Day 1 May 14, 2014
The Grant, Anderson, Bowman families joined together to celebrate Rick’s 65th birthday and his retirement… on a Holland America Voldedam cruise, Vancouver to Alaska. It was an action-filled week.
We (Barbara and Bill) flew in to Vancouver and took the sky train to Canada Place where the Voldendam was waiting. We soon linked up with Cathy, Bruce and Rick who drove in from Kelowna a day earlier. Bruce expedited our wait to board by saving us seats in the boarding waiting area.
It wasn’t long before we were on board and checked out the Lido buffet for lunch. A bucket of Alaskan beer was popular! And a band played for us…
Before dinner we checked into our rooms. Rick found money in his safe and quickly turned it in at the visitor desk.
We departed late afternoon - under the Lion’s Gate Bridge and we were out of the harbour on our way north. A “Sam” radar detector reminded us of our grandson…
We got ready for dinner and Bill quickly got his scope out to check for birds. Dinner in the dining room was elegant and the food was excellent.
After dinner, as we travelled up the Strait of Georgia, we watched the scenery from the Promenade Deck. An amazing sunset completed our day.
Bill’s special bird sightings today
1. Glaucous-winged Gull
2. Pelagic Cormorant
3. Brant
