought me down to the officer’s dining room where sirloin with asparagus tips and French fries were served after which a bowl of chocolate and chocolate chip ice cream arrived with whipped cream and chocolate syrup on a tray, my California hosts will particularly appreciate the choice of ice cream flavors.
Shortly after arrival in the mess we were joined by the Captain, Oliver, and I asked several questions about their years at sea, etc. After which Oliver escorted me to the Bridge and when I stopped to look at the charts he pulled out the ones that showed the route to Oakland. It turns out that due to California laws concerning the type of fuel used in its coastal waters the ship will maintain a 40 mile distance from land in order to use a less expensive fuel – it costs approximately $1MM for the round trip across the Pacific in fuel alone.
As I write this I was becoming accustomed to the hum of the engine causing a constant soothing vibration when I was suddenly wrenched back to reality by the thunderous arrival of a container being loaded only 25 foot from my cabin. This will continue for a few more hours and again while we are docked in Oakland then peace across the great Pacific.
The first mate knocked on the door to tell me they were having coffee in the officer’s mess at 3 – I should have told him I had already made my own fresh coffee, but I figured if he went to the trouble to extend a personal invitation the least I could do is accommodate him – it will be in about 30 minutes or so.
While he never showed up a member of the crew did and invited me to use the Wi-Fi that they had paid for. I quickly retrieved my laptop from my cabin and after a few minutes of battling the system it accepted the password and I was able to make brief contact on messenger. I noted that there were several members of the crew using Skype to communicate with their families in the Philippines so I spent only a few minutes there in order to free up bandwidth.
7/2
The scheduled departure from the port was 0500, around 0300 I was awakened by a change in the frequency of the engines and tried to go back to sleep – yeah, right – I stumbled over to a portal, pulled back the curtain and sure enough, the dock was moving. Pulled on some clothes and went up to the darkened wheel house to observe the escape from LA.
I was immediately escorted to my cabin by the first mate and was pleasantly surprised to find that I had been assigned to a double room with TV, DVD player, VCR and CD player on Deck F. A slide show of my accommodations is at the bottom of this page.
The first mate, then brought me down to the officer’s dining room where sirloin with asparagus tips and French fries were served after which a bowl of chocolate and chocolate chip ice cream arrived with whipped cream and chocolate syrup on a tray, my California hosts will particularly appreciate the choice of ice cream flavors.
Shortly after arrival in the mess we were joined by the Captain, Oliver, and I asked several questions about their years at sea, etc. After which Oliver escorted me to the Bridge and when I stopped to look at the charts he pulled out the ones that showed the route to Oakland. It turns out that due to California laws concerning the type of fuel used in its coastal waters the ship will maintain a 40 mile distance from land in order to use a less expensive fuel – it costs approximately $1MM for the round trip across the Pacific in fuel alone.
As I write this I was becoming accustomed to the hum of the engine causing a constant soothing vibration when I was suddenly wrenched back to reality by the thunderous arrival of a container being loaded only 25 foot from my cabin. This will continue for a few more hours and again while we are docked in Oakland then peace across the great Pacific.
The first mate knocked on the door to tell me they were having coffee in the officer’s mess at 3 – I should have told him I had already made my own fresh coffee, but I figured if he went to the trouble to extend a personal invitation the least I could do is accommodate him – it will be in about 30 minutes or so.
While he never showed up a member of the crew did and invited me to use the Wi-Fi that they had paid for. I quickly retrieved my laptop from my cabin and after a few minutes of battling the system it accepted the password and I was able to make brief contact on messenger. I noted that there were several members of the crew using Skype to communicate with their families in the Philippines so I spent only a few minutes there in order to free up bandwidth.
7/2
The scheduled departure from the port was 0500, around 0300 I was awakened by a change in the frequency of the engines and tried to go back to sleep – yeah, right – I stumbled over to a portal, pulled back the curtain and sure enough, the dock was moving. Pulled on some clothes and went up to the darkened wheel house to observe the escape from LA.
