Cruise'n

On May 14th (Grma's birthday), we loaded up and headed to the cruise ship terminal in San Diego (one of my favorite places) and began an 8 day adventure with the Wilson's, Kyle and Larry, and Kyle's brother Todd and his wife Jill. I've actually lost track of the cruises we've been on, and some are better than others, but this was one of the most fun yet.
It's hard to put into words what it is about cruising that's fun, but certainly the people you're with have a great deal to do with it, and we had some good time!
This was a Pacific Coast cruise up the coast to San Francisco (2 days there), Astoria, Oregon, Nanaimo, Victoria, and Vancouver, British Columbia.  It wasn't the kind of cruise that we spent a lot of time laying around the pool, but we saw so many great things, it's hard to get it all in.
I've been putting this off, because there's so much to show.  Honestly, I tried to use as few pictures as possible, but still ended up with lots.  Between the 3 couples, we had 5 cameras and I think we took somewhere in the neighborhood of 600 pictures, so as large as this blog is, it's just a sample, believe me!

Getting ready to leave.  The balloon was a  happy birthday for Grama, and she had quite a time carting it around.

When we got to the ship, Kyle had arranged a private lounge where we began the feeding frenzy that lasted all week

On the way to San Francisco, Grama was lucky enough to see some whales alongside the ship.

As we approach the Golden Gate Bridge

This was right after we sailed under the   Golden Gate Bridge.  It was a beautiful morning, but was raining by the afternoon.

There apparently are still some hippies in San Francisco.

Preparing to walk across the Golden Gate Bridge (in the rain) 1.7 miles.

Who's afraid of heights?  Keep looking straight ahead, Kyle.

I don't want to be "big"!

Rub a dub dub........

Why would anyone want to get out of a perfectly good hot tub and jump into a freezing cold pool?  You'll have to ask Larry and Secretariat (Todd)

Kyle and Grama at the cable car stop.

Ridding the cable car was a blast and one of the trips highlights.

They have these cool public restrooms around San Francisco. 

Grapa and Secretariat

Grama - can I buy this and take it home to "fix up"?

I've become very good - lol - at taking self timer pictures.  This one is funny because it's too far back on the garbage can (the green thing).

Food is always a huge part of a cruise, on and off the ship.  Todd and Kyle enjoy some treats @ fisherman's wharf.

towel animals were few this trip, but we enjoyed the ones we got. 

Just one of a thousand beautiful sights!

I'm not trying to show thousands of food pictures, but here's Grama on Lobster night.

A tower we climbed in Astoria.  I don't remember how many steps, but it was tall!

We enjoy the view from the top.

We rented a car and drove to this place (Mo's) that we heard had "the best clam chowder in the world".  It was very good.  I think Secretariat had shrimp though.  He is not only a very fast race horse, but the king of shrimp eaters!
Todd- the ocean called....it's out of shrimp.

Stopping at a beach park near Mo's, we take pictures from a very pretty place.n

I guess all that shrimp made Todd thirsty.  Dogs wait their turn.

On the shore at Nanaimo.

Me & Grama on the beach.  Hay stack rock in the background.

Seaplanes coming and going at Nanaimo.

Another great view.

At Butchart Gardens in Vancover, BC.  Definitely the highlight of the trip.  We took hundreds of pictures.  I may create a blog just about this place.  Below are just a sampling of pictures, which don't do the place justice. 

More food - unusual sorbet in Victoria.

Many hours of cards played (thump-thump) in one of the card rooms.  Fun, fun, fun!

Our last breakfast on board.  More waffles, Kyle?

Farmers Market in Seattle.  We were there only an hour, but definitely want to return to see more.

The Space Needle.  I was actually here for the Worlds Fair in 1964 (I think) for which is was built.

It's really hard to say what the best reason to cruise. Food? Friends? I don't know for sure, but I promise to keep looking until I figure it out. Cannot wait until the next cruise!!!