Miyako

 This town was one of the places hit by the 2011 tsunami. The defensive walls it now has are huge.

Cooler weather today. We were welcomed on the dock by singing and dancing. The shuttle into town very organised and plenty of people to help. I decided we would get the bus to Jodogahama beach. It was a twenty minute bus ride you could not have walked it. Lovely walk and we saw the blow hole.

Bus back into town and shuttle back to the ship there were lots of stalls and they were writing everyone’s name in Japanese. Such friendly calm people.

Photos later 

Hakodate 8th October

 We parked in the centre of the town. The market was opposite so we spent time walking round that. 

We then headed on to the Kanomari Red Brick Warehouse which are now all shops and very nice shops. 

Then up to the Mount Hakodate rope way which was about eight pounds each but stunning views at the top. Weather was warm and glorious.

We then walked around the historic Machomari part of the town which was lovely and had lots of lovely old buildings.

Then walked back to the ship and read for the rest of the afternoon.

In the evening had a lovely supper and then went to see Andrei cavasai the cellist Keith knows.

No gambling as too near the coast!

Photos to follow 

Kushiro

 So we finally made it to land. Kushiro is not a port I would recommend.

We walked seven miles today we started by walking to the market which was where the shopping with the chef people had gone. Nice market.we then walked all the way to the Kushiro city museum as it was in a park. Unfortunately not a nice park, nor was the walk to get there. The streets were clean as all Japan is BUT everything was unkempt and looking tatty.

We went round the museum which was quite good and there were lots of schoolchildren there so it was very noisy.

We walked back to the ship a different way and went in every supermarket to try and find all the Kit Kat flavours we hear about….could not find any except plain and matcha flavour.

In the evening with had supper in Solis with Luca and had a fun evening.

Marvellous harvest moon

Photos will be here ,after when upLoaded

The Bering Sea and the North Pacific Ocean.

 Well if you are wondering we have six days at sea with not a lot to report as we do lectures, trivia, name that tune, exercise, eat and drink everyday.

We had a medical emergency but he recovered well. We had a funfair yesterday and I guessed all the officers in the quickest time so that was fun and won a puffin.

Two more days at sea until we get to Japan. Unfortunately Keith has a terrible sore throat and cough let’s hope he feels better soon.

We did have the boat building competition which was fun but cold to watch.

Dutch Harbour

This morning we went for a walk in the dark as at 8am it was still dark yet it was light until later yesterday, bit odd.

We docked just after 10 am and got the shuttle to the Museum of the Aleutians. We then decided to walk to the Russian Orthodox Church. Nice walk and we saw lots of sea otters and eagles along the way. 

It was quite a nice day and we got rather hot walking so Keith took his woolly hat off and then realised he must have dropped it. So Once we had arrived at the church we decided as we have six days at a sea to walk back to the ship.  

We didn’t find the hat but a couple who had walked past us did and asked if it was Keith’s and we said ‘yes’, we were very grateful. Walked seven and a half miles and I didn’t take my better camera and who needed it……we did!

At sea

 So today we woke up very late for us. However the weather was not too bad seas quite calm. We did trivia after some mad people on board did an ice plunge in the jacuzzi, I declined to do it.

Walked the deck music trivia too then exercise and supper. Hopefully we will dock in Dutch Harbour tomorrow which is where they film Deadliest Catch for tv.

Kodiak

 We had a no alcohol day yesterday and we both went to bed early and slept right through!! 

The sun was shining so we ate breakfast outside before we got ready for our hike round Fort Abercrombie. During World War Two they made a us air force base here to protect from the Germans and the old remnants are within the national Park. The main industry here is obviously fishing which you could see everywhere. In the centre of the town there was a ship that had been thrown up during a tsunami so they decided to leave it there and turn it into a cannery for all the fish. 

We had a great hike around the park with Dominic and Adrian before getting the bus back and being dropped in the town. After wandering we walked back to the ship the weather had remained kind although at times it was unbelievably windy.

An enjoyable day…plus Europe are beating the Americans at golf in the Ryder Cup even better!