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Donna M. Byrne
  • Donna M. Byrne
  • Donna M. Byrne

Donna M. Byrne

50/50/50
50th Wedding Anniversary
50th State Visited (Hawaii)
50th State Added to Union Læs mere
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  • Donna M. ByrneDonna M. ByrneRejsende
    11

    Pacific Ocean

    15. april 2019, North Pacific Ocean ⋅ ⛅ 16 °C

    The first thing that hits you about this ship is the cleanliness.

    And the genuine friendliness of the entire staff. They are not working for tips. All of that is included in the fare. The meals are outstanding and we love the fresh fruit delivered to our stateroom every morning.

    Denny and I walked the Promenade Deck after breakfast passing underneath our designated lifeboat on each lap. We had a mandatory muster drill before we left port so we would know where to go in case of . . .

    Sunsicle rum drinks in the Crow's Nest and balcony reading filled the afternoon followed by the Gala Dinner this evening.

    We could get used to this.    Læs mere

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  • Donna M. ByrneDonna M. ByrneRejsende

    Pacific Ocean

    16. april 2019, North Pacific Ocean ⋅ ⛅ 19 °C

    What time is it? What date is it? What day is it?

    All relevant questions when traveling across several different time zones. Then throw in the fact that some places like Arizona and Hawaii don't observe Daylight Saving Time.

    What a mess!

    Our usually reliable Smartphone kept us on track during this whole trip - until now. My phone at this minute is telling me it's 2:52. I have no idea what day it thinks it is.

    It is actually 6:52 PM on Tuesday, April 16. The Captain announced this morning that we will be gaining another hour some time today. The staff changes the rugs daily in the elevators to make sure we know the day. 😊

    Speaking of the Captain - nice chap from New Zealand name of John Scott. He has spent 44 years at sea so we feel pretty safe in his hands. He also announced this morning that we have about 12,000 feet of Pacific Ocean under us right now and we are right on schedule for arrival at Lahaina on Maui on Friday.

    Our wonderful neighbors sent us some great pictures of our blooming redbuds back at our house. Thank you, Peggy and Steve!

    Sending blooming thoughts to all. 🌸    Læs mere

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  • Donna M. ByrneDonna M. ByrneRejsende

    Pacific Ocean

    17. april 2019, North Pacific Ocean ⋅ 🌙 20 °C

    Today is Wednesday. I know that because my elevator told me so.

    Walking the Promenade Deck after breakfast has become our daily routine. What a great way to start the day! Reading on the balcony and watching the Pacific Ocean float by ain't bad either.

    There are many dining options on board and tonight we chose Asian. We started with something called a Ritz Cocktail in the lounge of the restaurant watching the sun set over the Pacific.

    We ended with some very unusual desserts. The middle of the meal was filled with much more food than we could possibly eat.

    Check out our "Doggie Bag " in the picture.    Læs mere

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  • Donna M. ByrneDonna M. ByrneRejsende
    1
    1

    Pacific Ocean

    18. april 2019, North Pacific Ocean ⋅ 🌙 22 °C

    We did a lot of walking on the Promenade Deck today and then explored some of the upper decks among the smokestacks. The sun went down and the moon came up. It will be full tomorrow so ... Wahoo!

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  • Donna M. ByrneDonna M. ByrneRejsende
    1

    Maui, Hawaii

    19. april 2019, Forenede Stater ⋅ ⛅ 27 °C

    The ship delivered us to shore by means of a tender. We then boarded a motorcoach which navigated the 33 switchbacks with no problem. That's how you get to the top of Haleakala and view the immense crater of this volcano. It last erupted 400 - 600 years ago and could again. It is only at rest.

    Our tour included a wonderful lunch at a local golf course and then it was off to a semi-tropical rainforest known as Iao Valley. Wow!

    That full moon was visible all night long.    Læs mere

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  • Donna M. ByrneDonna M. ByrneRejsende

    Oahu, Hawaii

    20. april 2019, Forenede Stater ⋅ ⛅ 27 °C

    Our visit to the Pearl Harbor Memorial in Honolulu started with a very well done documentary which described the events leading up to the attack on our planes and ships. The film included footage from that day in 1941.

