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| Room Service Popcorn |
(670 miles NW of Auckland, New Zealand, our next port)
temperature: 72F, 100% humidity, partly cloudy
distance since FLL: 11,052 miles
The seas are a little calmer this morning. We tried to catch a sunrise, but it was too cloudy. We are making between 17-18 knots but this speed will not likely get us to Auckland on schedule. We still have a pretty good headwind and swells of 4-8 feet. Capt. Dag at 9am vords of visdom said that the earliest we would pick up our pilot in Auckland was 1pm. He did not sound too optimistic about that time and said he would make another announcement in the afternoon. Of course, unless you just happen to be standing in the hallway or have you TV on channel 2, you won't hear that announcement and he did not specify a time when he would update our ETA. In any event, at this point the day in Auckland is a write-off for us. There is little of interest to us in the evening. Oh well, the pressure is off Clay now.
Debbie did get the allergic reaction to the Relief Band and conductive gel again. So, it seems that can only be used for emergencies now and then only on alternating wrists with enough days in between to clear up the rash. Sadly, this is the pattern that had developed on the first segment after years of Relief Band being her steady cure for mal de mer. Oh, well. She's always got that stash of Dramamine and can just sleep through the rough patches. The problem is perception, of course, since all the patchs are defined as rough by her right now.
We went to LaVeranda for breakfast. There were no strawberries and no chocolate croissants. Debbie had oatmeal and a banana, cappucino and a piece of bacon. Clay had 2 eggs over easy, etc. We sat outside in the back because it was not too sunny and didn't seem to windy. It started raining pretty quickly. We had a fast breakfast. So, Debbie had gone dressed for exercise because frequently we can't get back in the cabin between breakfast and her first class. Anyway, since we had a quick breakfast, Debbie went to the morning stretch which she has been avoiding because of the crowds. It was still crowded. Then she stayed for the next 2 classes. Circuit training and butts abs and backs on the fitball. She will probably skip this afternoon's classes because she says she has a headache.
Lunch in Compass Rose. They were having pizza and pasta at the Pool Grill and we figured we could have that anytime we wanted from room service. The pasta onboard has been uniformly delicious. The pizza is ok to satisfy a craving, but it is real doughy and we prefer a thin crispy crust, so not much to tempt us up top today. Debbie had a lettuce salad and ate the whole thing. Clay had the thinly-sliced cold roast beef with pickles and brown bread. Debbie had thinly-sliced chicken breast and parmesan risotto and Clay had deluxe chicken bagel sandwich that came with a load of bacon and skinny French fries. For dessert, Debbie had floating islands and Clay had a triple-flavored bowl of ice cream.
We may have finally solved the chocolate croissant problem. On some nights, leaving the CR we see a table set up in the hallway outside with a French flag draped over the top of it. On those days, they also have tiny tablecloths over the tiny tables set among the chairs there in the atrium. There can't be more than 10 tables and 20 chairs spread along the center hall there. Anyway, it seems they have some kind of special mid-morning tea there with liquors,coffees, etc. served from the flagged table. On all the little tables with the tablecloths there are the tiered gourmandises trays and on each one is a miniature chocolate croissant. Only one. Not two. And it is not self-serve, where you can get only chocolate croissants and leave behind the variety of other little goodies that they are serving. This must be what is keeping the chocolate croissant baker from making the big breakfast chocolate croissants. Debbie is not pleased. May have to come up with a strategy. Maybe if we put out the room service card every night requesting chocolate croissants that would ensure a steady supply. We'll ponder it.
Les Gauguines are leaving us in Sydney. They are going to be rejoining the Paul Gauguin when it gets out of drydock in Australia and sails back to French Polynesia. Handy timing.
Lazy afternoon with popcorn. We did not even get a DVD stuck in. Clay just left the TV on Bob the Butler. Debbie ordered 2 big bowls of popcorn from room service. Delivered was one big glass bowl on a tray with 2 microwave bags of popcorn and a saltshaker. The popcorn was not hot but it was good. Debbie took a long nap. Tonight was Informal. Clay did not really want to have to wear a sportscoat and there was nothing to tempt Debbie except crepes with ice cream for dessert and that was not a good enough reason. So, we went to Italian Steakhouse at LaVeranda. The menu tonight was worded a little differently (sorry we did not get a copy of it) and the cowboy steak that has been served there from time to time since we boarded was described as a T-bone. That is what Clay got. Debbie got her usual tournedos with barolo and raisins. Dessert flambe tonight was plums. It was not good. There was no flambeing and it was just fruit in liquor with a scoop of vanilla. We had each gone up to the dessert buffet while waiting so we did each have a chocolate-filled profiterole which was one of the better desserts we have had. Desserts are a definite weak point on Voyager. They look delicious but are not usually very tasty. You get a good one often enough to keep you trying, but...
We never did hear an announcement about what time we expect to get into Auckland. It will be a surprise. The newsletter gives the time as approximately 2 pm.