At 0730 I went down for breakfast where the steward advised me that today meatloaf and egg were on the menu. Meatloaf? I agreed to try it without the egg, turned out to be broiled spam with tomato slices, served with warm Italian bread on the side, and, of course killer coffee and no the spoon didn’t quite dissolve.
Lunch was onion soup and what was called pork chop chuckle, which turned out to be a broiled pork chop topped with stewed vegetables and a boiled potato. I will not be reporting on every meal, just those with strange names or ingredients.
1500 - I have learned that several hours into our trek the vessel had been contacted by the U.S. Government. The Captain was told to turn back towards LA as our heading would have taken us into the middle of naval maneuvers. He had to backtrack for about 3 hours before heading north again.
I later found out that the ship tracing link showed that we had basically traveled in a triangle - my eldest niece went around telling people that I had fallen off and they were headed back to get me or that they were taking me back to L.A. with the intention of leaving me there.
1600 – The haze and low clouds have kept this a gray day – it is impossible to tell the time of day or direction of travel using the sun.
After we pick up the last two passengers tonight in Oakland, I will no longer be dining at the Captain’s table. I’m sure he is looking forward to a break from all my questions and I am looking forward to dining with people who aren’t conversing in a foreign language. Now isn’t that a rather large assumption on my part?
1900 - We were supposed to be berthed in Oakland by now, the best answer I could get was that it would be a few more hours. I was hoping to make a few last phone calls today – it will be too late by the time I can pick up a tower, oh well, such is life.
2000 - The engine vibrations stopped a while ago and I have looked out the window a few times and am now convinced that we are sitting off shore waiting – I don’t think there is visibility beyond about a hundred yards which is about the length of this ship. If it weren’t for the gentle side to side roll of the ship I wouldn’t know I was on the ocean.
The above shows you what I know – the engines were stopped all right, because there is a problem and the mechanics are working furiously to get us underway again. We are drifting - my guess is that it is away from the California coast.
7/3
0530 – We are still sitting virtually motionless and the fog is still so dense it is hard to tell if we are anywhere near land.
0730 – Today I decided not to ask what was on the menu, but rather take whatever came my way. I don’t know what they call it, but it was some kind of spiced meat with chopped tomatoes and raw onion, a fried egg and chopped green onion all stacked on a thin slice of rye bread. I can’t wait to see how my stomach reacts to this fare.
0935 – The fog has become so dense I can just make out the light post that extends upwards from the prow of the ship.
Lunch was onion soup and what was called pork chop chuckle, which turned out to be a broiled pork chop topped with stewed vegetables and a boiled potato. I will not be reporting on every meal, just those with strange names or ingredients.
1500 - I have learned that several hours into our trek the vessel had been contacted by the U.S. Government. The Captain was told to turn back towards LA as our heading would have taken us into the middle of naval maneuvers. He had to backtrack for about 3 hours before heading north again.
I later found out that the ship tracing link showed that we had basically traveled in a triangle - my eldest niece went around telling people that I had fallen off and they were headed back to get me or that they were taking me back to L.A. with the intention of leaving me there.
1600 – The haze and low clouds have kept this a gray day – it is impossible to tell the time of day or direction of travel using the sun.
After we pick up the last two passengers tonight in Oakland, I will no longer be dining at the Captain’s table. I’m sure he is looking forward to a break from all my questions and I am looking forward to dining with people who aren’t conversing in a foreign language. Now isn’t that a rather large assumption on my part?
1900 - We were supposed to be berthed in Oakland by now, the best answer I could get was that it would be a few more hours. I was hoping to make a few last phone calls today – it will be too late by the time I can pick up a tower, oh well, such is life.
2000 - The engine vibrations stopped a while ago and I have looked out the window a few times and am now convinced that we are sitting off shore waiting – I don’t think there is visibility beyond about a hundred yards which is about the length of this ship. If it weren’t for the gentle side to side roll of the ship I wouldn’t know I was on the ocean.
The above shows you what I know – the engines were stopped all right, because there is a problem and the mechanics are working furiously to get us underway again. We are drifting - my guess is that it is away from the California coast.
