We are starting to get a little jaded and actually voicing our desire to be home. It's like travelling via car on a country or interstate trip, where the last three or four days are rushed, just wanting to get home. Does anyone else do that, or is it just us?
Secondly, our equipment is stating to fail. So far, my kindle and laptop both have smashed screens - the latter is on its way home from the UK via sea with a whole lot of other luggage we can do without. And for 48 hours I thought I'd seen the last of my iPad, but luckily it came to life, thanks to tips from my Facebook friends. And last week, John's laptop gave up. Dead. So I'm writing this on my iPad.
And now, the handles on both our suitcases have broken, probably because of the weight of John's stainless steel commode which I can dismantle into about 10 pieces and distribute between the cases. Now both are heavy instead of just one - we learned the hard way when I had to repack to ensure one was under 50 lbs.
Both cameras are still working, but we have no way to transfer files and upload them. So photos will have to wait.
But over-riding all this, both of us have had reoccurring chest infections - the Cunard cough - picked up initially on the Queen Victoria; this time for the past fortnight; meanwhile John is struggling with bouts of the runs, with both leaving him very weak, and without enthusiasm or energy. He will feel OK one day, then unwell for two. So we've had to slow down considerably, changing or aborting plans. I was too unwell to do anything in Chicago, remaining in bed, whilst John lacked the confidence to journey too far on his own. He was very unwell in Glacier National Park but that passed, but on our latest cruise - to Alaska - his chest infection was quite debilitating, so apart from two short excursions and another on my own at Juneau, I spent the time reading whilst John concentrated on getting his energy back, sleeping or gazing at the ocean, which fortunately he enjoys.
I do sound horribly negative, don't I?
But don't think for a minute that we shouldn't have done it: we've more than survived. There has been nothing we haven't confronted before - taxis that don't turn up, bedroom furniture that needs rearranging or raised or lowered, bathrooms that are impossible to use, forgotten PINs. The joys of travel are never ending. Meeting old friends and new; wonderful scenery; discovering new things about our ancestors; exploring London; putting faces to names - yeh, the Moxon Society.
We've just returned from a week on board the Celebrity Solstice, exploring Alaska's inside passage. Marvellous scenery as one would expect, waterfalls, lots of left over snow, mountains reaching the sea. But I have to say Milford sound is more majestic in my opinion. That seems so long ago now.
I enjoyed cruising via Cunard, less so John, he found it far too class conscious and the culture old-fashioned. I tended to put that to one side since I delighted in not having to pack and unpack. But after the Queen Victoria, neither of us liked the Queen Mary. For one, the configuration of the cabin created more difficulties for us and the staff didn't seem to be as happy.
However, we were both impressed with the Celebrity Solstice. More practical and modern decor, staff friendly and seemingly more balanced. On Cunard we thought the cabin staff had far too much to do and the wait staff too little (over-servicing). We did disagree about the food though, john preferred Celebrity's food, I preferred Cunards. Better desserts!
But the cabin on the Celebrity Solstice was the icing on the cake. An excellent bathroom, plenty of circulation space and an automatic door opener. And a full wall of glass opening onto a very nice balcony. Nothing to obstruct the view. The cabin was at least twice the size of our own bedroom.
Bliss.
Cunard's tour staff were better at following through on our particular access needs; whereas Celebrity didn't bother. Maybe we could have persisted if we'd had more energy.
Anyway, John has changed his mind about cruising - said he'd be happy to do another Celebrity cruise. There, it's in writing.
But would we do another 18 week trip given our health problems and lack of energy? Sadly I think not, although it would be nice to plan an itinerary...
But it's all theoretical anyway - nothing left in the kitty.
Those of you who are not Facebook users would not have seen our photos of Niagara Falls, New York or Glacier National Park. I need to write up posts about those places too, and not forgetting Boston. Marvellous places - we especially enjoyed Glacier, despite our difficulties there for the first couple of days.
Off to Canada (Vancouver) yet again tomorrow, when we say goodbye to the USA for the last time.