    After the movie, we climbed aboard a Navy launch for the short trip out to the memorial. Unfortunately, we could not actually step foot onto the Memorial. It has been closed for repairs for almost a YEAR. They have no idea when it will reopen.

    Our tour included a stop at the Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum. Looking up at the windows in Hanger 79 we could see bullet holes from the day of the attack.

    We also had a chance to visit the USS Missouri which is docked nearby. The surrender documents were signed aboard her while she sat in Tokyo Bay. There is a wonderful photograph hanging on the ship taken during the signing. Douglas MacArthur is the one seated and Senator John McCain's grandfather is in the front row.

    The National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific is a final resting place for many WWII veterans.

    We ended the day with a drive around beautiful Honolulu.    Læs mere

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  • Donna M. ByrneDonna M. ByrneRejsende

    Oahu, Hawaii

    20. april 2019, Forenede Stater ⋅ ⛅ 26 °C

    More Pictures

  • Donna M. ByrneDonna M. ByrneRejsende

    Kauai, Hawaii (Almost)

    22. april 2019, North Pacific Ocean ⋅ ⛅ 26 °C

    The Captain's announcement explained in detail why he had to turn the Eurodam around. The seas were just too rough to dock safely at Nawiliwili on the island of Kauai. So for us it meant no:

    Kauai Coffee Plantation
    Kilohana Plantation Estate
    Koloa Rum Company
    Kauai Plantation Railway Ride

    Oh well. We found some other stuff to do on board ship. Like:

    Reading on the balcony
    Watching the Ben Affleck movie Pearl Harbor
    Eating ice cream cones on the Promenade Deck
    Playing video poker in the Casino
    Playing Scrabble in the Game Room

    😎 😎    Læs mere

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  • Donna M. ByrneDonna M. ByrneRejsende
    112

    Hawaii, Hawaii

    22. april 2019, Forenede Stater ⋅ ☀️ 28 °C

    The island of Hawaii is the largest island in the Hawaiian chain. The natives call it The Biig Island. There are five volcanoes on Hawaii and we spent some time with them at Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. We docked at the port of Hilo - the tsunami capital of the world - and were driven to the Park.

    Kilauea Volcano is the one that kicked up her heels last year and made all the news. She didn't "blow her top" but just started seeping lava all over the place like right down into a housing development.

    We passed many steam vents as we walked to Kilauea's crater to have a look down. As we stood on the edge of the crater the wind whipped the park brochure out of Denny's hands and right down into the volcano. A modern day sacrifice!

    The rest of our day was filled with rainforests, waterfalls and no rain on our heads. It rains somewhere around Hilo 272 days a year - and it did rain today. Just not on us.    Læs mere

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  • Donna M. ByrneDonna M. ByrneRejsende

    Hawaii

    23. april 2019, Forenede Stater ⋅ ⛅ 28 °C

    The Atlantis Submarine Dive on Kona was pretty cool. We saw lots of tropical fish swimming among the corals and a few shipwrecks.

    We are departing later this afternoon for Mexico so we took a tender back to the ship and watched The Descendants with George Clooney. The film was shot all over the Hawaiian Islands.

    Goodbye Hawaii. And thanks.    Læs mere

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  • Donna M. ByrneDonna M. ByrneRejsende

    Pacific Ocean

    24. april 2019, Mexico ⋅ ⛅ 27 °C

    Looks like Denny and I have come down with sore throats and colds so we took the day off!

    Bummer. 😥

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  • Donna M. ByrneDonna M. ByrneRejsende

    Pacific Ocean

    25. april 2019, Mexico ⋅ ⛅ 27 °C

    Got to meet the ship's doctor today. Nice chap from South Africa. He and his wife love taking road trips just like Denny and I do. Only theirs are in Africa.

    Anyway, we walked out of the Medical Center with a bag of goodies that hopefully will put us right. The hot tea with lemon and honey just wasn't getting the job done so we went the antibiotic route.

