Alaska cruise 8 - "Until We Meet Again"

Thursday, July 16

I knew on the first day of our cruise that the week would go by too fast. Still, I find myself writing the last entry thinking, "I can't believe it's almost over."

With legs about twice as long as Mamaw's, I don't know if she'll ever travel with me again. Her feet hurt a lot and I heard "slow down" more than once. At the same time, I saw the twinkle in her eyes more than I heard "slow down," so I think the amount of time she had fun outweighs the amount of time she secretly cursed long hallways and endless flights of stairs.

Today we slept in until 10, although we lost an hour of sleep with the time change. While Mamaw got ready, I did two loads of laundry (so I wouldn't smell up my suitcase), then we had a late lunch. My lunchbox isn't going to cut it after this cruise.

We sat through a staff farewell (tear), then packed our suitcases. Beefore we knew it, it was 5:30 and time for our last dinner on deck. "Yes, we will feed you 'til the bitter end," the activities director said.

By 7, we were docked in Victoria, British Columbia, and made our way to a bus to go to a lighted tour of Butchart Gardens. We were on the same bus as the ladies from dinner.

The gardens were absolutely beautiful. 67 acres of all kinds of flowers, trees, arbors and water fountains -- a Japanese garden, the sunken garden, Italian Garden, rose garden and Mediterranean garden. It reminded me of Biltmore's gardens but better. We also saw the Big Dipper! (Or Little Dipper, I don't know which. ... How do you know the difference if you don't have the other one to compare it to anyway?)

When we got back, it was 11:30 and time to board the ship one last time. We'll be in Seattle around 8 a.m.

I think Mamaw is overwhelmed with so many things to do and keep up with right now, but I have a feeling she'll be traveling more. She's already ready to come back. I told her we should go up the east coast next ... or Paris.

As our dining room steward, Sonny, said today, there are no goodbyes. "Until we meet again," he said. I like that.