Crossing Intern. Date Line & Cage Diving

We both began the day with Bible Studies. The women are studying the attributes of God. The men are continuing the video series by Dr. John Walton on Genesis.

After Bible study, we met in the stateroom and continued on to the pool deck where a brunch was being held to celebrate crossing the International Date Line. The creativity of the culinary staff is unbelievable. The brunch was lovely and was accompanied by piano music performed by our favorite onboard pianist.

There was a toast on the pool deck to celebrate the crossing of the International Dateline. We went from January 28 to January 30.

I have had some stressful events in my family so I thought it would be good for me to hit the gym to work off some stress. I rowed about 3500 meters and then proceeded to do an arm workout.

Bob and I then decided to explore further stress relief by going to the spa. We relaxed in the spa's large hot pool during very rough seas. Consequently, we were being thrown from side to side as the ship hit wave after wave. We were sailing into 30 Knot winds at a speed of 16 Knots so it was near impossible to walk on open decks.

Bob suddenly lurched to one side out of sync with the waves. I asked him what happened. He indicated that he had not taken his stateroom key out of his pocket before he got in the pool. Amid the pool jets and ship movement induced waves, his stateroom keycard worked its way out of his pocket. We were trying to locate the card. At the time we were sitting on a lounge area within the pool that is made of bent metal tubing/bars. We were not able to reach between the lounge area's bars. When the jet's timer shut off, we tried to locate the keycard. A gentleman standing on the pool deck, said he could see it. Bob then discovered that the metal lounger could be lifted to give access to the area below. We decided that Bob would lift the lounger, I would swim under the lounger and retrieve the keycard. I need to point out that we were still being thrown back and forth by the rough seas that the ship was experiencing. We did not do a trial run to see how long Bob could lift the lounger and remain upright during the incredible motion in the pool. Ultimately, Bob lifted the metal lounger and I went "Cage Diving" for the keycard. As I was entering the cage with my eyes opened so I can attempt to see the keycard, the thought crossed my mind that Bob could loose his footing, drop the lounger and, thereby, trapping me underneath. The length of time that I can hold my breathe maybe be tested. Luckily, I am here to report that I located the keycard in the cage, grabbed it, and quickly exited the cage. Upon surfacing, Bob said that the lounger was significantly heavier than he had originally thought.

After this excitement, we decided to relax for a bit more in the pool before we headed to the steam room. Next, we headed to the lounge chairs that line the spa area. During this time, I looked closer at the keycard. Lo and behold, it was not Bob's keycard but another guest's keycard.

I went back to the pool's deck to see if I could see Bob's keycard. I was able to locate it. Bob an I jumped back in the pool for a second round of cage diving. This time, we recruited a fellow guest to help Bob lift the lounger. I again dove under the lounger and retrieved the additional keycard. Upon checking this keycard, it was Bob's.

Who knew that what we thought would be a relaxing time at the spa, would turn into a potentially life threatening double cage diving activity. The Kerrs know how to add excitement to almost any activity.

The rest of the day consisted of much more sedate activities. We showered and had dinner in the World Cafe with Dale and Jenni.En savoir plus