    Thanks for all the well wishes. You're right, Zuk, we need your Boilo!    Læs mere

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  • Donna M. ByrneDonna M. ByrneRejsende

    Pacific Ocean

    26. april 2019, Mexico ⋅ ⛅ 26 °C

    Finally, all the meds are starting to kick in. The cold and cough we could deal with but the SORE THROAT. Yikes! That is what drove us to the Medical Center. The doctor described it as swallowing with razor blades in the throat. He was right. Apparently the overhead air system in the staterooms plays havoc with the respiratory system.

    After three days in bed we sure are rested. Reading, crossword puzzles and movies filled our days.

    By the way, we are getting all of your comments even though they are not showing up on your end. Thank you.    Læs mere

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  • Donna M. ByrneDonna M. ByrneRejsende

    Pacific Ocean (Still)

    27. april 2019, Mexico ⋅ ☁️ 25 °C

    For some reason the travel blog folks have had us in Mexico for the last several days. Not so. Not so.

    We took it kind of easy again today. Still recovering. Denny's ribs hurt so much from sneezing and coughing and this was Donna's first day in four without the sore throat from hell!

    I have a small homework assignment for all. I would like you to Google - Azipod Thrusters manufactured in Helsinki, Finland. I'll explain tomorrow.

    😎    Læs mere

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  • Donna M. ByrneDonna M. ByrneRejsende

    Ensenada, Mexico (Briefly)

    28. april 2019, Mexico ⋅ ⛅ 27 °C

    So I trust you all did your homework on Azipod Thrusters and learned that they are marine propulsion units with steerable gondolas or pods.

    Well, during regular maintenance of the propellers before we were scheduled to leave Hawaii, Eurodam divers discovered a HUGE commercial fishing net completely entangled on one of the Thrusters. They were able to remove the net but with closer inspection it was determined that a seal was broken and was leaking.

    Long story short - we were not in any danger but repairs need to be made. We stopped for about an hour in Ensenada, Mexico - some paperwork and immigration stuff but not long enough for a shore excursion - and are now headed for San Diego to start the repairs.

    We will disembark there tomorrow morning, walk across the street, pick up our car and head north.

    The adventure continues.

    P. S. We sure will miss our cabin steward's daily towel animals. Ayu really outdid herself today.    Læs mere

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  • Donna M. ByrneDonna M. ByrneRejsende
    1

    San Diego, California

    28. april 2019, Forenede Stater ⋅ ⛅ 18 °C

    Part Two of April 28

    Our ship made it back to San Diego safe and sound.

    And so did we.

    We packed up all our stuff and decided to celebrate. The filets and lobster were the way to go. And, of course, we just happened to mention our anniversary to our waiter and - ta da we were presented with a yummy chocolate dessert. (We are milking this for all we can get!)

    The Captain handed out stats from the voyage:

    Miles Traveled - 5,142
    Officers and Crew - 836
    Nationalities of Crew - 40
    Fuel Used - 340,000 Gallons
    Average Speed - 16.5 Knots
    Eggs Consumed - 24,000    Læs mere

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  • Donna M. ByrneDonna M. ByrneRejsende

    Cypress, California

    29. april 2019, Forenede Stater ⋅ ⛅ 17 °C

    Richard Nixon's father, Frank, was a citrus grower in Yorba Linda, California, in the early 1900's. He built a small house for his wife Hannah and their children. Richard was born in 1913 and lived there until 1922 when the family moved to Whittier.

    Denny and I visited the Richard Nixon Library and Museum which sits on the grounds of the former citrus farm. His home is still there, which contains 90% of the original furnishings, including the bed where Nixon was born.

    The museum is very well done and does not shy away from Watergate. In fact, we watched a movie that opens with the resignation before launching into his legacy - the China trip, EPA, etc.

    Richard Nixon and his wife Pat are buried in a beautiful rose garden right next to the house that raised him.

