Los Angeles

We're back at sea today after a day in the Port of Los Angeles. There have been a few changes - we lost two of our friends, Elaine and Clinton, who will be back in Melbourne by now, and we have a new Italian captain. It's been a little rough since leaving LA but I don't suppose we can blame it on his inexperience.

What did we do yesterday? Mainly, we went shopping. Everyone said that Walmart was a must but after the one in Manzanillo, I was doubtful. We went, anyhow. It had more merchandise but nothing exciting. I did buy a few things for the little girls which were cheap but nothing else.

After shopping, we looked around for a coffee shop. Eventually we found a Starbucks down the street and around the corner. It was small and packed. Every table was occupied by someone using a computer. Free node, obviously! We grabbed a table when a group left. The coffee was average and the waiter shortchanged Arthur by $50. Luckily he had his wits about him and retrieved his money. The waiter had put it under the cash register, ready to slip into his pocket as soon we left, no doubt!

Feeling somewhat dissatisfied, we boardeded the free shuttle which took us to where the Queen Mary was moored, mainly so that we could say that we'd seen both the Queens on this trip - the QE2 in Dubai and the Queen Mary in Los Angeles.

It was the third time in my life that I've seen the Queen Mary. The first time was during the war when it was a troop ship. We lived in Point Lonsdale and I remember being woken very early one morning and taken to the beach to see the ship pass through the heads. To a small child it seemed to be the biggest thing in the world! The other two times I've seen it were yesterday and at the same site in 1987, I think it was. It's an impressive old ship. You don't see rivets on today's ships but they are plain to see on the black sides of the QM. I love the stately upright shape of it, too.

Alan, Shirley and I looked around for a while. Arthur had left us - he'd got off the bus and gone back to our ship as he was fearful of missing it and being left behind in LA.

A Russian Sub was moored alongside the great ship. In a dockside marquee a great array of Russian Sub souvenirs was for sale. Why anyone would want to buy a Russian sailor's cheap quality striped jumper is beyond me.

The last shuttle back to the ship left the Aquarium at Long Beach at 3.30 so once again, we've been cheated with a shortened day in port. To add to our chagrin, US customs did their stuff in the morning on board with gross inefficiency which meant that some people didn't even get ashore until after 10am. Princess Cruises need to improve their act and give passengers full days in port, not the little slices of time we've had too often.

After a late lunch yesterday back on board Alan went off for a swim while I took my book down to Deck 7 to read in the sun and to watch the activity ashore. I had a good view of the waterway where we were parked and it was quite interesting watching ships inching up the river. A couple of Santa Catalina ferries came and went and the bridge that soared high above carried constant streams of traffic. Behind us a huge container ship was docked and a WW 2 supply ship, the Lane Carrier, was moored adjacent to our ship. People were at work on its decks so I assume it must be being restored, perhaps as part of the Maritime Museum that was further up the river.

The wildlife was not bad, either. Pelicans, brown, not white as we have, sailed majestically past. Some landed on the jetty and a harbour seal poked its head up to have a look at us. It was a pleasant way to pass the time.

We were a little late leaving due to a crew member being late but at last we were under way. There was plenty to see as we cruised towards the sea. Even the harbour seal gave us a barking send off. We passed the Maritime Museum which had a variety of interesting old craft moored outside. There was even a river boat that looked like the ones we'd seen on the Murray River cruise we did a couple of years ago. At the mouth of the river there was a long, long breakwater which angled out to sea like a bent arm. Perched on the end was a lighthouse.

The weather had been perfect all day with the sun warm and just a gentle breeze to keep away the extreme heat we've been having lately. Even though it was nearing 6pm it was still very pleasant out on deck. A few small yachts were out taking advantage of the late afternoon sun and breeze but they were soon left behind as we went on our way. The ship had swung around onto a south westerly course which meant that the afternoon sun was shining right on to where I was sitting so I was still warm.

I was lazily enjoying myself when I spotted a white sail off towards the horizon. It was quite large and as I watched, surprised that a yacht was so far out to sea, it very slowly disappeared. I continued to watch and then I spotted it again. Again it slowly disappeared, which seemed strange. I thought that the sail must have been catching the sun and had then turned gradually so it no longer reflected the light. But as I stared, I could see no trace at all of the hull or of the sail. My eyes were starting to glaze over when suddenly I saw the sail again. Then just as suddenly, there was another next to it. It dawned on me, then. It wasn't a yacht at all. It was a pair of whales, spouting high into the air. I couldn't see the animals themselves but I think they must have been very large to have sent up such huge spouts of water. They continued to spout as they swam off and long after they disappeared, I was still watching before I eventually accepted that they were out of sight.

As I was about to go off to change for dinner there was a ruffling of the water close to the ship. A pod of dolphins was swimming past. They too, eventually disappeared out of sight. I went off to tell Alan about what he'd missed. Too bad for him!