“Is that the boat we are taking to Europe?” I asked my husband. He glared at me. “It is a ship, not a boat,” I was informed.
Regardless, it didn’t really matter for I was deadly sea-sick for seven days going over and three years later, for five days coming back.
When we eventually bought a “boat”, it was just that…a row boat. It did boast a 5 ½ horse-power electric motor and two oars and was non-life threatening. We caught a lot of fish from that boat.
But, my husband loved the water and consequently there were a few cruises in our travel years. We went twice down the Amazon. That wasn’t as scary as the plane ride home from Manus. There was nothing but jungle underneath us…for miles and miles. No rescue, should we go down.
The one small cruise we took down the U.S. coast to Mexico, was a nightmare the whole way. Everyone was sick. The Gravol was not dispensed by the doctor on board, it was sitting out in the Lobby for everyone and I bet he was taking it too.
I can’t remember which trip we were on but one of our trips was on ”The Love Boat”. Some of you may remember that TV serial from away back…and incidentally they played the song over and over on the loud speakers until I knew every word in it.
And on one of our trips we decide to watch a movie one afternoon. We went down, and down and down and finally found the bottom of the boat and there was the Movie Theatre. The selection that day was “The Posidon Adventure”. Not such a good choice for those on a cruising adventure.
Recently, TV captured a real and similar situation, in living colour, with a cast of characters that never intended to be a part of a TV drama. It is amazing that there were survivors.
My travel days are long gone but I have memories of adventures that would fill several novels. People always feel that travel is the ultimate experience…and it has its wonderful moments but we have a beautiful and fascinating world right on our doorstep and I thank God that I have seen some of its wonders. But you know, there is so much to see right here in Canada, this country that we take so much for granted.
I stood once with a stranger at Fairmont Hot Springs in B.C., at the top of a hill and we looked over a vast forest of trees. She glanced over to me and said “Look, there is no one here but us.” She was an American from Los Angeles where ever corner is full of people.
I have felt the same wonder so many times as I have driven across the rolling hills of the Peace River Country. Miles and miles of yellow canola, wheat or barley are spread out before you like a quilt. What a gift the Lord has given us…and it is all there on our doorstep to enjoy. God is really good to us Canadians.
Photo by Alper Çuğun via Flickr/CC