    Such a quiet, peaceful setting.    Læs mere

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  • Donna M. ByrneDonna M. ByrneRejsende

    Simi Valley, California

    30. april 2019, Forenede Stater ⋅ ☁️ 15 °C

    We waved hello and goodbye to Los Angeles from our car windows driving along the 5. Previous visits had us spending many days taking in all the sights - even sitting in the audience for a taping of Jeopardy. But this time we just drove on to Mission Hills, California.

    We had one more stop to make.

    "The Day the Music Died", according to the song written by Don McLean, was on February 3, 1959. That's the day three young and very talented musicians died in a plane crash in Clear Lake, Iowa.

    Those of you who have been following our every move on this blog (😀) remember that we stopped in Texas to pay respects to J.R. Richardson, Jr. (The Big Bopper ") and Buddy Holly.

    Today was Ritchie Valens.

    Ritchie had a girlfriend that he admired a great deal. He thought so much of her that he wrote a song for her with her name in the title. It just happens to be one of my favorite songs.

    " Donna "    Læs mere

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  • Donna M. ByrneDonna M. ByrneRejsende

    Bakersfield, California

    1. maj 2019, Forenede Stater ⋅ ☀️ 21 °C

    And then there were none.

    Denny and I started visiting presidential gravesites purely by accident. Mt. Vernon (George Washington) was close to where we lived. Arlington Cemetery (JFK and William Howard Taft) was a stop whenever we had visitors in town. We made many visits to the National Cathedral in DC for holidays (Woodrow Wilson and Helen Keller and her teacher Anne Sullivan) . Hollywood Cemetery in Richmond (John Tyler and James Monroe) was part of our Civil War education.

    But then something special happened when we were in Springfield, Illinois standing next to Abraham Lincoln. A feeling that really can't be explained.

    We decided to extend that feeling and visit every single presidential gravesite.

    Denny found this great book a few years back:
    "Who's Buried in Grant's Tomb?" which we used as a guide for our quest. And today we completed our goal: The final gravesite.

    The Ronald Reagan Library and Museum is located at the top of a hill in majestic Simi Valley, California. The resting places of Reagan and his wife Nancy look out over this beautiful sight.

    The museum houses Air Force One, the plane Reagan used while he was president. Pretty cool to be able to walk through it.

    Our drive to Bakersfield was filled with orange trees, various crops in the fields and mile after mile of mountains the likes of which we have never seen before.    Læs mere

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  • Donna M. ByrneDonna M. ByrneRejsende
    1

    Fish Camp, California

    2. maj 2019, Forenede Stater ⋅ ☀️ 22 °C

    I promise. No gravesites today. Only natural beauty.

    Sequoia National Park beauty.

    Denny and I saw the majestic Redwoods along the Pacific Coast of California many years ago and that memory has stayed with us through the years.

    But we always longed to walk among the Giant Sequoias of the Sierra Nevada Mountains. And today we got to do just that.

    The Redwoods and Sequoias have many differences. The Redwoods are taller (367 feet to 311 feet) but the Sequoias are fatter (22 feet in diameter to 40 feet at the base.)

    We spent the day with General Sherman - the tree. He is 2,200 years old. 275 feet tall. 103 feet circumference at ground level.

    By volume of total wood, Giant Sequoias are the Earth's largest living tree.    Læs mere

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  • Donna M. ByrneDonna M. ByrneRejsende

    Elk Grove, California

    3. maj 2019, Forenede Stater ⋅ ⛅ 22 °C

    You hear about it your whole life and you think you are prepared for what you are about to see. Throw all of that out the window because Yosemite is nothing you are prepared for.

    It is beyond belief.

    El Captain. Half Dome. Bridalveil Fall. Cathedral Spires.

    During our journey along the park road we passed by mile after mile of acreage burned during last summer's fires when folks were evacuated and the park was closed. The areas with cut tree stumps are where the firefighters tried to set up fire breaks in an attempt to stop the spread of the fire.

    The lodge where we stayed was spared because the maintenance staff stayed behind and watered everything down.

    Evidence of the fire is everywhere and the cleanup is still in progress.

    Truly a day of astounding beauty and harsh reality.    Læs mere

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