7/3
0530 – We are still sitting virtually motionless and the fog is still so dense it is hard to tell if we are anywhere near land.
0730 – Today I decided not to ask what was on the menu, but rather take whatever came my way. I don’t know what they call it, but it was some kind of spiced meat with chopped tomatoes and raw onion, a fried egg and chopped green onion all stacked on a thin slice of rye bread. I can’t wait to see how my stomach reacts to this fare.
0935 – The fog has become so dense I can just make out the light post that extends upwards from the prow of the ship.
Light post at the bow is barely visible.
1400 – We are once again underway, I can even see beyond the post now!
1430 – Engine silence again – thank goodness they have generators for electrical power!
1815 – We are once again underway unfortunately it is a temporary fix. Yern told me that I was unlucky in picking this ship for my first voyage because we will have to wait for parts in Oakland (still 12 hours away) and he has no idea how long we will have to wait for them, nor how long it will take to get the replacement parts inserted. He expected me to be bothered by this news and was surprised when I shrugged my shoulders and said that I had never seen Oakland. When he continued that the delay could be several more days my only comment was that if I had been in a hurry I would have picked another mode of transportation. I did get the distinct impression that he was not thrilled at having women and/or passengers on the ship. This was his first assignment on this ship and his first assignment as first mate.
Of course, during this conversation I was laughing on the inside that they were the unlucky ones as events such as this follow wherever I go.
The engines seem to be running much rougher than they had before. I can’t help but wonder if at some point they will go silent again and we will have to wait for tugs to come get us.
7/4
0230 we are dead in the water, no idea how long it has been this time.
I had been comforting myself by believing that at least my family and friends would not be worried, it occurred to me sometime during the night that virtually everyone had the ship tracking link. Sorry guys!
Here we go again.
0645 - Headed down for breakfast – passed on the sausage stew and went with oatmeal.
0842 – LAND HOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!! Heading for the Golden Gate Bridge – should have opened the curtains earlier.
1430 – Engine silence again – thank goodness they have generators for electrical power!
1815 – We are once again underway unfortunately it is a temporary fix. Yern told me that I was unlucky in picking this ship for my first voyage because we will have to wait for parts in Oakland (still 12 hours away) and he has no idea how long we will have to wait for them, nor how long it will take to get the replacement parts inserted. He expected me to be bothered by this news and was surprised when I shrugged my shoulders and said that I had never seen Oakland. When he continued that the delay could be several more days my only comment was that if I had been in a hurry I would have picked another mode of transportation. I did get the distinct impression that he was not thrilled at having women and/or passengers on the ship. This was his first assignment on this ship and his first assignment as first mate.
Of course, during this conversation I was laughing on the inside that they were the unlucky ones as events such as this follow wherever I go.
The engines seem to be running much rougher than they had before. I can’t help but wonder if at some point they will go silent again and we will have to wait for tugs to come get us.
7/4
0230 we are dead in the water, no idea how long it has been this time.
I had been comforting myself by believing that at least my family and friends would not be worried, it occurred to me sometime during the night that virtually everyone had the ship tracking link. Sorry guys!
Here we go again.
0645 - Headed down for breakfast – passed on the sausage stew and went with oatmeal.
0842 – LAND HOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!! Heading for the Golden Gate Bridge – should have opened the curtains earlier.
Taken after passing under the Golden Gate Bridge which appears to be holding back the fog.
1153 – I hear voices in the hall! I have had this deck level to myself since Sunday so I was a little taken aback – they are making sure everything is ready for the other two passengers.
1230 – At lunch I learned that a new mechanic has been added to the crew and has brought with him the necessary parts for the engine repair. They expect we will be leaving early tomorrow morning
1800 – Finally met the other two passengers, they are old navy buddies who are off on a little adventure of their own. Nice gentlemen.
1230 – At lunch I learned that a new mechanic has been added to the crew and has brought with him the necessary parts for the engine repair. They expect we will be leaving early tomorrow morning
1800 – Finally met the other two passengers, they are old navy buddies who are off on a little adventure of their own. Nice gentlemen.